M. R. Defibaugh

M. R. Defibaugh (b. 1985) is a Virginia-based poet and haiku enthusiast whose work is influenced by love, loss, disability, and his compassion for others and the environment. Diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, he suffers from progressive muscle loss and relies on a wheelchair. He has degrees in mathematical sciences (BA, University of Illinois at Springfield) and operations management (MS, University of Arkansas). His first haiku chapbook, the cuckoo always mid-song: haiku & haiga (2021), was done in collaboration with Michigan artist Penney L. Mellen and is available from Barnes & Noble Press. Defibaugh is also the co-creator and editor of the Tan-Renga/Tanka Chapbook Series (2022-). It features some of the 1000+ poems he has written with Malaysian poet Christina Chin and will soon begin featuring the collaborative work of other poets from around the world. Follow him on Instagram (@mrdefibaugh) or Ko-fi (ko-fi.com/mrdefibaugh), where you can purchase his books or show your support!