Samuel Hazo has published books of poetry, fiction, essays, and various works of translation, and has written two plays. His most recent books are the poetry collection The Past Won't Stay Behind You; Stills, a novel; and an essay collection, The Rest Is Prose. Dr. Hazo is a professor at Duquesne University and director of the International Poetry Forum. In 1993 he was named first state poet of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.