Alicia Ostriker

Alicia Ostriker is a prominent American poet and scholar, born in 1937. Her work is characterized by its exploration of Jewish feminist themes, earning her recognition as a leading voice in her field. Ostriker's poetry is notable for its unflinching honesty, with Progressive magazine describing her as "America's most fiercely honest poet." Her writing often delves into personal and social issues, including the experiences of women and the complexities of family life.

Throughout her career, Ostriker has been a trailblazer for women poets, particularly in her discussion of motherhood as a subject in her work. She was one of the first American women poets to publish poems on this topic, paving the way for future generations of writers. Ostriker's contributions to literature have been widely acknowledged, with notable honors including her election as a Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets in 2015 and her appointment as the New York State Poet Laureate in 2018. These distinctions reflect her significant impact on the literary landscape and her continued influence as a poet and scholar.