your february annogram

The Hero Emerges

Woo-hoo!  Fresh box of books!

What a thrill to start off the year with the debut of The Hero (Chax Press)! By contemporary French poet Hélène Sanguinetti, The Hero is my translation of her book-length poem exploring the absurdities of war. Charles Alexander designed a volume that is as beautiful to hold as it is to read. And we are delighted that Small Press Distribution highlighted The Hero in its ALL NEW SPD RECOMMENDS.

Translation for Writers

Know a minimum of another language?  You can enrich your own writing and publishing credits through translation. Sarah Lawrence Professor Ann Lauinger, Art Historian Beth Gersh- Nešić, and I will discuss literary translation this Sunday, February 24, at 4pm, at Bronx River Books in Scarsdale. Learn about the many opportunities in this growing field. Come join us! Free and open to everyone.

Brine Salt and Vinegar Translation Contest

Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio

Rajiv Mohabir selected my translation from Vers les icebergs (Mercure de France, 2014) as a runner-up in the 2018 Brine Salt and Vinegar Translation Contest.  Vers les icebergs, by Nobel Prize winner Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio, is a stunning meditation on poetry and specifically the poem “Iniji” by Henri Michaux. Thanks to Mercure de France for permission to translate and publish this selection.

More poetry published

So excited to have my poem, “Kin”, appear in the Texas-themed Enchantment of the Ordinary (Mutabilis Press, 2018); “Blue Moon” in Celestial Musings: Poems Inspired by the Night Sky (Independent Publisher, 2018), “Haunted” and “Blue Moon” in Vitamin ZZZ’s 40 Winks issue and, just in time for Mardi Gras, “Matinée” in Gris-Gris. Look for more Sanguinetti translated in the upcoming AMP, the literary journal of Hofstra University.

Cubism at the Centre Pompidou  

Robert Delauney, City of Paris, 1912

Wish you could fly to Paris to see the blockbuster Le Cubisme S’Expose? No need—intrepid Art Historian, Beth Gersh-Nešić, did so in January. Her Bonjour Paris review, a breath-taking survey of Cubism, features images you’ve never seen, and provides historical context for what we now take as the iconic threshold to Modernism. Learn about the Cubists’ belief “in the fluid intersection of everyday life and art, what Apollinaire called the poetry of circumstance.” Mais oui! Brava, Beth!


Andy Warhol – From A to B and Back Again

Shot Marilyns, 1964

What is it about Warhol (1928–1987) that is uniquely American? His work anticipated our obsessive celebrity culture, elevating and mocking it at once. This exhibition at the Whitney—the first US retrospective since 1989—reconsiders his work in the light of new research and scholarship. My husband Michael once saw him deeply considering a sofa at B. Altman’s—framing its image with his hands from different angles. Art was found everywhere. Through March 31st.

Poesía Recitada

Sylvia Plath (1932-1963)

You may have seen me reading Free Ferry (Upper Hand Press, 2017) in the Books Movie—an international vehicle for spoken poetry such as “Célébrations” by French poet and literary critic Jean-Luc Pouliquen. The free Poesía Recitada subscription also includes English speakers sharing poets such as such as Sylvia Plath and Oscar Wilde. Something about spoken poetry mesmerizes, and you can read the filmed text as you listen. Take a moment to treat yourself.

Creative Opportunities

Kevin Pilkington

Praise Poem Workshop for Brooklyn Poets starts in March – register here

Submit poems before March 10 to coffeepoems@writerscenter.org – see complete details

Poetry Workshop with Alan Shapiro, Katonah Library, May 4, 10-3: $125 – email katonahpoetry@gmail.com

Writers Retreat, Jimmy Santiago Baca, June 19-20, Albuquerque, register here

Kevin Pilkington teaches Poetry for Publication, Maine Media College, August 4-10. 

Private Poetry Workshops online with Arthur Vogelsang – see details here

C and R Press seeking editorial interns – email info@crpress.org

New Releases

Rachel Cloud Adams, Space and Road (Semiperfect Press, 2019)

Michael Baldwin, The Quantum Uncertainty of Love (Shanti Arts Press, 2019)

Ann Cefola, trans., Hélène Sanguinetti, The Hero (Chax Press, 2018)

Suzanne Cleary, Crude Angel (BkMk Press, 2019)

Terry Dugan, I’m the Reason the Kids are Dead (The Moonstone Press, 2019)

Michael Heller, Constellations of Waking (Dos Madres Press, 2019)

Alex Poteet, Carnivores (L and S Press, 2018)

Nahid Rachlin, A Way Home (Ravenna Press, 2018)

Tina Rahimi, trans., Mehdi Navid, The Book of Sounds (The Operating System, 2019)

 

Linda’s Shrimp Fried Rice

Poet and artist Linda Simone sends the most delicious recipes my way, and this is one. Fast and delicious. Enjoy!

