MERITAGE PRESS HOLIDAY POETRY CONTEST WINNER: MICHELLE A. PENALOZA

Meritage Press is delighted to announce the winner of the 2009 Meritage Press Holiday Poetry Contest for Filipino Poets, judged this year by Aileen Ibardaloza.

“Butiki” by Michelle A. Penaloza

"Butiki" may be viewed at http://meritagepress.com/babaylan/?p=25

ABOUT THE WINNING POET: Michelle Peñaloza graduated from Vanderbilt University and is currently pursuing an MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Oregon. She is a carnivore and a sometimes omnivore. Her work has been published in Kartika Review.

Meritage Press congratulates Michelle, while thanking all of the poets who sent in entries. This year's contest was among the toughest to judge in the history of this contest, with many submitted poems deserving of praise. It is wonderful to see so many wonderful Filipino poets at work.

All Best,

Eileen Tabios
Publisher, Meritage Press

*****
*****
FIRST PLACE WINNERS of the MERITAGE PRESS HOLIDAY POETRY CONTESTS:

2009: Michelle A. Penaloza (Judge: Aileen Ibardaloza)
2008: Rodrigo V. Dela Pena Jr. (Judge: Bino A. Realuyo)
2007: Naya S. Valdellon & Marcel L. MiIliam (Judge: Eric Gamalinda)
2006: Joel M. Toledo (Judge: Michelle Bautista)
2005: Arkaye Velasquez Kierulf (Judge: Jean Vengua)
2004: Joel H. Vega (Judge: Sarah Gambito)
2003: Luisa A. Igloria (Judge: Patrick Rosal)
2002: Naya S. Valdellon & Michella Rivera-Gravage (Judge: Oliver de la Paz)
2001: Carlomar Arcangel Daoana (Judge: Nick Carbo)

GROWING A READER...INSTEAD OF A LEMON

Yes, I am quite delighted that I am growing a Reader--here's Achilles guarding Michael who now reads himself to sleep every night, with No. 2 in Philip Pullman's Dark Materials trilogy:


And the reason I'm delighted at growing a Reader is because I can't seem to grow a garden without embarrassing moiself. Here is my latest Relished W(h)ine List with its Final Winter Garden Tally-- I live in one of the most fertile spots on earth but you wouldn't know it by what fruits and vegetables I eke out:

WINTER GARDEN (Final)
4 blood oranges (Uh...I don't know where they came from...)
30 Meyer lemons (Typical Moi the Gardener -- got two lemon trees and the total harvest for the season is a mere 30 lemons. As a gardener, I am a lemon...well, except for growing a reader, but of course!)
88 persimmons
46 green figs & 4 purple figs (they should have been out of season now but Mom managed to eke 'em out)
18 red, yellow and green peppers
141 tomatoes (Mom kept eking them out...)


PUBLICATIONS
AUTOPSY TURVY, poems by Thomas Fink & Maya Diablo Mason

THE PRESENT DAY, poems by Ernesto Priego (in manuscript)

THE BLACK AUTOMATON, poems by Douglas Kearney (loved this wonderful wonderful collection with its fabulous energy!)

(SOME OF THE) BEST LESBIAN POETRY by Amanda Laughtland

LOVE POEMS by Karl Marx (this publication of juvenalia is a bit of a capitalist gesture...but I did enjoy reading it!)

REMAINDERS FOR THE EARTH: POEMS by James Stotts

AS IF FREE, poems by Burt Kimmelman

BOOK MADE OF FOREST, poems by Jared Stanley

IRRATIONAL DUDE, collaborative poetry by Nico Vassilakis & Robert Mittenthal

THE SWEETNESS OF HERBERT, poems by Stuart Krimko

SELF-PORTRAIT WITH CRAYON by Allison Benis White

MY NEW JOB, poems by Catherine Wagner

AT THE END OF THE DAY: SELECTED POEMS AND AN INTRODUCTORY ESSAY by Phillip Lopate

HOUSE ORGAN, No. 69, literary journal edited by Kenneth Warren

THE ENIGMATIST, Dec. 2009, poetry journal edited by Mike & Joyce Gullickson

"WISHING YOU A GREEN CHRISTMAS" holiday chap featuring "Wind Farm" by Mark Lamoreaux

POEMCRAZY: FREEING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS, essays by Susan G. Wooldridge

