Lally, Michael, 1942-

Michael Lally (May 25 1942- ) is an American-born poet and the author of more than 30 books of poetry. He is considered part of the New York School of poetry, which began in the early 1950s. Lally was born in Orange, New Jersey. His autobiographical style of poetry and prose reflects on American culture from the 1950s. Lally started out reading his poetry in coffeehouses and bars in 1959. In 1962, he joined the United States Air Force and after leaving the military used the the G.I. Bill to attend the University of Iowa Writers' Workshop. In 1972 his book South Orange Sonnets was published and received a New York Poetry Center Discovery Award. Lally has been married three times. His first wife was Carol Lee Fisher from 1964 to 1979. The second wife was Penelope Milford from 1982 to 1984. He then wed a third time to Jaina Flynn in 1997 before separating in 2003. Lally has three children: Caitlin, Miles, and Flynn.