David Romtvedt

David Romtvedt was born in Portland, Oregon, and grew up in Arizona. He received a BA from Reed College and an MFA from the University of Iowa.

He is the author of several poetry collections, including No Way: An American Tao Te Ching (Louisiana State University Press, 2021); Dilemmas of the Angels (Louisiana State University Press, 2017); Some Church (Milkweed Editions, 2005); A Flower Whose Name I Do Not Know (Copper Canyon Press, 1992), chosen by John Haines for the National Poetry Series; and Moon (Bieler Press, 1984).

Carol Bly writes, “David Romtvedt is like a loyal consul who represents a species that has done some terrible things: undeluded, he still loves us, and keeps laying out more high-hearted policies for us all.”

Romtvedt has published several books of prose, including Zelestina Urza in Outer Space (Center for Basque Studies, 2015) and Windmill: Essays from Four Mile Ranch (Red Crane Books, 1997). Also a musician, he plays traditional American dance music with The Wyoming Fireants Band and has received a Distinguished Service to Music Education Award from the Wyoming Music Educators Association. He, alongside Xabier Irujo, translated the complete poems of Joxe Mari Iparragirre in The Tree of Gernika (Center for Basque Studies Press, 2020). 

Romtvedt served as the poet laureate of Wyoming from 2003 to 2011. The recipient of a Wyoming Governor’s Arts Award, he has also been awarded fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Wyoming Arts Council, among others. He teaches at the University of Wyoming.


Bibliography

Poetry

No Way: An American Tao Te Ching (Louisiana State University Press, 2021)
The Tree of Gernika, Gernikako Arbola, Complete Poems of Joxe Mari Iparragirre (Center for Basque Studies Press, 2020)
Dilemmas of the Angels (Louisiana State University Press, 2017)
Some Church (Milkweed Editions, 2005)
Certainty (White Pine Press, 1996)
A Flower Whose Name I Do Not Know (Copper Canyon Press, 1992)
How Many Horses (Ion Books, 1988)
Moon (Bieler Press, 1984)

Prose
Zelestina Urza in Outer Space (Center for Basque Studies, 2015)
Windmill: Essays from Four Mile Ranch (Red Crane Books, 1997)
Crossing Wyoming (White Pine Press, 1992)
Free and Compulsory for All: Tales (Graywolf Press, 1984)