your end-of-summer annogram

Welcome Back!

Ann, Mary Ellen, Charlie, Terry,
Sarah and Linda in Bennington

Whaddya do for vacation? On the literary front, I gave a reading with my dear friends, the Sapphires, at the beautiful Bennington home of NEA Poet Charlie Rossiter. What a warm reception from Vermont locals! Terry Dugan, Linda Simone, Sarah Bracey White, and I read from our latest books. Thanks to the Rossiters, including Charlie’s spouse, museum strategist Mary Ellen Munley, and son, journalist Jack Rossiter-Munley, for hosting a delightful summer evening.

Globe-Trotting

Amsterdam

Amsterdam Quarterly and Poetry Salzburg will publish my poems this fall and, last spring, Yan He (Yellow River) in China included four translated by noted translator Chen Du. This happily follows anthology entries in London and Madrid. Closer to home, Adanna will publish “Prayer to Her Girlfriends,” John McMullen has selected three poems for his Hudson River Valley anthology, and Gnashing Teeth Publishing accepted “Tonic” for its cooking volume Heat the Grease, We’re Frying Up Some Poetry.

Sanguinetti, Like-Nothing-Else

Hélène Sanguinetti

After reading from Hélène Sanguinetti’s The Hero (Chax Press, 2018) chez Rossiter, I was amazed by the response. “While I could not follow it with my head,” said poet Jerry Byrd, “I felt it in my body. It was like being stabbed.” People are “getting” Sanguinetti, and you can too—with Alparegho, Like-Nothing-Else (The Operating System). Preorder this book that award-winning poet Ann Lauinger calls “a seductive, breathless romp.” Find more poems translated in Columbia Journal, and soon in Bateau Lit and Tentacular.

Hudson Highlands Poetry Series

Photo by Sarah Bracey White

Speaking about translation, mark your calendars for a panel discussion on leveraging a second language to advance your literary path. Come to a special Hudson Highlands Poetry event on Saturday, November 2, 1:30pm, at the Desmond-Fish Library. Poet Ann Lauinger, art historian Beth Gersh-Nešić, and I will spill the beans on translation—and it’s all good news. Be sure to attend readings in this wonderful series (see Literary Events below) featuring excellent poets in this scenic river town.

Sundays with George—and Natalie and Toni

Natalie Safir

One of my favorite reading venues, Sundays with George at the JCC in Tarrytown, will feature poet Natalie Safir and playwright and poet Toni Howarth, September 22^nd at 1:30pm. Dr. George Kraus has curated a wonderful group of local poets for lively and fun readings. On November 10^th, Ann Lauinger, Beth Gersh-Nešić, and I will reprise our translation panel for writers if you miss the Garrison event.

What Love of Tea Inspires

Watercolor by Linda Simone

Watercolorist and poet Linda Simone adores her cup of Earl Grey. The talented artist, however, found her passion in painting on tea bags that have been opened and dried. You can see her fascinating and skilled paintings in an exhibit opening at the San Antonio Barista Academy on September 14 at 11am. Come enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and hear young poet Aarav Gedala read Linda’s poems about—what else?—tea.

Calling Young Writers

Know a young writer between 9 and 17 years old? Greenburgh’s Kids Short Story Connection (KSSC) seeks same for workshops led by writer-teachers. Founded by author Sarah Bracey White, KSSC begins its 23^rd session Saturday, September 14. For details, click here or call 914-682-1574. You can also see Sarah’s latest artist-interview on Greenburgh Celebrates the Visual Arts.

Poets and Artists Pair Off in Norwalk

Norwalk, Connecticut

Libraries across Fairfield County are coming together to explore the relationship between art and text in unique exhibits. At the Norwalk Public Library, poets are invited to submit up to three poems, and artists, up to three pieces of art—any medium. If selected, the artist will create a new work based upon a given poem. Send submissions by October 1 to Cynde Bloom Lahey, clahey@norwalkpl.org.

I’m the Reason the Kids Are Dead

Poetry helps us move through the inexplicable, and that’s why Terry Dugan’s book, I’m the Reason the Kids Are Dead (Moonstone Press, 2019) is especially timely. Terry looks at gun violence from the perspective of its victims, returning soldiers, family members, and Parkland survivors. She also bears witness to the early AIDS epidemic, when she was an early field researcher. A must-read in our national conversation on gun violence.

