John Drury

John Drury is a Professor of English at the University of Cincinnati, where he has taught since 1985. He holds degrees from Stony Brook University (BA in Comparative Literature, 1976), Johns Hopkins University (MA in Writing Seminars, 1978), and the University of Iowa (MFA in Writers' Workshop, 1980).

• Author of four poetry collections: Sea Level Rising (2015), The Refugee Camp (2011), Burning the Aspern Papers (2003), and The Disappearing Town (2000).
• Authored two seminal texts on poetry: The Poetry Dictionary (2006) and Creating Poetry (1991).

Drury’s research focuses on Poetry, Creative Writing, and American Literature, with a particular interest in ghazal, poetic form, and teaching methodologies. His narrative prose explores personal history, travel, and cultural observation, often intersecting with literary themes.

His awards include:

• Bernard F. Conners Prize for Poetry (1997)
• William C. Boyce Excellence in Teaching Awards (2015, 1997)
• A.B. “Dolly” Cohen Award for Distinguished Teaching (2000)
• Pushcart Prize for “The Biblical Garden” (1986)

Drury teaches courses spanning Creative Writing, World Literature, Memoir, and Poetic Form, alongside graduate seminars on teaching methods and contemporary poetry. His work appears in The Paris Review, Ploughshares, and The Gettysburg Review, among others.