Mari Evans

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Mari Evans (born July 16, 1923 in Toledo, Ohio) is an African-American poet, best known for her poem "When In Rome", which is taught in many high school and college English classes.The poem ends (I'm tired of eatin' what they eats in Rome..), which is how the poem received its name. It is a dialogue poem, between Mattie, and her possible slave owner, offereing her unfamiliar foods in the pantry. She is also well known for the quote "I have never been contained except I made the prison."

In addition to writing poetry, Evans has written many articles and essays, as well as children's books and plays. She has been a professor at several universities, including Cornell University and Indiana University.In 1997, she was celebrated with her photo on a Ugandan postage stamp. ·