Ross Gay compiles collection of poetry

Ross Gay compiles collection of poetry

PITTSBURGH

Early next year, the University of Pittsburgh Press will publish “Bringing the Shovel Down,” the second poetry collection by Ross Gay, a native of Youngstown who grew up near Philadelphia.

The poems speak out of a global consciousness and individual wisdom. The author, who says he is exploring compassion and writing more joyful poems, offers two versions of the title poem in the book.

Gay is a professor of creative writing at Indiana University’s College of Arts and Sciences and also is the author of the collection “Against Which” (CavanKerry Press, 2006). His poems have appeared in a number of publications.

Gay has a bachelor’s degree from Lafayette College, a master’s in poetry from Sarah Lawrence College and his doctorate in American literature from Temple University.

He has been a basketball coach, painter and an occasional demolition man.