MIDNIGHT ON THE LINE: THE SECRET LIFE OF THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER, investigative journalism by Tim Gaynor

LIVING WITH WINE by Samantha Nester with Alice Feiring and photos by Andrew French

THE CHEATER, novel by Nancy Taylor Rosenberg

ICE, novel by Linda Howard

A CHRISTMAS SECRET, novel by Anne Perry


WINES
2005 Dutch Henry Merlot Yountville NV
2005 Dutch Henry "Argos"
2007 Acacia pinot noir
2005 JJ Prum Wehlenur Sonnenuhr Spatlese
2003 Rauzan Despagne
2006 Ojai syrah
2004 Clare Luce Abbey Cabernet
1996 Etienne Sauzet Montrachet
2005 William Downie pinot noir Yarra Valley
2008 Trefethen Dry Riesling
2007 Trefethen Late Harvest Riesling
2007 Trefethen Double T Red Wine
2005 Trefethen cabernet sauvignon
2007 Trefethen Harmony chardonnay
Schramsberg sparkling wine
Vega Sicilia Unico Reserva Especial Lot 019/94

2010 FIRSTS

include

First Poem Read:
first page of "The Present Day" by Ernesto Priego


First Poetry Collection Read:
(SOME OF THE) BEST LESBIAN POETRY by Amanda Laughtland (Teeny Tiny)


First Poetry Book (and Book!) Bought:
OPEN CLOSED OPEN by Yehuda Amichai


First Prose-on-Poetry Book Bought (and Read):
POEMCRAZY: FREEING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS by Susan G. Wooldridge


First Prose on Poetry Written
"Afterward: An Afterword" as Afterword for a poet's forthcoming collection (I don't mention which poet/book as I don't know if the news is public)


First Poem-ic Experience Viz a Movie:
INVICTUS: Nelson Mandela (played by Morgan Freeman) recites "Invictus" by William Ernest Henley. How it resonates.


First Poetry Editing Project:
An issue on Poet-Editors for and forthcoming from Ekleksographia


As a Poetry Publisher (viz Meritage Press), First Book Released:
AUTOPSY TURVY, collaborative poems by Thomas Fink and Maya Diablo Mason (details are forthcoming)


As a Poetry Publisher, First Books Sold:
OPERA: POEMS 1981-2002 by Barry Schwabsky
STAGE PRESENCE: CONVERSATIONS WITH FILIPINO AMERICAN PERFORMING ARTISTS, Ed. Theodore S. Gonzalves


First Poetry Books Received as Gifts:
FRACTUS CORPUS by Ric Carfagna
LOVE POEMS by Karl Marx
SINCE by James Stotts
REMAINDERS FOR THE EARTH: POEMS by James Stotts
(SOME OF THE) BEST LESBIAN POETRY by Amanda Laughtland
THE OTHER BLUEBOOK: ON THE HIGH SEAS OF DISCOVERY "as told to Reme Grefalda" by Quill Berenkoff (not a poetry book, though a quick skim shows it includes poems!). This is a series of stories about working as a legal assistant; poet-publisher Reme Grefalda has worked as such. I haven't read it yet but it includes a hilarious poem "Lackeyship: An Honorable Profession" makes me want to pick up another copy as a present for The Hubby, Esq -- the poem begins

There once was a Lackey named Marjorie
Whose main expertise was Discovery.
She went after documents
Like a tourist for monuments.
For her, overtime was recovery.

First Poetry Manuscript Being Worked On:
[also the Last 2009 Poetry Manuscript Worked On]
THE THORN ROSARY (forthcoming soon from Marsh Hawk Press)


First Poem Written:
As of January 5, still a non-event (I'm such a slacker...)

MOI INVICTUS SON

This weekend we saw "Invictus", thus giving me my first 2010 poetry experience involving a movie. But what was also wild about this experience is that when Nelson Mandela (played by Morgan Freeman) began reciting "Invictus", a poem by William Ernest Henley, Mom began reciting the poem out loud as well. Now, Mom is one of those who believes her age -- she turns 80 next month -- allows her to do things like talk out loud in movie theaters or in church, often to the embarassment of Moi-her-chauffeur. But I stilled my elbow at the movie theater -- I think she impressed a lot of people as she recited "Invictus" along with Mandela. How many of you poets could have done that, had you attended the movie?

