Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Knute Skinner has had a home in Ireland since 1964. He has taught at the University of Iowa and at Western Washington University, where he was a Professor of English. Retired from teaching, he lives in Killaspuglonane, County Clare with his spouse, Edna Faye Kiel. This book collects fifty years of published work, beginning with poems which first saw serial publication in 1957 and continuing through thirteen books.
"He has poems that for sheer beauty take your head off."
John Gardner on 'A Close Sky over Killaspuglonane'
"If you want to know how real poetry reads, buy this book, read it, and keep it." Leonard Blackstone on Selected Poems
"In a time when many poets cannot resist the grand gesture, Skinner's art is the achievement of presence in the places we go to: in field, kitchen, bar, dictionary, anecdote, joke, love bower."
James Liddy on 'Learning to Spell "Zucchini"'
"This is a stunning collection, full of mystery, cross-purposes, weird and tragic characters, and should be read from start to finish."
Aidan Murphy on The Bears & Other Poems
"It's worth whatever stretches might be required to put it into your personal library."
Joseph Green
"He has poems that for sheer beauty take your head off."
John Gardner on 'A Close Sky over Killaspuglonane'
"If you want to know how real poetry reads, buy this book, read it, and keep it." Leonard Blackstone on Selected Poems
"In a time when many poets cannot resist the grand gesture, Skinner's art is the achievement of presence in the places we go to: in field, kitchen, bar, dictionary, anecdote, joke, love bower."
James Liddy on 'Learning to Spell "Zucchini"'
"This is a stunning collection, full of mystery, cross-purposes, weird and tragic characters, and should be read from start to finish."
Aidan Murphy on The Bears & Other Poems
"It's worth whatever stretches might be required to put it into your personal library."
Joseph Green