HUH. I HAVE A FAVORITE SPORTS POEM?

I think I actually have a favorite sports poem! That would be "Uruguay-Ghana 2010" by Tuvia Ruebner, translated from the Hebrew by Lisa Katz and Shahar Bram!

(click on image to enlarge)

And here's my latest blurb for a forthcoming book:

Apocalyptics by C. Derick Varn
When each heartbeat is a floodlight, poems erupt like those in C. Derick Varn’s Apocalyptics. Wittgenstein said, and as used as epigraph to one poem, “You get tragedy where the tree, instead of bending, breaks.” Some of these poems “bend” but some also go all the way to “break.” The results transcend tragedy, though. How can it be otherwise when the results are poems, including some that set “language on fire”—as in “You’re always / claiming the high road as it washes / away.”

Speaking of publications, here's my latest Relished W(h)ines update of recently imbibed books and wines.  As ever, please note that in the Publications section, if you see an asterisk before the title, that means a review copy is available for Galatea Resurrects!  More info on that HERE. 

PUBLICATIONS

GAP GARDENING: SELECTED POEMS by Rosmarie Waldrop, edited by Nikolai Duffy with author (haven’t read her in years but was reminded just how great is her THE REPRODUCTION OF PROFILES—probably one of my top ten poetry reads)

THE BOOK OF CORD by Leona Chen (unexpectedly—as I hadn’t known her work—one of the most powerful poetry reads I’ve experienced this year. LinkedInPoetry Recommendation (LPR) # 274) 

THE END OF SOMETHING by Kate Greenstreet (so resonant, so smart. LPR #273)

SAY THRONE, poems by No’U Revilla (fabulous!)

VENTURE OF THE INFINITE MAN by Pablo Neruda, Trans. by Jessica Powell (interesting, fascinating… LPR #272)

LATE BEAUTY, poems by Tuvia Ruebner, Trans. by Lisa Katz and Shahar Bram (excellent, with a particularly stellar poem: “Uruguay-Ghana 2010” which is now my favorite sports poem ever)

THE SAD SONGS OF HELL, poems by Brent Cunningham (intelligent and, at times,  amusing)

SISTA TONGUE, poetry by Lisa Linn Kanae (deservedly historic)

BACKSTORIES, poems by Jonathan Penton (a feat! Interesting, intriguing and wise)

A TALE OF MAGICIANS WHO PUFFED UP MONEY THAT LOST ITS PUFF, poetry by Kaia Sand (elegant and witty, which is also impressive given its topic)

THIRTEEN WAYS OF LOOKING AT THE BUS, poems by Gizelle Gajelonia (ingenious, witty, charming)

ACHING FOR MANGO FRIENDS, poems by Jacinta, Galea,’i (moving)

DAWN, poems by Jordan Scott (great poems as befits the superb design by Jeff Sanner—another beautiful object from Tinfish)

ANYJAR, poems by Jaimie Gusman (terrific!)

MEMORY CARDS: SIMONE WEIL SERIES, poems by Susan M. Schultz (as ever, stellar. She’s so active, thus known for many things. But she’s actually one of the great poets of our timememo)

FRESH ROSES, poems by Sheila Murphy (lovely)

THE FUTURE ONLY RATTLES WHEN YOU PICK IT UP, poems by David Giannini (a pleasurable read)

APOCALYPTICS, poems by C. Derick Varn (see above blurb)

AUGURIES OF INNOCENCE, poems by Patti Smith

HEAVEN IS ALL GOODBYES, poems by Tongo Eisen-Martin

THE FUTURE ONLY RATTLES WHEN YOU PICK IT UP, poems by David Giannini (a pleasurable read)

OUT OF THE QUESTION: SELECTED POEMS (1963-2003) by Lewis Warsh

THOUSANDS, poems by Lightsey Darst

THE TERRITORY IS NOT THE MAP, poems by Marilia Garcia, Trans. by Hilary Kaplan

THE STORY OF SOMEONE ELSE, poems by Soledad Marambio, Trans. by K.T. Billey

LANDSCAPE WITH YELLOW BIRDS, poems by Jose Angel Valente, Trans. by Thomas Christensen

