A Nebraska native, Mary K. Stillwell has studied writing in New York and, with Ted Kooser, on the plains and earned her PhD in plains literature from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. She served as coeditor of Nebraska Presence: An Anthology of Poetry and has published her poetry widely in literary magazines and journals as well as a number of anthologies. Her full-length collection of poems is Moving to Malibu.

• List of Illustrations000Acknowledgments000Chronology000Part 1. Growing Up in Iowa, 193919631. Official Entry2. An Emerging Imagination3. Summers in Paradise4. Looking the Part5. King, A Dog of the North6. Moving GibraltarPart 2. Nebraska Apprenticeship, 196319697. The Move to Nebraska8. Journey to a Place of Work9. Official Entry Blank10. Running on EmptyPart 3. The Shepherd's New Song, 1970197911. A Local Habitation & a Name12. Singing the Shepherd's Song13. Not Coming to Be Barked At14. "Walking Home to You"Part 4. American Scripture, 1980199415. Sure Signs16. Common Ground17. One World at a Time18. Weather CentralPart 5. "Feeling the Speed," 1995Today19. "Lights on a Ground of Darkness"20. Winter Morning Walks21. Local Wonders22. Delights & Shadows23. "The Ripening Odor of Praise"24. "Bright Yellow Leaves Flying"Source Acknowledgments000Notes000Bibliography000Index000

"Stillwell shows us that that effect of Kooser's poems is the result of a prosody as carefully cultivated as that of any fine poet. As she unfolds the events of Kooser's ordinary life, she examines each of his collections and his few, short prose books to disclose the large aim of his writing, which is to demonstrate and affirm the interconnectedness of people and their natural contexts."-Ray Olson, Booklist "A fine, authoritative first biography of the former U.S. Poet Laureate."-Tom Lavoie, Shelf Awareness "[The Life and Poetry of Ted Kooser] is more than just a biography. It offers a window into much of Kooser's life and highlights his writing throughout."—Jill Martin, Seward County Independent "The Life and Poetry of Ted Kooser is an invaluable resource and entertaining work for poetry lovers of all kinds."-Travis Amundson, Nebraska Life  "Stillwell has accomplished a nice piece of very readable scholarship."—Nancy S. Gillis, Nebraska History "Working far outside the dominant literary establishment-both geographically and in terms of current fads-Kooser modestly yet powerfully turns us toward the mystery, heartache, and beauty at the heart of ordinary life. Stillwell’s excellent study helps us to understand how and why he does this."-Scott Kinckerbocker, Western American Literature

A Nebraska native, Mary K. Stillwell has studied writing in New York and, with Ted Kooser, on the plains and earned her PhD in plains literature from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. She served as coeditor of Nebraska Presence: An Anthology of Poetry and has published her poetry widely in literary magazines and journals as well as a number of anthologies. Her full-length collection of poems is Moving to Malibu.

• List of Illustrations000Acknowledgments000Chronology000Part 1. Growing Up in Iowa, 193919631. Official Entry2. An Emerging Imagination3. Summers in Paradise4. Looking the Part5. King, A Dog of the North6. Moving GibraltarPart 2. Nebraska Apprenticeship, 196319697. The Move to Nebraska8. Journey to a Place of Work9. Official Entry Blank10. Running on EmptyPart 3. The Shepherd's New Song, 1970197911. A Local Habitation & a Name12. Singing the Shepherd's Song13. Not Coming to Be Barked At14. "Walking Home to You"Part 4. American Scripture, 1980199415. Sure Signs16. Common Ground17. One World at a Time18. Weather CentralPart 5. "Feeling the Speed," 1995Today19. "Lights on a Ground of Darkness"20. Winter Morning Walks21. Local Wonders22. Delights & Shadows23. "The Ripening Odor of Praise"24. "Bright Yellow Leaves Flying"Source Acknowledgments000Notes000Bibliography000Index000

"Stillwell shows us that that effect of Kooser's poems is the result of a prosody as carefully cultivated as that of any fine poet. As she unfolds the events of Kooser's ordinary life, she examines each of his collections and his few, short prose books to disclose the large aim of his writing, which is to demonstrate and affirm the interconnectedness of people and their natural contexts."-Ray Olson, Booklist "A fine, authoritative first biography of the former U.S. Poet Laureate."-Tom Lavoie, Shelf Awareness "[The Life and Poetry of Ted Kooser] is more than just a biography. It offers a window into much of Kooser's life and highlights his writing throughout."—Jill Martin, Seward County Independent "The Life and Poetry of Ted Kooser is an invaluable resource and entertaining work for poetry lovers of all kinds."-Travis Amundson, Nebraska Life  "Stillwell has accomplished a nice piece of very readable scholarship."—Nancy S. Gillis, Nebraska History "Working far outside the dominant literary establishment-both geographically and in terms of current fads-Kooser modestly yet powerfully turns us toward the mystery, heartache, and beauty at the heart of ordinary life. Stillwell’s excellent study helps us to understand how and why he does this."-Scott Kinckerbocker, Western American Literature

A Nebraska native, Mary K. Stillwell has studied writing in New York and, with Ted Kooser, on the plains and earned her PhD in plains literature from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. She served as coeditor of Nebraska Presence: An Anthology of Poetry and has published her poetry widely in literary magazines and journals as well as a number of anthologies. Her full-length collection of poems is Moving to Malibu.

• List of Illustrations000Acknowledgments000Chronology000Part 1. Growing Up in Iowa, 193919631. Official Entry2. An Emerging Imagination3. Summers in Paradise4. Looking the Part5. King, A Dog of the North6. Moving GibraltarPart 2. Nebraska Apprenticeship, 196319697. The Move to Nebraska8. Journey to a Place of Work9. Official Entry Blank10. Running on EmptyPart 3. The Shepherd's New Song, 1970197911. A Local Habitation & a Name12. Singing the Shepherd's Song13. Not Coming to Be Barked At14. "Walking Home to You"Part 4. American Scripture, 1980199415. Sure Signs16. Common Ground17. One World at a Time18. Weather CentralPart 5. "Feeling the Speed," 1995Today19. "Lights on a Ground of Darkness"20. Winter Morning Walks21. Local Wonders22. Delights & Shadows23. "The Ripening Odor of Praise"24. "Bright Yellow Leaves Flying"Source Acknowledgments000Notes000Bibliography000Index000

"Stillwell shows us that that effect of Kooser's poems is the result of a prosody as carefully cultivated as that of any fine poet. As she unfolds the events of Kooser's ordinary life, she examines each of his collections and his few, short prose books to disclose the large aim of his writing, which is to demonstrate and affirm the interconnectedness of people and their natural contexts."-Ray Olson, Booklist "A fine, authoritative first biography of the former U.S. Poet Laureate."-Tom Lavoie, Shelf Awareness "[The Life and Poetry of Ted Kooser] is more than just a biography. It offers a window into much of Kooser's life and highlights his writing throughout."—Jill Martin, Seward County Independent "The Life and Poetry of Ted Kooser is an invaluable resource and entertaining work for poetry lovers of all kinds."-Travis Amundson, Nebraska Life  "Stillwell has accomplished a nice piece of very readable scholarship."—Nancy S. Gillis, Nebraska History "Working far outside the dominant literary establishment-both geographically and in terms of current fads-Kooser modestly yet powerfully turns us toward the mystery, heartache, and beauty at the heart of ordinary life. Stillwell’s excellent study helps us to understand how and why he does this."-Scott Kinckerbocker, Western American Literature