Charles Martin is known among his fellow poets and seems soon to be recognized more widely as a writer of wit, lyrical delicacy, and compelling form, who has developed an artistic language with which he can deal with fundamental questions in American life. The distinguished record of his publications and the honors he has won attest to his growing reputation.

He was born on 25 June 1942 in the Bronx and has lived in New York all his life, as did his father, Charles Justus Martin, of Protestant German descent, and his mother, Kathleen McCormack Martin, an Irish Catholic. Martin was educated in Catholic schools and has degrees in English from Fordham University (A.B., 1964) and the State University of New York at Buffalo (M.A., 1965; Ph.D., 1967). Upon completion of his graduate work, he returned to New York City and taught at Notre Dame College of Staten Island (1968-...