Marilyn Hacker

Marilyn Hacker is a celebrated American poet, translator, and author, known for her mastery of formal verse and her deeply personal yet politically charged writing. Born on November 27, 1942, in New York City, she studied at New York University and rose to literary prominence with her debut collection Presentation Piece, which won the National Book Award for Poetry in 1975. Throughout her career, Hacker has become recognized for blending traditional poetic forms like the sonnet with contemporary themes of identity, feminism, and queer experience.

A prominent voice in both American and international poetry, Hacker has authored numerous acclaimed collections, including Going Back to the River, Winter Numbers, and Names. As an openly lesbian poet and cancer survivor, her work often confronts issues of illness, loss, love, and resilience, giving voice to marginalized identities and intimate struggles. She is also a celebrated translator of French poetry, bringing writers like Vénus Khoury-Ghata and Claire Malroux to English-speaking audiences.

Marilyn Hacker has shared many powerful reflections on the role of poetry and the human condition. She once said, “Poetry is a political act because it involves telling the truth.” On resilience, she wrote, “Survival is not a small thing. It is everything.” And speaking on identity and expression, she noted, “We are made of words as much as of flesh.” These quotes reflect her commitment to truth, endurance, and the transformative potential of language and form in shaping both personal and collective narratives.