Deborah Gordon Cooper has been writing poetry for over thirty years. Her work has been published in numerous literary journals and anthologies, including "ArtWord Quarterly," "The Roaring Muse," "Kalliope," "Wolf Head Quarterly," "North Coast Review," "Minnesota Monthly," "Nimrod," "Rosebud," and "Dust and Fire." She and her husband, Joel, who is a printmaker, have exhibited their collaborative images throughout the Midwest. Deborah has used poetry extensively in her work as a Hospice Chaplain. She teaches poetry writing classes at the St. Louis County Jail and conducts writing circles for the homeless. She also conducts workshops on the interfacing of poetry and spirituality. She was honored to be chosen as the 2012 to 2014 Poet Laureate of Duluth, Minnesota. "Under the Influence of Lilacs" (2010) is the most comprehensive collection of her work and won honorable mention in the Northeastern Minnesota Book Awards. She co-edited three anthologies with Holy Cow! Press: "Beloved on the Earth: 150 Poems of Grief and Gratitude" (2009), "The Heart of All That Is" (2013), and "Amethyst and Agate" (2015).