By dawn, I will turn into a
spruce
standing at the edge of a
snowbound forest
torn by the wind
and cradling an armload of blue needles
from “The Last Explorer”
by Richard Hedderman
Born in Albany, NY, Richard Hedderman is a multi-Pushcart-nominated poet, author, and educator.
Richard studied at Le Moyne College and the University of San Francisco where he earned undergraduate degrees in English Literature and Theater.
He taught English at the College St. Francois-Xavier in Vannes, France, and earned a Master’s Degree in Creative Writing from the University of New Hampshire.
He is the author of two books of poems, The Discovery of Heaven (2006) published by Parallel Press, and Choosing a Stone (2020), published by Finishing Line Press.
His writing has appeared in dozens of literary publications both in the U.S. and abroad. Several of his poems and essays have been featured on public radio, and he was a guest poet at the Library of Congress with the Poetry at Noon program.
He is a Lecturer in Creative Writing at Mount Mary University.
He was previously Writer-in-Residence at the Milwaukee Public Museum, where he coordinated creative writing programming and directed the Museum’s annual poetry competition.
He lives in Milwaukee with his wife, theater educator and playwright Robin Mello.
Accolades and Nominations
- Pushcart Prize nominations (2017, 2019, 2021, 2025)
- Shortlisted: The Ashland Poetry Press Richard Snyder Award
- Shortlisted: Codhill Press Poetry Award
- Guest Poet, the Library of Congress Poetry at Noon program
- New York State Writers Institute; Director John Montague, Ireland Chair of Poetry (three fellowships)
The Room Where It Happens
Image Credits:
Darren Hauck and Joan Williamson