C.S. Leaf
C.S. Leaf (1981-) was born only a few miles away from the small community he grew up in located on the northeast coast of Massachusetts where the mouth of the Merrimack River empties into the Atlantic Ocean. As a young child, his love for the arts was evident. It was always writing or more accurately, words which consumed him most. At the age of twelve, Leaf's poetry was published by "The American Academy of Poetry" and he received invitation to read poetry over the radio. His first collection of poems, "Lost In Hindsight" was published in 2008 by Finishing Line Press. This collection represents Leaf's youth and is comprised of poems written before he turned eighteen. Soon after turning eighteen, Leaf took a much needed break from writing which allowed him to pursue some of his other interests. During this time he started his career as a fine art dealer and formed his own gallery, Sylvanwillow Fine Art. Upon returning to writing, Leaf returned to the poems of his youth and revised them for today. Before he could leave them behind, he had to perfect them. There was a definite necessity in doing this work. Once the collection was completed, Leaf grew leaps and bounds as a poet almost overnight. Finishing "Lost In Hindsight" was like opening the flood gates of Leaf's creative mind. "Lost in Hindsight" was nominated for the 2008 Dylan Thomas Prize, the 2009 Pulitzer Prize and the 2009 Mass Book Award. Currently, C.S Leaf is currently working with Walter E. Butts at Goddard College in Vermont. He lives In Lowell, MA with his wife and two-year old son. Leaf and his wife founded Anamorphy Press and Anarcho-Syndicalist Publications-a small academic letter press and publisher. Recent Journal publications include Guideword - Goddard College 2008, 2009, Physiognomy in Letters (a dada journal of poetry) 2009. Leaf also serves as a staff writer for Literary Mary Reviewing Poetry.
Leaf online @ http://www.pw.org/content/craig_leaf