Mark Doty

Mark Doty (born August 10, 1953) is an American poet, memoirist, and essayist widely recognized for his emotionally resonant and intellectually probing work. His poetry often explores themes of grief, loss, sexuality, the body, and the AIDS epidemic, drawing heavily from personal experience while also engaging with broader cultural and philosophical questions.

Doty is the author of numerous books of poetry, including My Alexandria (1993), which won the National Book Critics Circle Award; Sweet Machine (1998); Source (2001); School of the Arts (2005); Fire to Fire: New and Selected Poems (2008), which won the National Book Award; Deep Lane (2015); and A Swirl of Violent Motion (2023).

In addition to his poetry, Doty is known for his memoirs, Heaven's Coast (1996), a powerful account of his partner Wally Roberts's death from AIDS, and Dog Years (2007), which explores his relationship with his two golden retrievers and reflects on themes of companionship, loss, and the nature of time. He has also published collections of essays, including Still Life with Oysters and Lemon (2001) and What is the Grass (2013).

Doty's work is characterized by its lyrical intensity, precise imagery, and unflinching honesty. He is admired for his ability to transform personal experiences into universally relatable explorations of the human condition. He has received fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Ingram Merrill Foundation, among others. He has taught at various universities, including Sarah Lawrence College, Columbia University, and Rutgers University. His influence on contemporary poetry is significant.