New Releases

Jane Augustine,High Desert (Dos Madres Press, 2019)

Bijan Elahi, tr. Rebecca Ruth Gould, High Tide Of The Eyes (The Operating System, 2019)

Eric Greinke, Invisible Wings (Presa Press, 2019)

John McMullen, The Trump File (bobbeebooks, 2019)

Lisa Samuels, The Long White Cloud of Unknowing (Chax Press, 2019)

Creative Opportunities

Chill at the Poetry Barn’s Catskills Lit Writing Festival and Retreat September 2-5

Apply for the Unterberg Poetry Center Advanced Workshops by September 13

Apply in October for a writer or artist residency next spring or summer at Mass MoCA

Explore the 2019 Catholic Imagination Conference September 19-21

Explore the American Literary Translators Association Conference November 7-10

Norwalk Poetry Workshop, first and third Mondays, at NPL; email poet_laureate@norwalkpl.org

Hudson Valley Writers Center Open Mic Nights 7:30-9:30 third Fridays

Zucchini Patties

An easy vegetarian dish that even meat-lovers enjoy. Pair with end-of-season corn-on-the cob or sliced tomatoes, and you will have a delicious meal.

2 cups coarsely grated zucchini

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

¼ cup minced onion

¼ - ½ cup all-purpose flour as needed

¼ cup Parmesan cheese

½ teaspoon dried oregano

vegetable oil

lemon juice and butter

Place zucchini in a strainer and press out as much moisture as possible. Mix zucchini with eggs and onion in large bowl. Combine flour, cheese, baking powder, and seasonings, and add to zucchini mixture. Shape into 4 patties. Heat oil over medium heat and fry patties until lightly browned on both sides. Drain cooked patties and drizzle with lemon juice and butter. Serve immediately.

Poetry / Literary / Art Events

Mary Newell

The Upstream Gallery, Hastings, Drawn from Life Exhibit, through September 1

The Poetry Institute Reading Series Open Mic, New Haven, third Wednesdays, 7pm; free, open to public

Desmond-Fish Library, September 21, 1:30pm, poets Mary Newell, Margo Taft Stever, Jeffrey Yang

The Twig Bookshop at the Pearl, San Antonio, Enchantment of the Ordinary (Mutabilis Press, 2019) reading featuring poets Jim LaVilla-Havelin and Linda Simone, September 27, 5pm

ʼRound the Net

Dora Maar (1907-1997)

Author Sarah Bracey White on being invited back a third time to perform in Read650 on October 27

Poet Suzanne Cleary on having her poem “Summary of 15 Years” featured on Tracy K. Smith’s podcast

The Cultural Services of the French Embassy for a new podcast titled The Thing About France

Art Historian Beth Gersh-Nešić for this fabulous review of the Dora Maar retrospective, and the block-buster Posing Modernity Exhibit, both in Paris

Poet Joy Harjo on becoming US Poet Laureate and talking about her new role

Translator Rachel Hildebrandt Reynolds for this piece on the newly translated 1954 Hemingway short story about a chef and his cat

Toni Morrison (1931-2019)

Poet John Hoppenthaler for writing “What I Learned as Toni Morrison’s Assistant”

Poet J. Chester Johnson for tirelessly championing a physical memorial to African Americans slaughtered in the Elaine Race Massacre (1919)

Poet Mary McCray on being featured in Albuquerque Magazine

Yorktown Poet Laureate John McMullen on having poems in Erothanatos

W. S. Merwin (1927-2019)

Author Maureen Pilkington on winning the American Fiction Award for This Side of Water (Regal House, 2019)

Poets & Writers for this article on preservation efforts of W. S. Merwin’s Hawaiian garden

Translator Rachel Hildebrandt Reynolds for this piece on the newly translated 1954 Hemingway short story about a chef and his cat

Poet Charlie Rossiter for the Poetry Spoken Here podcast series

Need not apply, 2018, Seale Studios
by Lucia LaVilla-Havelin

Journalist Jack Rossiter-Munley and Connor Stratton for the podcast Close Talking, where they closely examine one poem

Poet and artist Linda Simone for this review of The State of Hand Stitch exhibit, and her insightful interview into the creative process with fiber artist Lucia LaVilla-Havelin in Nat. Brute

Filmmaker Angela Virsinger for sharing this clip of Christopher Walken dancing

Author Esmé Weijun Wang on taking compliments

Are you a late bloomer? It took 20 years for this plant to bloom again. I had it repotted two years ago. Asking the young gardener at the nursery if it could flower again, he said, “Oh yeah.” Oh yeah is right. Look at this delicately layered bloom. With rich soil, lots of water, steady sun. And time. Beauty is worth the wait. Welcome to the world, blossom.

Until next time,

Ann