Later, Mom would say that she remembered the poem from her high school days in the Philippines! Oh, would that California public schools still allowed for these kinds of resonant arts experiences for every child, and not just the few... I still remember myself as a third-grader vying to appear on radio by having memorized what felt-like a ten-page poem (drat it: I was beat by another kid who memorized what might have been a twenty-page poem -- of course I'm not embittered by the experience though I remember her ugly haircut to this day...but Anyhoo...)

But what was best about seeing "Invictus" was being able to introduce Nelson Mandela to Michael. As shown on the movie, Mandela was a person who (among other things) was in this tiny prison cell for 30 years, but he came out with a spirit large enough to deserve his election to lead South Africa. In other words, this was a person who was not felled by difficult circumstances, and what this means is that a person can be what the poem, which I replicate below, notes in its last two lines.

It is complicated to parent a teenager who comes to you with a history of suffering. But one thing we're adamant about is not having him take on the *victim-mentality* (not that he was really inclined to taking that one--an off-shoot of his own strength as a survivor). When something comes up that's really difficult, we simply tell him "No complaints!" and just do the job at hand, "No excuses!" (I'm not really being harsh on him -- we're mostly talking about algebra...)

But I can tell that the notion of a man jailed for 30 years and then coming out to head up a country where he was imprisoned....really moved Michael. Then, today, there was an article in the New York Times about Harold A. Fernandez, now a cardiac surgeon, who graduated magna cum laude from Princeton, AFTER he came to the U.S. illegally as a 13-year-old. A 13-year-old from Colombia who couldn't speak English, like Michael. Well. My son eagerly took that newspaper article to keep with him in his room....

Mandela and Fernandez -- these are the kind of stories I want my son to know. The kind of models I want him to have. So that he can look back at what he's suffered and know there's no reason nonetheless why he shouldn't be able to excel in life. Life may prove otherwise, but my job as a parent is to tell him as a child that he can still be what this poem is talking about:

[INVICTUS]
by William Ernest Henley

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

What a keeper of a poem, by the way. Invictus - Latin for Unconquered.

NON-COTERIE READING

In 2009, I read at least 184 poetry books/collections, 8 poetry or poetry-related anthologies, 8 poetry/literary journals and 16 other books/publications involving poetry. The Blog's capacity as Filing Cabinet allow Moi to list them all below.

The list is not a portrayal of the type of poetry I favor. In reading poems partly as a practitioner, I just want to know what's out there. I've found that POV to be more elucidating than trying to read through some defined aesthetic gate. The process is not just more educational and makes for the fabulous moments of welcome discoveries (e.g. Laura Carter, Michael Leong, Douglas Kearney, poets whose works were previously unknown to Moi) but given me many moments of humor--e.g., I once read a nationally prestigious prize-winning book hailed partly for doing something "new", but in fact was very similar to a book from a small press which, I don't think, bothers to enter its books in poetry contests. The latter example, of course, bespeaks the communicative inefficiency of a world that often moves based on cultural capital.

The list is also incomplete; for one, it excludes another 50 or so manuscripts I've read but which I can't reveal. The list also excludes my voluminous online reading of poems.

But I stand by my reading record as, in part, a reflection of what underpins the occasional activities I engage in that requires me to make some sort of judgment. At a minimum, this means I can tell a certain someone (who I know reads moi blog--Happy New Year!) that he's full of it whenever he goes on a rampage over at the Silliman comment section about the lack of quality of Lulu-published poetry books. How many of these books have you actually read, Sir?

The list does reveal certain personal tendencies -- I prefer to read a body of work rather than a single poem or two by a poet. This means I don't really go out of my way to read many anthologies or journals. I prefer to read poetry collections.

Last but not least, my choice of what to read is often serendipitous. In Poetry, I don't often get curious about a particular book and so must obtain it/read it, though peeps in this category in 2009 are the books listed by Sarah Gambito, Sesshu Foster, Arthur Sze, Abelardo & Tarrosa Subido, Amy King, Brenda Hillman, Bill Berkson, Brenda Cardenas, Eileen Myles....perhaps there's a few more but this is logically a short list. My ethical desire is to read every poem, which means a lot of times, I randomly grab from a huge TO-READ pile (which includes but is not limited to THIS and THIS ). I also end up reading a few books for unique reasons--like if my local library stocks a new poetry book, I check it out in order to prove there's demand for poetry...and then inevitably read it before I return it (e.g. Billy Collins).

