Madeline DeFrees was born in Ontario, Oregon, in 1919. At age 17, she entered the convent of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, assuming the name of Sister Mary Gilbert for the next 38 years. She has published eight previous volumes of poetry and two memoirs on her life as a nun. She has taught at universities and colleges throughout the U.S., including the University of Massachusetts where she directed its MFA program.