Dionisio D. Martínez

B. 1956
Portrait of poet Dionisio D. Martinex by the lake.
headshot of poet Dionisio Martinez in front of water.

Dionisio D. Martínez was born in Havana, Cuba, and raised in Spain and the United States. Although Martinez never received a formal college education, his poetry has been hailed as fresh and original, and he has been called a “formidable talent.” His collections of poetry include Climbing Back (2000), chosen for the National Poetry Series by Jorie Graham; Bad Alchemy (1995); and History as a Second Language (1992), winner of the Ohio State University Press / The Journal Award for Poetry. He is also the author of a chapbook, Dancing at the Chelsea (1992). His reviews, essays, and poetry have appeared in many publications, including the Kenyon Review, the New Republic, Prairie Schooner, and Poetry magazine. Martínez has been awarded fellowships by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Guggenheim Foundation, and the Whiting Foundation. He lives in Tampa, Florida.