Did I like every book I read on this list? Nope, but that's irrelevant. Even the most banal poem has a place in this wonderland-landscape of Poetry. All poems are welcome to Moi. And contrary to would-be pundits' proclamations, THERE ARE NEVER ENOUGH POEMS.

There are, however, a few authors whose books I meant to read but didn't get to in 2009--these are books that I wish to read when I'm not in the midst of a multi-tasking fever. For instance, the COLLECTED POEMS and a biography on Amy Carmichael, Ron Silliman's poetry, Sheila Murphy's COLLECTED CHAPS, John Olson's writings, Ann Lauterbach's essays, John Yau's latest book on Jasper Johns, Vicente Huidobro's ALTAZOR, among many others. But since I'm always in the midst of multi-tasking, I can see that I'll have to do a conscious revamp of that intention as I'm rarely able to clear space...

And, yes, I could be reading more poetry books. But the murder mysteries need Moi attention, too. Still, if you think I should be reading your poetry book sooner than later, say so in a cover letter (wink). Galatea's Iron Gate never bars ... poetry.

Here's the poetic Relished W(h)ine List for 2009
(UPDATE: I just added a few more that earlier slipped Moi mind...):

Poetry Books (184)
INTERVENING ABSENCE by Carrie Olivia Adams
TO THE BONE by Sebastian Agudelo
THE LOST COUNTRY OF SIGHT by Neil Aitken
LIGHT FILLING MY BONES, poems by Dorothy B. Anderson with cut-paper illustrations by Donna Bruhl
NARROW ROAD TO THE INTERIOR, haibun by Matsuo Basho & Translated by Sam Hamill
ALL MY EGGS ARE BROKEN by Michael Basinski
TUNE DROVES by Eric Baus
ANALFABETO: AN ALPHABET by Ellen Baxt
STEPS: A NOTEBOOK by Tom Beckett
TAKE IT by Joshua Beckman
SHY GREEN FIELDS by Hugh Behm-Steinberg
PORTRAIT AND DREAM: NEW AND SELECTED POEMS by Bill Berkson
HAVE A GOOD ONE by Anselm Berrigan
GLAD STONE CHILDREN by Edmund Berrigan
AIRS & VOICES by Paula Bonnel
THE STARS ON THE 7:18 TO PENN, poems by Ana Bozicevic
A STRANGER'S TABLE by Anne Brooke
WASTE by Thierry Brunet
THE SHUNT by David Buuck
SONG OF A LIVING ROOM by Brigitte Byrd
BOOMERANG by Brenda Cardenas
AT THE PULSE by Laura Carter
SITUATIONS by Laura Carter
(B)ITS by Joel Chace
THE BRITTLE AGE and RETURNING UPLAND by Rene Char, Trans. by Gustaf Sobin
RHAPSODY IN PLAIN YELLOW by Marilyn Chin
AND HOW TO END IT by Brian Clements
WALLS (ANAMNESES) by Marcel Cohen, Trans. by Brian Evenson & Joanna Howard
BALLISTICS by Billy Collins
IDENTITY THEFT by Catherine Daly
NOW SHOWING by Jim Daniels
THE CURVATURE OF BLUE by Lucille Lang Day
TRUE CRIME by Donna de la Perriere
THIRD BODY by Michel Delville, Trans. by Gian Lombardo
TERRA LUCIDA by Joseph Donahue
WEAVING THE LIGHT by Mary Ruth Donnelly
KA-CHING by Denise Duhamel
237 MORE REASONS TO HAVE SEX by Denise Duhamel and Sandy McIntosh
FROM CHANSONNIERS by Patrick Dunagan
BHARAT JIVA by kari edwards
LOVED LETTERS: MAILED WITHOUT A SCENT OF HOME (in manuscript) by Niki Eskobar
THE ANGELS OF BREAD by Martin Espada
