Michael Lally is an American-born poet and the author of twenty-seven books of poetry. He is considered part of the New York School of poetry, which began in the early 1950s and is acknowledged as one of the most influential movements of American poetry. He counts among his major influences the poets Frank O’Hara and William Carlos Williams, as well as writer William Saroyan.
The youngest of seven in an Irish-American family of cops, priests, and politicians Lally was born in the town of Orange and raised in the town of South Orange, New Jersey. His poetry and prose moves through and reflects on many of the seminal shifts in American culture from the 1950’s forward: the civil rights, gay rights, women’s rights and anti-war movements and his active participation in each. Master of the autobiographical style, his writing charts the internal emotional landscape of the evolving 20th century man.
Lally started out playing piano and reading his poetry in coffeehouses and bars in 1959. In 1962 he joined the Air Force, where he spent more than four years as an enlisted man, and later used the G.I. Bill to attend the University of Iowa Writers Workshop. While living in Iowa Lally’s devotion to political reform extended beyond editorials. In the fall of 1968 he actively campaigned for the position of Johnson County Sheriff as part of the Peace and Freedom Party ticket. (SOURCE: “Students for a Democratic Society” by Harvey Pekar, page 161-170.)
Writing career
In 1972 he wrote the autobiographical “South Orange Sonnets” (Some of Us Press), which on publication led to a New York Poetry Center Discovery Award. (REFERENCES Doug Lang, Terence Winch)
Acting career
He moved from Manhattan to Los Angeles in 1982 to find work acting in movies and TV (as Michael David Lally) [1], mostly as a bad guy (like a psycho detective on JAG), and the occasional good guy (a gentle artist on NYPD Blue), while his writing found its way into several movies including . In 1999 he moved home to New Jersey.
Personal life
Lally has been married three times. His first wife 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
March 18, 2003 (book-length poem with illustrations by Alex Katz, Libellum, 2004) (third edition, Charta, 2006)
It Takes One to Know One: Poetry & Prose (Black Sparrow Press, 2001)
¿Que Pasa, Baby? (prose poem, Wake Up Heavy Press, 2001)
It's Not Nostalgia: Poetry & Prose (Black Sparrow Press, 1999)
Of (book-length poem, Quiet Lion Press, 1999)
Cant Be Wrong (poetry, Coffee House Press, 1996)
What You Find There (poetry compact disc, New Alliance Records, 1994)
Hollywood Magic (poetry, Little Caesar, 1982)
Attitude (poetry, Hanging Loose Press, 1982)
White Life (poetry, Jordan Davies, 1980)
In the Mood (poem, Titanic Books, 1978)
Catch My Breath (poetry and prose, Salt Lick Press, 1978; second edition, 1995)
Just Let Me Do It (poetry, Vehicle Editions, 1978)
Charisma (poetry, O Press, 1976)
Rocky Dies Yellow (poetry, Blue Wind Press, 1975; second edition, 1977)
Mentally, He's a Sick Man (prose, Salt Lick Press, 1975)
Dues (poetry, The Stonewall Press, 1975)
My Life (poetry, Wyrd Press, 1975)
Sex/The Swing Era (poetry, Lucy & Ethel, 1975)
Oomaloom (prose, A Dry Imager Production, 1975)
Malenkov Takes Over (poetry/collage, A Dry Imager Production, 1974)
Late Sleepers (poem, Pellet Press, 1973)
The South Orange Sonnets (poetry, Some Of Us Press, 1972)
Stupid Rabbits (poetry, Morgan Press, 1971)
The Lines Are Drawn (poetry, Asphalt Press, 1970)
MCMLXVI Poem (poem, The Nomad Press, 1970)
What Withers (poetry, Doones Press, 1970)
White Lies (prose, Donovan Press, 1969)
Plays
Four Grown Men, The Ear of the Dog Poets Theater Festival, 1982, New York, NY
Hollywood Magic, Stages Theater, 1983, Hollywood, CA 1983
The Rhythm of Torn Stars, 1988, The Pacific Theater, Venice CA (co-wrote)
Chicks: A Spiritual Quest, 1995, 321 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA
Film
Co-authored Fogbound (with Ate De Jong), which was a finalist at the 2003 Hollywood Film Festival and winner of the 2003 Best Feature Film award at the 5th International Panorama of Independent Filmmakers Festival in Thessaloniki, Greece.
Contributed to many screenplays including Drugstore Cowboy, Pump Up The Volume, The Laureate, and many more.
Song
Notable Awards
American Book Award, 2000
PEN Josephine Miles Award for Excellence in Literature, 1997
The Pacificus Foundation Literary Award, 1996
National Endowment for the Arts Poetry Fellowship, 1974 and 1981
The Poets Foundation Award, 1974
The New York 92nd St. YMHA Poetry Center Discovery Award, 1972
