Patrick Friesen, a prolific poet, playwright, and lyricist was born in Steinbech, Manitoba and lived in Winnipeg for many years. He now resides in Vancouver, British Columbia, where he teaches Creative Writing at Kwantlen University College.

Since 1976, Friesen has published ten collections of poetry: the lands I am, Bluebottle, The Shunning, Unearthly Horses, Flicker and Hawk, You Don't Get to Be a Saint, Blasphemer's Wheel, A Broken Bowl, St. Mary at Main and Carrying the Shadow. Blasphemer's Wheel:Selected & New Poems (1994) was a runner-up for the Acorn People's Poetry Award and won the Manitoba Book of the Year Award, while St. Mary at Main was short-listed for the Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize. A Broken Bowl was a finalist for the 1997 Governor General's Award.

Friesen has also writtten several stage and radio plays, including a stage version of The Shunning, which was hailed on CBC's Morningside as "one of the best Canadian plays ever staged".

He has translated a number of works of poetry by Danish writers, has written text for modern dance and documentary film scripts, including one on Patrick Lane, and has written lyrics for songs and text for jazz improvisation.

Friesen has recently recorded, for CBC radio, an hour-long program of poetry and piano improv with pianist Marilyn Lerner, to be broadcast in April/May. He also has a new book of poetry coming out in the fall of 2002 with Harbour Publishing.