was born in Havana in 1954, has lived in the United States since 1960. In his poetry, he synthesizes symbols of contemporary Americana and the classical Hispanic tradition. His poetry book, Sorting Metaphors, won the national competition for the first Anhinga Poetry Prize. His poetry book, Cuba, was a nominee for a Pulitzer. His other works include Vereda Tropical, The Mastery Impulse and The Bread of the Imagined. His forthcoming poetry book is Parable Hunter. He is also a painter and has exhibited his work at the Bass Museum in Miami Beach, at Rutgers University, Lehigh University and in Venezuela, Peru and Brazil.

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