Poetry. Poet and fiddler Ken Waldman has lived in Alaska fourteen years, reading and performing at hundreds of venues. After publishing over two dozen chapbooks, this prolific performer has at last introduced his first full volume of poetry: NOME POEMS. These poems describe his residence in Nome, its frontier citizens, his role as a musician, schoolteacher, and poet, and the crises that nearly cost him his life. Rural Alaska writing/ is spiritual business --/ recruit teachers/ who work with heart,/ grace, and humility./ The surviving people/ of this estranged,/ endangered place/ deserve no less (from Exit Papers, Nome).

A former college professor, Ken Waldman has had published six full-length poetry collections, a memoir, and has released seven CDs that combine old-time Appalachian-style string-band music with original poetry. Since 1994 he's worked full-time as Alaska's Fiddling Poet, performing at some of the nation's leading universities, festivals, arts centers, and clubs. Over 400 of his poems and stories have appeared in such journals as Beloit Poetry Journal, Quarterly West, and Yankee.