Elise Paschen facts for kids

Elise Paschen is an American poet. She is also a member of the Osage Nation, a Native American tribe. Elise helped start and edit a cool program called Poetry in Motion. This program puts poetry posters in subways and buses across the country.

Her Life and Education

Elise Paschen was born and grew up in Chicago, Illinois. Her mother was Maria Tallchief, a very famous ballet dancer. Her father was Henry D. Paschen, a builder from Chicago. Elise went to the Francis W. Parker School in Chicago.

She later studied at Harvard University. While she was there, she won the Lloyd McKim Garrison Medal for her poetry. She also worked as the Poetry Editor for a student magazine called the Harvard Advocate.

After Harvard, Elise went to Oxford University in England. She earned two advanced degrees there. At Oxford, she also helped start and edit a poetry magazine called Oxford Poetry.

Elise was the Executive Director of the Poetry Society of America from 1988 to 2001. This group helps support poets and poetry. She has also edited many collections of poems. Some of these, like Poetry Speaks, became very popular.

Today, Elise teaches writing at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She lives in Chicago with her husband, Stuart Brainerd, and their two children.

Her Books and Projects

Elise Paschen has written several books of her own poems. Her most recent book is called The Nightlife. Other books include Bestiary and Houses: Coasts. Her poems have also appeared in many well-known magazines and collections. These include The New Yorker, Poetry, and The Best American Poetry 2018.

Books of Her Poems

• Houses: Coasts (1985)
• Bestiary (2009)
• The Nightlife (2017)
• Tallchief (2023)

Collections Featuring Her Poems

Elise Paschen's poems have been included in many different poetry collections, also known as anthologies.

• Reinventing the Enemy’s Language: Contemporary Native Women’s Writings of North America (1997)
• Ravishing DisUnities: Real Ghazals in English (2000)
• The POETRY Anthology, 1912—2002 (2002)
• A Formal Feeling Comes: Poems in Form by Contemporary Women (2007)
• Ghost Fishing: An Eco-Justice Poetry Anthology (2018)

Books She Edited

Elise Paschen has also worked as an editor or co-editor for several books.

• Poetry in Motion (1996)
• Poetry Speaks (2001)
• Poetry in Motion from Coast to Coast (2002)
• Poetry Speaks to Children (2005)
• Poetry Speaks Expanded (2007)
• Poetry Speaks Who I Am (2010)

Awards and Recognition

Elise Paschen has received several awards for her poetry and writing.

• Lloyd McKim Garrison Medal for poetry
• Joan Grey Untermyer Poetry Prize
• Richard Selig Poetry Prize
• Frances C. Allen Fellowship