Born and raised in San Francisco, Stanley was part of the San Francisco Renaissance in the 1960s, which also included Jack Spicer, Robert Duncan and Robin Blaser.

He received his bachelor's degree from San Francisco State University in 1969, and a master's degree in 1971.

In the 1970s, Stanley moved to British Columbia, first living in Vancouver for five years, then Terrace in northern British Columbia, where he worked as an instructor in the English department at Northwest Community College. He has also worked at Capilano College in North Vancouver.

In Vancouver in the early 1970s Stanley became associated with New Star Books, and The Grape, an alternative newspaper. He also has been active in Canadian politics, unions and alternative media. He is a board member of the The Capilano Press Society, publisher of The Capilano Review.

He retired and again lives in Vancouver.

Poems

• "Veracruz"
• "Abner"
• "The Power of the Unhappy People"
• "Outside the Kingdome"
• "Aubade"
• "Sex at 62"
• "In Scotland"

Reviews

• North of California Street, Ted Byrne in The Rain Review of Books