Bob Stewart was born in New Jersey, USA, but lived in Jamaica for a large part of his life. He taught in Kingston before working as a tutor at the University of the West Indies, where he acquired a doctorate in history. His poems appeared in a series of Caribbean and international publications, including Arts Review, Jamaica Journal, Savacou and Race Today. His own volume, Cane Cut, was published by Savacou Cooperative in 1988, after his return to the US.