To describe him as a man who merely wrote poetry would significantly underestimate the incredible contribution and dedication he made to modern poetry. Robert Pinsky, poet critic and translator, is a notable and influential figure in contemporary poetry (Baym 2777). Born in October 1940, Pinsky grew up in Long Branch, New Jersey. He earned a bachelor's degree from Rutgers University in New Jersey, as well as a master's degree and Ph.D. in Philosophy from Stanford University. In 1961 he married Ellen Jane Bailey, a clinical psychologist, and together they had 3 children. Pinsky accomplished many things in his life, such as being the author of numerous poetry collections, prose titles, and two acclaimed works of translation. In addition to these accomplishments, he also served as Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry at the Library of Congress from 1997 to 2000. During these 3 years he founded the Favorite Poem Project. This program allows thousands of Americans of all backgrounds and states to share their favorite poems. Pinsky has also taught at Wellesley College, UC Berkeley, and was chancellor of the Academy of American Poets from 2004 to 2010. He currently resides in Cambridge, Massachusetts and teaches at Boston University in the graduate writing program. His work recognizes and celebrates the way literature shapes its (and our) sense of life, experience, and language. His poetry is so quintessentially American in diction and subject matter that his important work as a translator may come as a surprise (Baym 2778). Louise Glück, also a poet, says of Pinsky's work that: “Robert Pinsky has what I think Shakespeare must have had: dexterity combined with worldliness, the dazzling swiftness of the magician fused with delicacy in......the midst of the paper ......onann. “A woman”. Masterplots II: Poetry, revised edition (2002): 1-2. Literary reference center. Network. 29 April 2014Nichel, Matteo. "Robert Pinsky." Magill'S Survey of American Literature, revised edition (2006): 1-6. Literary reference center. Network. April 24, 2014"Robert Pinsky." The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Nina Baym. 5th ed. vol. 2. New York: W. W. Norton, 1998. 2777-787. Print."Robert Pinsky." Foundation for Poetry. Poetry Foundation, n.d. Web. April 23, 2014. "Robert Pinsky." Poet.org. Academy of American Poets, n.d. Web. 25 April 2014. "Robert Pinsky." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, March 3, 2014. Web. April 23, 2014. Salas, Susan. “Robert Pinsky (1940-).” Criticism of poetry. vol. 27 (2000): 176.CIC University of Wisconsin La Crosse. Literary criticism online. Storm. April 27, 2014"The Want Bone." The bone of desire. New York: Ecco, 1990. 14. Print.