Margaret Hasse began reading and writing poetry as a child and never stopped. She grew up in South
Dakota and attended college in California where she earned a B.A. in English from Stanford University. After moving to Minnesota in 1973 she became deeply involved in its rapidly growing literary community. Over the years Margaret taught writing in correctional facilities, at The Loft Literary Center, for COMPAS Poets-in-the-Schools, as a freelancer, among other places. Alongside writing and teaching poetry Margaret worked for and as an adviser to arts organizations in the state and nationally. She also obtained an M.A. in English (with a creative writing emphasis) from the University of Minnesota.
Margaret's poetry has been widely published, including in six full-length books, two chapbooks, a "new and selected" collection, and in journals, anthologies, and, remarkably, in St. Paul's sidewalks and on public transit. Her work as a poet has received recognition through a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship, Loft McKnight Awards, Minnesota State Arts Board grants, and other honors. Margaret has lived in St. Paul for almost forty years with her husband, David Grothe, where they raised their two sons, Michael and Alex.
