Mark Cox

MARK COX's poems are widely respected for their honesty, wry humor, tenderness and accessibility. Tony Hoagland said Cox is "a veteran of the deep water; there's no one like him," and Thomas Lux identified him as "one of the finest poets of his generation." He has authored seven volumes of poetry, the latest being Knowing (2024) and Readiness (2018), both from Press 53. He has a 40-year history of publication in prominent magazines and his honors include a Whiting Writers' Award, a Pushcart Prize, the Oklahoma Book Award, The Society of Midland Authors Poetry Prize, the NCPS Brockman-Campbell Award and numerous fellowships. Once founding chair of the Department of Creative Writing at UNC Wilmington, he has now retired after 39 years of teaching.