Critical Mass

W.D. Snodgrass, January 5, 1926-January 13, 2009

By Jane Ciabattari

Poet W.D. Snodgrass, 83, who died Tuesday of cancer at his farmhouse in tiny Erieville, N.Y., south of Syracuse, was revising his poetry even in the last week of his life. His final collection, “Not For Specialists,” was a finalist for the NBCC poetry prize in 2007. His highly personal work has its roots in industrial—and Presbyterian—Western Pennsylvania. Industrious Presbyterian NBCC member Bob Hoover wrote wrote an obituary.

An extensive bibliography of Snodgrass’s work and an overview of his career appears here at the Poetry Foundation website.