Kern County Times

Born on May 27, 1939, in California, Frank Bidart initially considered a career in acting or directing. In 1957, he began studies at the University of California, Riverside, delving into the works of writers like T.S. Eliot and Ezra Pound.

His poetic journey continued at Harvard, where he studied under Robert Lowell and Elizabeth Bishop, commencing in 1962. Serving as an English professor at Wellesley College since 1972, Bidart also taught at Brandeis University.

Notable for dramatic monologues like "Ellen West" and "Herbert White," he explored diverse perspectives. Co-editing Robert Lowell's Collected Poems in 2003 showcased his dedication to poetry.

Bidart clinched the 2007 Bollingen Prize and, in 2018, the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. His chapbook, "Music Like Dirt," was a 2003 Pulitzer finalist, while "Metaphysical Dog" won the National Book Critics Circle Award in 2013.

Collaborating with actor-poet James Franco on "Herbert White" (2010), based on Bidart's poem, reflected his ongoing impact. Recognized with the Griffin Poetry Prize Lifetime Recognition Award in 2017 and the National Book Award for Poetry, Bidart's journey intertwines with Bakersfield's narrative, a poet whose words resonate far beyond academic realms.