n M-80, his third book of poems, Jim Daniels explores the sharp edges of urban life. His characters struggle for survival in the face of rising urban violence, racial tension, and a crumbling economy. The collection is named for one of the most dangerous fireworks found on city streets - an apt metaphor for an urban world where the fuse is always lit.

Jim Daniels has published four books of poetry, as well as six chapbooks. He has received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, and has been awarded a Pushcart Prize. A native of Detroit, Daniels is currently a professor of English at Carnegie Mellon University, where he directs the creative writing program.