THE RUSSIAN VERSION by Elene Fanailova, Trans. by Genya Turovskaya & Stephanie Sandler
HOW TO PAINT SUNLIGHT, NEW POEMS by Lawrence Ferlinghetti
CHIMES by Adam Fieled
GENERIC WHISTLE STOP by Thomas Fink
AUTOPSY TURVY by Thomas Fink & Maya Diablo Mason
WORLD BALL NOTEBOOK by Sesshu Foster
DARK CARD by Rebecca Foust
MOM'S CANOE by Rebecca Foust
DELTA BLUES by Skip Fox
THAT TINY INSANE VOLUPTUOUSNESS by Elisa Gabbert and Kathleen Rooney
DELIVERED by Sarah Gambito
[LAPSED INSEL WEARY] by Susana Gardner
KENMORE: POEM UNLIMITED by Geoffrey Gatza
BLACK DIAMOND GOLDEN BOY TAKES BULL BY HORNS by Geoffrey Gatza
HOUSECAT KUNG FU: STRANGE POEMS FOR WILD CHILDREN by Geoffrey Gatza
TO AFTER THAT (TOAF) by Renee Gladman
NEWCOMER CAN'T SWIM by Renee Gladman
GAHA (BABES0 NOAS (OF THE ABYSS0 ZORGE (BECOME FRIENDLY) by Jesse Glass (in manuscript)
QUATERNITY by Scott Glassman and Sheila Murphy
THE SEVEN AGES by Louise Gluck
TERMINAL HUMMING by K. Lorraine Graham
THE LAST 4 THINGS by Kate Greenstreet
TINDERBOX LAWN by Carol Guess
OBSOLETE--AN ALPHABET OF POEMS INSPIRED BY DEAD WORDS by Katie Haegele
IN SEARCH OF SMALL GODS by Jim Harrison
SING, MONGREL by Claire Hero
AND AENEAS STARES INTO HER HELMET by Tiffany Higgins
BRIGHT EXISTENCE by Brenda Hillman
JOURNEY TO THE END, by John Hoffman, edited by Garrett Caples
TRAJE DE BODA (in manuscript) by Aileen Ibardaloza
NEW EXERCISES by Franck Andre Jamme
SPEAK WHICH: HAY(NA)KU POEMS by Jill Jones
HUMANIMAL by Bhanu Kapil
THE BLACK AUTOMATON by Douglas Kearney
MAID OF HEAVEN: THE STORY OF SAINT JOAN OF ARC in verse by Ben D. Kennedy
RANDION SCREPTS by Jukka-Pekka Kervinen
SLAVES TO DO THESE THINGS by Amy King
RINGING by Rauan Klassnik
SUNNY WEDNESDAY by Noelle Kocot
EVEN BEFORE MY OWN NAME by Tracy Koretsky
THE ELDER SERIES 3 by Chris Kraus and Tisa Bryant
THE SWEETNESS OF HERBERT by Stuart Krimko
A DARK CONTINENT COMPANION (in manuscript) by Sean Labrador y Manzano
MARCH 18, 2003 by Michael Lally
DESTROYED WORKS by Philip Lamantia
TAU by Philip Lamantia, edited by Garrett Caples
POSTCARDS TO BOX 464 (in manuscript) by Amanda Laughtland
e.s.p. by Michael Leong
NEIGHBOR by Rachel Levitsky
PLAGIARISM / OUTSOURCE by Tan Lin
POLYTHEOGAMY, poems by Timothy Liu and paintings by Greg Drasler
ARCHIPELAGO DUST (in manuscript) by Karen Llagas
DICK OF THE DEAD by Rachel Loden
NAVIGATE, AMELIA EARHART'S LETTERS HOME by Rebecca Loudon
CADAVER DOGS by Rebeca Loudon
DISCLOSURE, conceptual poetry by Dana Teen Lomax
AT THE END OF THE DAY: SELECTED POEMS AND AN INTRODUCTORY ESSAY by Phillip Lopate
OPEN NIGHT by Aaron Lowinger
BOSQUEJOS / SKETCHES by Edwin Agustin Lozada
SUENOS ANONIMOS / ANONYMOUS DREAMS by Edwin Agustin Lozada
SALT LICK: A RETROSPECTIVE OF POETRY by Glenna Luschei
SEE HOW WE ALMOST FLY by Alison Luterman
WAITING FOR SWEET BETTY by Clarence Major
HI HIGHER HYPERBOLE by Nicholas Manning
ZERO READERSHIP; AN EPIC by Filip Marinovich
ERNESTA, IN THE STYLE OF THE FLAMENCO by Sandy McIntosh
INSTANTS by Philip Metres
FOR LOVE OF AN ARMADILLO, poems by Didi Menendez, illustrations by Jeremy Baum
