JAMIE PARSLEY was born in Fargo, North Dakota and was raised near
Harwood, North Dakota. The first of his seven books of poems, Paper Doves,
Falling and Other Poems, was published in 1992 when he was 22. Over the next
15 years, he published six more books of poems, including The Loneliness of
Blizzards (published in 1995), Cloud: a poem in 2 acts (1997), The Wounded Table
(1999), no stars, no moon; new and selected haiku (2004),and Ikon (2005). His
seventh book of poems, Just Once (2007) chronicled his diagnosis, treatment
and ultimate recovery from cancer in 2002. He is also the author of a book of
prayers, Let This Road Beneath Me Sing (2007) His poems, fiction, sermons and
prayers have been published in literary journals and anthologies in the United
States, Britain, Canada and Japan.
He received a Master of Fine Arts Degree in Creative Writing from Vermont
College of Norwich University.
In 2004, he was designated an Associate Poet Laureate of North Dakota by
North Dakota Poet Laureate Larry Woiwode.
He also studied at the School of Theology at Thornloe University in Sudbury,
Ontario, St. Joseph’s College, Standish, Maine and received a Master's Degree
from Nashotah House Seminary, Nashotah, Wisconsin.
He was ordained a deacon on July 25, 2003 and a priest on June 11, 2004.
Following ordination, he served as an Assisting Priest at Gethsemane Episcopal
Cathedral, Fargo. In 2005, he was appointed Assistant to the Bishop for
Communications in the Episcopal Diocese of North Dakota. He also serves as
Chaplain to All Saints Episcopal Church, Valley City, ND.
He has taught Theology, Ethics, Philosophy, Literature and Writing at the
University of Mary's Fargo campus since 2003.
Fellow writers have also recognized Jamie's work. Jon Hassler (1933-2008),
author of North of Hope and Staggerford said, “Jamie Parsley’s poems are so
evocative, so lonely, so understated, that I admire them very much. One of his
best talents is avoiding wordiness—a mistake so common to many poets, in my
opinion. The reader feels very comfortable fitting himself into the silences of
Jamie’s poems.”
Cid Corman (1924-2004), the late editor of Origin magazine and widely
acclaimed poet, said, “The feeling [in Jamie Parsley's poems] is warm and open
and good. . .a good feeling all around. Given his years—notable.”
Editor John Daniel said, “Jamie Parsley's poems are strong and sensual, and
they’re driven by right-minded feelings. And they’re intelligent without being
overly cerebral. The language creates celebration and life in lines that sing like
brookwater. He has a magic palette and there is a mythic quality in the way he
sees nature. Forgive me for going on at the mouth but this is fine stuff.”
Harwood, North Dakota. The first of his seven books of poems, Paper Doves,
Falling and Other Poems, was published in 1992 when he was 22. Over the next
15 years, he published six more books of poems, including The Loneliness of
Blizzards (published in 1995), Cloud: a poem in 2 acts (1997), The Wounded Table
(1999), no stars, no moon; new and selected haiku (2004),and Ikon (2005). His
seventh book of poems, Just Once (2007) chronicled his diagnosis, treatment
and ultimate recovery from cancer in 2002. He is also the author of a book of
prayers, Let This Road Beneath Me Sing (2007) His poems, fiction, sermons and
prayers have been published in literary journals and anthologies in the United
States, Britain, Canada and Japan.
He received a Master of Fine Arts Degree in Creative Writing from Vermont
College of Norwich University.
In 2004, he was designated an Associate Poet Laureate of North Dakota by
North Dakota Poet Laureate Larry Woiwode.
He also studied at the School of Theology at Thornloe University in Sudbury,
Ontario, St. Joseph’s College, Standish, Maine and received a Master's Degree
from Nashotah House Seminary, Nashotah, Wisconsin.
He was ordained a deacon on July 25, 2003 and a priest on June 11, 2004.
Following ordination, he served as an Assisting Priest at Gethsemane Episcopal
Cathedral, Fargo. In 2005, he was appointed Assistant to the Bishop for
Communications in the Episcopal Diocese of North Dakota. He also serves as
Chaplain to All Saints Episcopal Church, Valley City, ND.
He has taught Theology, Ethics, Philosophy, Literature and Writing at the
University of Mary's Fargo campus since 2003.
Fellow writers have also recognized Jamie's work. Jon Hassler (1933-2008),
author of North of Hope and Staggerford said, “Jamie Parsley’s poems are so
evocative, so lonely, so understated, that I admire them very much. One of his
best talents is avoiding wordiness—a mistake so common to many poets, in my
opinion. The reader feels very comfortable fitting himself into the silences of
Jamie’s poems.”
Cid Corman (1924-2004), the late editor of Origin magazine and widely
acclaimed poet, said, “The feeling [in Jamie Parsley's poems] is warm and open
and good. . .a good feeling all around. Given his years—notable.”
Editor John Daniel said, “Jamie Parsley's poems are strong and sensual, and
they’re driven by right-minded feelings. And they’re intelligent without being
overly cerebral. The language creates celebration and life in lines that sing like
brookwater. He has a magic palette and there is a mythic quality in the way he
sees nature. Forgive me for going on at the mouth but this is fine stuff.”
| JAMIE PARSLEY |
