Christopher Gilbert

Christopher Gilbert (August 1, 1949, -July 5, 2007) was an African-American poet.

Life
Gilbert was born in Birmingham, Alabama, the son of Floyd and Rosie (Walker) Gilbert. He grew up in Lansing, Michigan.

He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1972, and received a Ph.D. in psychology from Clark University in 1986.

He work appears in African-American Literary Review, Callaloo, Crab Apple Review, Graham House Review, Indiana Review, Massachusetts Review, Ploughshares, Urbanus, William & Mary Review, New York Quarterly,

His poem Any Good Throat, is on a monument in Jackson Square, Boston

He lived in Providence, Rhode Island.

Writing
"ACROSS THE MUTUAL LANDCAPE is a first collection of poems by a young black psychotherapist from a working-class background in Lansing, Mich., who acknowledges many musical influences but only a few literary ones. The book was chosen by Michael Harper for the 1983 Walt Whitman Award - a choice reflecting Mr. Harper's longstanding commitment to what is richest and most serious in black American poetry. Christopher Gilbert is a careful, craftsmanly writer. His subtle, syncopated rhythms make one think of jazz; but the syncopation is made audible, often, by the underlying presence of meter..."

Recognition

 * 1983 Walt Whitman Award
 * 1986 The Frost Place poet in residence

Poetry