FORT DAD by Stephen Paul Miller
WORK IS LOVE MADE VISIBLE: POETRY AND FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHS by Jeanetta Calhoun Mish
HOW TO SPELL THE SOUND OF EVERYTHING, poetry -- visual and text -- collaboration by Sheila Murphy & mIEKAL aND
SORRY TREE by Eileen Myles
BIRD EATING BIRD by Kristin Naca
BY WAY OF, four-chap collection of poems by Matthew Nienow, Emily Carr, Diana Woodcock and Diana Alvarez
CATCH LIGHT by Sarah O'Brien
UNSWEPT ROOMS by Sharon Olds
A TOAST IN THE HOUSE OF FRIENDS by Akilah Oliver
SWARM OF EDGES by John Olson
RIZAL IN SAN FRANCISCO AND OTHER POEMS (in manuscript) by Don Pacis
SOME HAY by Lars Palm
FOR GOOD BEHAVIOR (in manuscript) by Lars Palm
CANTAR DE MIO CORMAN by Lars Palm
PERSONATIONSKIN by Karl Parker
LAST CALL AT THE TIN PALACE by Paul Pines
“…AND THEN THE WIND DID BLOW: JAINAKU POEMS by Ernesto Priego
GRAVITY & GRACE by Ernesto Priego
FORMS OF INTERCESSION by Jayne Pupek
LEAFLETS: POEMS 1965-1968 by Adrienne Rich
CORPORATE GEESE by Christopher William Purdom
THERE'S THE HAND AND THERE'S THE ARID CHAIR by Tomaz Salamun
BOOK LEFT OPEN IN THE RAIN by Barry Schwabsky
FOR COLORED GIRLS WHO HAVE CONSIDERED SUICIDE / WHEN THE RAINBOW IS ENUF by Ntozake Shange
ITINERARY by Reginald Shepherd
THE ALPS by Brandon Shimoda
FROM HERE, poems by Zoe Skoulding and images by Simonetta Moro
NEGATIVE INVENTORY by Shannon Smith
MYTHS & TEXTS by Gary Snyder
from THE TRADITION by Juliana Spahr
THE UNDERWATER HOSPITAL by Jan Steckel
THE METHOD by Sasha Steensen
OHIO VIOLENCE by Allison Stine
JOINT (in manuscript) by Angelo Suarez
SONNETS FROM A GARDENER AND OTHER POEMS by Abelardo Subido
PRIVATE EDITION: SONNETS AND OTHER POEMS by Tarrosa Subido
THE SPACE BETWEEN by Aimee Suzara
ARRANGING THE BLAZE by Chad Sweeney
MAGDALENE & THE MERMAIDS by Elizabeth Kate Switaj
THE GINKGO LIGHT by Arthur Sze
WATER THE MOON (in manuscript) by Fiona Sze-Lorrain
HYPERGLOSSIA by Stacy Szymaszek
A CONCISE BIOGRAPHY OF SIN by John Samuel Tieman
THE LONG LOST STARTLE by Joel Toledo
THE PARIS HILTON by Keith Tuma
ATLAS by Katrina Vandenberg
IRRATIONAL DUDE by Nico Vassilakis & Robert Mittenthal
TATTOO (in manuscript) by Joel Vega
ROCK CANDY by Jenifer Rae Vernon
ALL ALONE AGAIN by Dan Waber
MY NEW JOB by Catherine Wagner
SMUDGING by Diane Wakoski
THE BUTCHER'S APRON by Diane Wakoski
PLAY by Liz Waldner
TRUST by Liz Waldner
THE AMPUTEE'S GUIDE TO SEX by Jillian Weise
TO LIGHT OUT by Karen Weiser
HEATHEN by Lesley Wheeler
SELF-PORTRAIT WITH CRAYON by Allison Benis White
TANSEN DONNER: A WOMAN'S JOURNEY by Ruth Whitman
GOD'S SILENCE by Franz Wright
OCTOBER CENTERFOLD by Jeffrey Cyphers Wright and images by Nathaniel Hester
AIM STRAIGHT AT THE FOUNTAIN AND PRESS VAPORIZE by Elizabeth Marie Young
TERRACOTTA WORRIERS by Mark Young
LUNCH POEMS by Mark Young
MORE FROM SERIES MAGRITTE by Mark Young
ODES TO ANGER by Jason L.Yurcic
CIRCA by Hannah Zeavin
GUARDIANES DEL SECRETO / GUARDIANS OF THE SECRET by Lila Zemborain, trans. by Rosa Alcala


