I grew up in Miami, went to college at Penn, med school at Washington U, public health school at Harvard, and residency training at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston, and after 20 years of practicing and teaching medicine at UVA School of Medicine, I audited a poetry writing class taught by Charles Wright at UVA.. I was swept along in the current, went to the Warren Wilson MFA program, and learned to get up early every morning and write a new poem or revise yesterday’s. Mostly, I have one reader. I published enough to get a chapbook out (Chance) and then a real book (2nd Chance). I am 76 years old and aware that calling the next book Last Chance is asking for trouble. I am retired now, and have too much time to brood about AI and digitized medical practice and weeds in my garden and weeds in Wash DC. Carnivorous weeds. I am terrified of cuts to Medicaid. Looking back, I would have enjoyed going to Wooden Boat School. Most importantly, I am happily married for 45 years, with two grown kids who make me proud and happy. I look forward to learning from my cohort of 30/30 poets.
Mackenzie Pierce
August 10, 2025
