Companion Poet
Raymond Carver |
Raymond Carver (1938-1988) was an American short story writer and poet who is often credited for reviving the short story form of writing in the 1980s. He wrote about the seemingly insignificant lives of blue-collar workers, although his short stories and poems gave them life. Carver struggled with poverty, alcoholism, a broken marriage, and eventually cancer, which is reflected in the 11 books of poetry and prose that he published. In 1988, he died at the age of 50 when he lost his fight to cancer.
In his last book, A New Path To the Waterfall, Carver reflects on his life, as it sadly comes to an end. In his final poem "Late Fragment", my companion poem, Carver asks himself if he has fulfilled his ultimate goal in life--"to feel beloved"--and he answers that he has. |