Poetry(-related) Anthologies (8)
1000 VIEWS OF "GIRL SINGING", multi-genre anthology of translations/collaborations edited by John Bloomberg-Rissman
ANTHOLOGY SPIDERTANGLE, visual poetry anthology Edited by mIEKAL aND
BEATS OF NAROPA edited by Anne Waldman and Laura Wright
THE CHAINED HAY(NA)KU ANTHOLOGY, curated by Ivy Alvarez, John Bloomberg-Rissman, Ernesto Priego and Eileen Tabios (in manuscript)
INCLINED TO SPEAK: AN ANTHOLOGY OF CONTEMPORARY ARAB AMERICAN POETRY, edited by Hayan Charam
POEM, HOME: AN ANTHOLOGY OF ARS POETICA edited by Jennifer Hill and Dan Waber
THE INNER LIVES OF WOMEN: NOT A MUSE: A WORLD POETRY ANTHOLOGY, edited by Kate Rogers & Viki Holmes
THE WINE OF ENDLESS LIFE: TAOIST DRINKING SONGS FROM THE YUAN DYNASTY, poems translated by Jerome P. Seaton


Poetry/Literary/Arts Journals (8)
"DARK TIMES\FILLED WITH LIGHT": A TRIBUTE TO JUAN GELMAN (Special Issue of THE CAFE REVIEW), poetry/visual art/reminiscences Edited by Paul Pines)
THE ENIGMATIST, Dec. 2009, poetry journal edited by Mike & Joyce Gullickson
HOUSE ORGAN, Summer 2009, literary journal edited by Kenneth Warren
HOUSE ORGAN, Fall 2009, literary journal edited by Kenneth Warren
SPIRITS, Spring 2009 (Indiana University Northwest literary journal), edited by Dylan McKee
TEENY TINY # 11, poetry zine edited by Amanda Laughtland and featuring fabulous poems by Katie Haegele, Marvin Cata DuPlessis, Jessica Ritchey, June Sawyers, Laura-Marie Taylor and Charline Bozek
TEENY TINY #12, Aug. 2009, edited by Amanda Laughtland
VANITAS 4 (TRANSLATION ISSUE), literary/arts journal edited by Vincent Katz


Other Books/Publications Involving Poetry (16)
THE ANTHOLOGIST, novel by Nicholson Baker
INTERPENETRATIONS, poetry conversation by Tom Beckett and Geof Huth (in manuscript)
BARF MANIFESTO by Dodie Bellamy
LANDSCAPES OF DISSENT: GUERRILLA POETRY & PUBLIC SPACE by Jules Boykoff and Kaia Sand
LENINGRAD: AMERICAN WRITERS IN THE SOVIET UNION, 1991 collective memoir by Michael Davidson, Lyn Hejinian, Ron Silliman and Barrett Watten
NO GENDER: REFLECTIONS ON THE LIFE & WORK OF kari edwards, Edited by Julian Brolaski, erica kaufman & E. Tracy Grinnell. Includes Cara Benson, Frances Blau, Mark Brasuell, Julian T. Brolaski, Reed Bye, Marcus Civin, CAConrad, Donna de la Perrière, E. Tracy Grinnell, Rob Halpern, Jen Hofer, Brenda Iijima, Lisa Jarnot, erica kaufman, Kevin Killian, Wendy Kramer, Joseph Lease, Rachel Levitsky, Joan MacDonald, Bill Marsh, Chris Martin, Yedda Morrison, Eileen Myles, Akilah Oliver, Tim Peterson, Ellen Redbird, Leslie Scalapino, Michael Smoler, Sherman Souther, Eleni Stecopoulos, and Anne Waldman
MADE-UP INTERVIEWS WITH IMAGINARY ARTISTS featuring Pat Ament, Lorna Dee Cervantes, Joanne Greenberg, Peter Granbois and Cecilia Vicuna by Alex Stein)
AS A FRIEND, novel by Forrest Gander
THE WINTER SUN: NOTES ON A VOCATION, poetry/memoir by Fanny Howe
"WISHING YOU A GREEN CHRISTMAS" 2009 holiday broadside featuring "Wind Farm" by Mark Lamoreaux
2008 HOLIDAY CARD POEM -- "Vierzehnten Dezember" -- by Mark Lamoreaux
2008 HOLIDAY CARD POEM --"Upon the Year 2009" -- by Sheila Murphy
ARTS OF THE POSSIBLE: ESSAYS AND CONVERSATIONS by Adrienne Rich
AURA: LAST ESSAYS by Gustaf Sobin
"IN MEMORY OF REV. MARLEA J. CONRAD WABER", mail art by Dan Waber
MAKE IT HAPPEN, poem broadside by Jeffrey Cyphers Wright

