Marie Howe is an American poet renowned for her powerful and insightful poetry. Born in 1950 in Rochester, New York, Howe's engagement with poetry began at a pivotal point in her life, shaping her path forward. She attended Sacred Heart Convent School and furthered her education at the University of Windsor. Howe's passion for poetry led her to pursue an MFA from Columbia University, where she had the opportunity to study under the tutelage of Stanley Kunitz, whom she respectfully acknowledges as "my true teacher."

Howe's teaching career includes positions at Sarah Lawrence College, Columbia University, and New York University. Alongside her teaching, she has made significant contributions to the literary world by co-editing the essay anthology In the Company of My Solitude: American Writing from the AIDS Pandemic (1994). Her commitment to poetry and literature has been recognized through various fellowships, including those from the Bunting Institute at Radcliffe College, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Guggenheim Foundation, and the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown.

In 2017, she published her poetry collection Magdalene, which has been well received. Howe's influence in the field was further cemented when she was appointed as the State Poet for New York in August 2012. Howe's eloquence and depth in her poetry continue to inspire and resonate with readers and poets alike.