Alfred A. Poulin Jr.; Poet, Editor, Publisher

Alfred A. Poulin Jr., known professionally as A. Poulin, Jr., 58, poet and publisher who championed contemporary American poetry. A native of Lisbon, Maine, he earned degrees from St. Francis College in Maine, Loyola University in Chicago and the University of Iowa. Poulin taught English at several universities but devoted most of his energies to writing, translating and publishing poetry. He was editor of the Contemporary American Poetry anthology and founder and editor of the literary publishing house BOA Editions. Praised for his ability to recognize significant work, he published “Yin” by Carolyn Kizer in 1985 after it had been rejected by major publishing houses. The book won the 1985 Pulitzer Prize for poetry. Poulin translated for publication the poems of Rainer Maria Rilke, among others. On Wednesday in Brockport, N.Y., after a long illness.