"JUNK DRAWER POEM-BOOK OF THE YEAR"

Steven Fama's YEAR-END REVIEW is up at the Glade! I'm tickled to see that I've got the best "junk drawer" of poems, by his read. But do check out the results: Steven is one of those ideal poem-readers...!

Piensa: consider what I might have outside of that junk drawer...!

2009: WHEN MOI = MOM!

PRE-2009: A BOY VISITED AND TOOK OUR HEARTS!


"GOTCHA DAY!"
(Bogota, Colombia, March)


DOGS AND ABUELITA "WELCOME HOME"!


YOSEMITE


SAFARI PARK


DISNEYLAND


WITH JASPER JOHNS' FLAG at SF MOMA


POOLSIDE


WITH COLOMBIAN TUTOR JULIANA


POOLSIDE WITH ACHILLES


FIRST DAY OF FIRST U.S. SCHOOL


SCHOOL PROJECT


SOCCER CHAMP


HALLOWEEN


HALLOWEEN COSTUME


ST. HELENA ALL-STARS


NAPA VALLEY ALL-STARS


AT GIANTS-DODGERS GAME


A FRONTRUNNER


AFTER DECORATING CHRISTMAS TREES


CHESS WITH AJAX & ACHILLES


HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

A BITE

Before we embarked on adopting Michael, we hosted him through Kidsave (a program where U.S. families can host "older" children who are available for adoption -- I recommend this program!). Well, as soon as Michael walked off that plane, we had to run to take him to our dentist as his face was ballooned up with some sort of dental crisis. The dentist took a look into his mouth, and immediately called up an oral surgeon. Shortly thereafter, the surgeon was deep in Michael's mouth taking out a molar that had gotten all absessed and such...I couldn't hack it moiself; I sent the hubby in there to hold Michael's hand and comfort him across the language barrier as tears flowed...

I've always joked to the dentist about her ambassadorial skills, or lack thereof: "Great, welcome to the United States and here's a man to yank out your tooth!"

The best part? All of it UNINSURED! If the kid would have waited until adoption to have a dental blow-up, we'd have the first year of college all financed!

Anyway, catch-up dental care was an immediate challenge. Fortunately, dogs provide succor:



I didn't grow up in a culture that relied on braces...I just don't get these train tracks...

Happy New Year! Be careful out there and take care of your teeth!

HAPPY TENTH BIRTHDAY TO OurOwnVoice!

With its just-released issue, OurOwnVoice (OOV) is completing its tenth year! Wow! It seems like yesterday when I was meeting its editor/publisher Reme Grefalda in San Francisco to discuss this new diasporic journal for Filipino voices. And I had no clue that THIS was what our meeting meant to Reme -- it's interesting how I don't have any sense in my memory that I was being generous, but my involvement apparently meant a lot to Reme. And reading this came on the heels of reading Barbara's recollection of my input in her early years as a poet. Well, now I know what this all means: I'm OLD. Mano a Moi, why dontcha!

Seriously, it's nice to see seeds blossom, as both OOV and Barbara have done with such impact. Perhaps relatedly, here is a drawing given to me by an SFSU student; I think she made it while standing in line for a book signing I was doing after a reading/lecture there a few months back. I'm sorry to say I can't recall her name -- but thank you, Dear, for the image I'm titling "Moon and Mistress" because, mayhap, it might be a good title for a future poem...:



Meanwhile, though I'd gotten involved with OOV specifically to help promote visual art (as Contributing Editor for the Arts), OOV is gracious enough not to ignore my core love. They've asked me to be OOV's Resident Poet for 2010, which means, among other things, THESE POEMS representing recent books and in-progress manuscripts. Thank YOU, OOV -- I am the one to thank you.