Will Alexander (born 1948) is an American poet, novelist, essayist, playwright, and visual artist. He was the recipient of a Whiting Fellowship for Poetry in 2001 and a California Arts Council Fellowship in 2002. Life He earned a BA in English and creative writing from the University of California–Los Angeles in 1972. He has worked several jobs (including the LA Lakers box office), taught at various institutions, and has been associated with the nonprofit organization Theatre of Hearts/Youth First, working with underserved, at-risk youth. His work has appeared in BOMB, Boston Review, Entropy, Chicago Review, Denver Quarterly, Fence, jubilat, and The Nation. Alexander's poetry and his visual art have been greatly influenced by his readings of Bob Kaufman, Octavio Paz, and Francophone Negritude writers such as Aimé Cesaire and Jean-Joseph Rabéarivelo. Alexander describes their themes of cosmic isolation from society and interior discovery as an "alchemical metamorphosis". Much of his work is characterized by this powerful mix of metaphor and sophisticated language. According to the Poetry Foundation, his work is frequently described as surreal. Awards 2016 — Jackson Poetry Prize (awarded by Poets & Writers) 2014 — American Book Award for Singing In Magnetic Hoofbeat: Essays, Prose, Texts, Interviews, and a Lecture 2002 — California Arts Council Fellowship 2001 — Whiting Fellowship for Poetry Works Vertical Rainbow Climber (poems), Jazz Press, 1987. Arcane Lavender Morals (short fiction chapbook), Leave Books, 1994. The Stratospheric Canticles (poems), Pantograph Press, 1995. Asia & Haiti (two long poems), Sun & Moon Press, 1995. Above the Human Nerve Domain (poems), Pavement Saw Press, 1998. Towards the Primeval Lightning Field (philosophical essays), O Books, 1998. ; revised second edition published by Litmus Press, 2014. Exobiology as Goddess (two long poems), Manifest Press, 2004. Sunrise In Armageddon (novel), Spuyten Duyvil Press, 2006. Inalienable Recognitions (essays), Tract Series #4. eohippus labs, 2009. The Sri Lankan Loxodrome (one long and five short poems), New Directions Publishing, 2009. On the Substance of Disorder (essays), [Parrot 7]. Insert Press, 2010. Compression & Purity (poems), City Lights, 2011. Diary As Sin (novel), Skylight Press, 2011. Inside the Earthquake Palace: 4 Plays (theatre), Chax Press, 2011. Mirach Speaks to his Grammatical Transparents (philosophical essays), Oyster Moon Press, 2011. The Brimstone Boat - For Philip Lamantia (long poem from 2000, and essays), Rêve à Deux, 2012. Singing in Magnetic Hoofbeat: Essays, Prose Texts, Interviews and a Lecture 1991–2007 (prose anthology), Essay Press, 2012. Kaleidoscopic