Who Is Arthur Sze? Meet America’s New Poet Laureate and His Vision for Translation

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Arthur Sze, born in 1950, is the 25th U.S. Poet Laureate. Explore his upbringing, family, education, poetic journey, and his vision for poetry in translation.

The Big Announcement

On September 15, 2025, the Library of Congress named Arthur Sze as the 25th U.S. Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry, effective October 9, 2025. He succeeds Ada Limón. In his announcement, Sze emphasized his desire to promote poetry in translation, stating that poetry can help Americans slow down, deepen attention, and connect.

Arthur Sze

Early Life & Family

• Birth & Heritage: Arthur Sze was born in 1950 in New York City to Chinese immigrant parents. He is second-generation Chinese American.

• Childhood Locations: He grew up in Queens and Garden City, Long Island. His parents spoke Chinese; the literary heritage of his father (classical Chinese literature) deeply influenced him.

• Family Expectations: His parents expected him to pursue a safe, stable profession (e.g. science, engineering), as often for immigrant families, rather than poetry. But his father had a classical literary education (in China), translating works like the I Ching and Lao-Tzu, which exposed young Sze to poetry early on.

Education

• High School: Graduated from Lawrenceville School in 1968.

• College: Began in 1968 at MIT, studying math and science, but found himself increasingly drawn to poetry.

• Transfer & Major: In 1970, transferred to University of California, Berkeley. There he created a self-designed major in poetry, under mentorship of poets such as Josephine Miles. He also studied Chinese language, classical Chinese literature, philosophy. Graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a BA in 1972.

Arthur Sze Named 25th U.S. Poet Laureate

Career & Literary Achievement

• Early Work & Teaching: After college, Sze moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he has lived for decades. He taught for many years at the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), where he helped build up the creative writing program, particularly supporting Indigenous poets.

• Publications:

  • Twelve poetry collections, including Into the Hush (2025), The Glass Constellation: New and Collected Poems (2021), Sight Lines (2019), Compass Rose (2014), The Ginkgo Light (2009), Quipu (2005), The Redshifting Web: Poems 1970-1998 (1998), Archipelago (1995).

  • Works of Chinese poetry translations: The Silk Dragon (2001) and The Silk Dragon II (2024).

• Awards & Honors:

  • 2019: Sight Lines wins the National Book Award for Poetry.

  • Pulitzer Prize finalist (Compass Rose) in 2015.

  • Numerous lifetime achievement awards: Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize (2022), Shelley Memorial Award (2021), Rebekah Johnson Bobbitt National Prize for Poetry (2024), Bollingen Prize for American Poetry from Yale (2025).

  • First Poet Laureate of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Professor Emeritus at IAIA.

Personal Life

• Residence: Arthur Sze lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

• Family: He is married to Carol Moldaw, a poet. They have two children together (a daughter), plus a son from a previous marriage.

• Daily Routine & Early Habits: For much of his adult life, has followed disciplined writing schedules: waking early (5 AM) in New Mexico to write while maintaining full-time responsibilities. (He balanced teaching and family duties early on.)

Vision & Focus as U.S. Poet Laureate

• Translation & Poetry: Sze has expressed that he wants to focus on poetry in translation; bringing global poetic voices into American life and showing how translated poetry enriches our culture.

• Making Poetry Accessible: He emphasizes slowing down, deepening attention, connecting with language and nature. His works often bridge scientific, philosophical, environmental themes with poetic form.

• Educational Legacy: Through IAIA, mentoring younger poets, particularly Indigenous poets, has been a central part of his career.

Public & Financial Profile

• Public Income / Financials: No credible public source provides detailed net worth or total financial assets. His income likely derives from book sales, prize winnings, public speaking or readings, teaching (now emeritus), grants, and residencies.

• Property / Lifestyle: Owns or resides in property in Santa Fe; maintains a writing studio. He has spoken about modest living and deep engagement rather than focus on wealth.

FAQs

Q1: What is Arthur Sze’s full educational background?

A: He began at MIT in 1968, transferred to UC Berkeley in 1970, designed his own major in poetry under Josephine Miles, and graduated in 1972 Phi Beta Kappa.

Q2: How did his family influence his poetry?

A: His father was well-versed in classical Chinese literature and maintained scholarly and translation interests; this family literary background planted early seeds for Sze’s own interest in poetry and translation.

Q3: How many books has he published?

A: He has published twelve collections of poetry, plus works of translation. Notable recent works include Into the Hush (2025) and The Glass Constellation (2021).

Q4: What are some major awards he’s won?

A: Including the National Book Award (2019), Ruth Lilly Prize, Shelley Memorial Award, Rebekah Johnson Bobbitt Prize, and the Bollingen Prize (2025).

Q5: Where does he currently live, and with whom?

A: He resides in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with his wife Carol Moldaw. They have children—one daughter together, and a son from a previous marriage.

Q6: What is his age?

A: Born in 1950, he is currently 74-75 years old (depending on the month).

Q7: Does Arthur Sze have a PhD or MFA?

A: No. He never enrolled in or obtained an MFA/PhD. He learned his craft through undergraduate work, mentorship, translation, workshops, and his own readings.

Q8: What does being Poet Laureate mean for him?

A: He intends to use the role to elevate poetry in translation, encourage public engagement, make poetry more accessible, and highlight how poetry relates to environmental, scientific, cultural themes.

Conclusion

Arthur Sze’s appointment as the 25th U.S. Poet Laureate is more than a recognition of his poetic skill—it is an acknowledgment of his lifetime of bridging cultures, languages, science, nature, and community. From his early life as a child of Chinese immigrants in New York to his years teaching and mentoring in New Mexico, deploying a self-designed major in poetry, and publishing a dozen collections, he combines formal mastery with deep curiosity. His vision for translation promises to bring poetry closer to readers across languages and cultures in 2025 and beyond.

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