Linda Pastan has written twelve volumes of poetry, including her most recent collection Carnival Evening: New and Selected Poems 1968-1998, Norton, 1998. Pastan's many awards and honors include the Dylan Thomas Poetry Award, 1958; Swallow Press New Poetry Series award, 1972; National Endowment for the Arts fellow, 1972; Bread Loaf Writers Conference, John Atherton fellowship, 1974; Maryland Arts Council grant,1978; De Castagnola Award, 1978, for The Five Stages of Grief; American Book Award poetry nomination, 1983, for PM/AM: New and Selected Poems; Bess Hokin Prize, Poetry, 1985; Maurice English Award, 1986; Virginia Faulkner Award, Prairie Schooner, 1992 and a Los Angeles Times book award nomination for The Imperfect Paradise.

Pastan was poet laureate of Maryland, 1991-95.