1 lb. Trader Joe’s Red Argentinian frozen shrimp

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

2 Tablespoons sesame oil, divided

3 cups cooked rice (best made a day ahead)

1 small organic white onion, chopped

1 cup organic mushrooms, sliced

1 organic red pepper, seeded and sliced

2-3 Tablespoons tamari sauce (more or less to taste)

3 eggs, lightly beaten

2 Tbsp chopped green onions

Preheat large skillet to medium heat. Add vegetable oil, 1 tablespoon sesame oil and shrimp to skillet, and salt and pepper. Cook shrimp 2-3 minutes. Remove with slotted spoon and set aside. Add white onion, red pepper, and mushrooms; sauté until tender. Slide veggies to side, and pour beaten eggs on other side. Using spatula, scramble eggs. Once cooked, mix eggs with veggies. Add rice and shrimp. Pour tamari sauce and 1 tablespoon sesame oil on top. Stir and heat rice and veggie mixture. Add chopped green onions.

Poetry Readings / Literary Events

Laurel Peterson

Norwalk Open Mic, Rene Soto Gallery - March 1, 7pm

Norwalk poets, including Laurel Petersen, in Oysterville: Poems read at Norwalk Library – March 2, 2pm 

HVWC Open Mic - March 15, 7pm, $5

Abrons Arts Center, March 28-April 7, TILT premiere swirls movement, wood, live music, tap dance, pinball, and the story of Don Quixote featuring music by Lynn Wright and tap dancer Heather Cornell, early tickets $25

Zinc Bar, Saturdays at 4:30pm, $5; February 23, Eileen Myles, Korakrit Arunanondcahi; March 2, Erica Hunt, Sean D. Henry-Smith; March 9, Constantina Zavitsanos; March 16, Ser Serpas, Park McArthur; March 23, Quinn Harrelson;  March 30, Diamond Stingily, TBA

ʼRound the Net

Julia P. Howard

Chax publisher and poet Charles Alexander on his invitation to the 7^th Annual Chinese/American Association for Poetry & Poetics in Wuhan, China

Poet Llyn Clague for his poem “Tough” published in Avalon Literary Review

Translator Chen Du for poems in Dead Mule and Lunch Ticket

Poet Terry Dugan for this article on the poetry of black women by Patricia Spears Jones

Poet Gary Glauber for work in Our Poetry Archive, Cirrus Poetry Review, Blognostics, and Event Horizon

Poet Julia P. Howard for her feature interview in Small Orange Poetry Journal

Cindy Hochman

Independent bookstore owners Mark Fowler and Jessica Kaplan for this article on Bronx River Books

First Literary Review – East Editor Cindy Hochman on her Duotrope interview

Yorktown Poet Laureate John McMullenfor two stories on Wattpad, a poem on Raven’s Perch, article on why you need to join a writing group and 100 best sites for writers – thanks, John! 

Melville House for this article on Wattpad and its new publishing division

William Carlos Williams
(1883-1963)

New York Public Library for their top picks

Poets and Writers for this video of Rafael Campo on William Carlos Williams

Novelist Nahid Rachlin on her new book, A Way Home(Ravenna Press, 2018), and LinkedIn interview

Believe in Tidal Forces

Memoirist Sarah Bracey White says, “When the tide comes in, the boats all rise.” And it feels that way for friends with new books—I rejoice in their talent and perseverance: Terry Dugan (I’m the Reason the Kids are Dead), Linda Simone (The River Will Save Us), Mary McCray (Cowboy Meditation Primer), Suzanne Cleary (Crude Angel), Rachel Cloud Adams (Space and Road), Natasha Nesic (The Miracle on 98^th Street), Susana Case (Erasure, Syria), John McMullen (Live at the Freight House), Nahid Rachlin (A Way Home), Pamela Hart (Mothers Over Nangarhar), Sally Bliumis-Dunn (Echolocation) and Michael Baldwin (The Quantum Uncertainty of Love). And to come: Maureen Pilkington (This Side of Water), Cindy Hochman and Bob Heman (The Number 5 is Always Suspect), Beth Gersh-Nesic (Pablo Picasso and Andre Salmon: The Painter, The Poet, and The Portraits), Janet Kaplan (Ecotones), Margo Stever (Cracked Piano and Ghost Moose), and Ruby Silvious (Reclaimed Canvas).  

If you’ve been writing for a month, a year, or all your life, keep writing, and keep believing.

Until next time,

Ann