WHAT’S HANGING ON THE HUSH, poems by Lauren Russell

PALM TO PINE, poems by Sunnylyn Thibodeaux

THE RUINED ELEGANCE, poems by Fiona Sze-Lorrain

THE EVERYDAY ENGLISH DICTIONARY, poems by Ivy Alvarez

GATHERING SPARKS, poems by Paul Pines

VAGENDA OF MANICIDE AND OTHER POEMS by Melinda Luisa De Jesus

THREE, poems by Hannah Kezema

SHIVA MOON, poems by Maxine Silverman

PLAINTIVE MUSIC, poems by Ron Domen

THE NEW NUDITY, poems by Hadara Bar-Nadav

THE BOSSES, poems by Sebastian Agudelo

GATHEREST, poems by Sasha Steensen

‘80S PINK, poems by Stacy Szymaszek

CATCALL, poems by Holly Melgard

INSOLVENCY, INSOLVENCY, poems byt Jeremy Hoevenaar

MY IDA, poems by Simone Kearney

BOYS QUARTER, poems by Chukwuma Ndulue

AUGURIES OF INNOCENCE, poems by Patti Smith

EVEN NOW THE EMBERS, poems by Djelloul Marbrook

CATARACTS, poems by Raymond McDaniel

pH NEUTRAL HISTORY, poems by Lidija Dimkovska, Trans. by Ljubica Arsovska and Peggy Reid

FORGET IT, poems by Anastacia Renee

GO WITH ME, poems by Jared Hayes

NITRO NIGHTS, poems by W.S. Di Piero

BLACK GENEALOGY, poems by Kiki Petrosino with illustrations by Lauren Haldeman

THE GALLOPING MAN AND 5 OTHER POEMS by Gregory St. Vicent Thomasino

THE GETTY FIEND, poems by Ken White

[], poems by Mina Zohal

METRO BOOMIN WANT SOME MORE NIGGA, poems by Simone White

CONSUMES ME, poems by Cat Tyc

WOMAN. HAND/PEN., poems by Zohra Saed

TIME PORTAL, poems by Jai Arun Ravine and Greg Wood

From SOME GIRLS WALK INTO THE COUNTRY THEY ARE FROM, poems by Sawako Nakayasu

From DAY, poetry by Fred Moten

JEWELRY, poems by Constance DeJong

THE CLOTHES WE WEAR, poems by Amelia Bande 

A WORD FOR IT, poems by Warren Slesinger

PYRRHONIC, poems by Stephanie L. Erdman

STUDIED DAYS, POEMS EARLY & LATE IN APPALACHIA by Richard Hague

DOVETAIL: POEMS,  CONVERSATIONS AND A CONVERSATION by Kimiko Hahn and Tamiko Beyer

CERTAIN MANOEUVRES, poems by Lydia Unsworth

SEA SUMMIT, poems by Yi Lu, Trans. by Fiona Sze-Lorrain

PALINDROME, poems by Pauletta Hansel

DIRECTIONS FOR USE, poems by Ana Ristovic, Trans. by Steven Teref and Maja Teref

THE AWFUL TRUTH, poems by Diana Hamilton

THE ROOTS OF WISDOM, poems by Zang Di, Trans. by Eleanor Goodman 

RESISTANCE, RENAISSANCE, REVOLUTION AND EVOLUTION, poetry by Patrick A. Howell plus guest artists

THIS NEW YEAR, poetry broadside by Sheila Murphy (annually a blessing)

ZERO DISTANCE: NEW POETRY FROM CHINA edited by Liang Yujing

MINT JULEP, Issue One, literary journal edited by Lila Dunlap

THE POETRY PROJECT #253, Dec. 2017/Jan. 2018, edited by Marwa Helal

EVIDENCE OF FETUS DIVERSITY edited by Eileen R. Tabios

ARTFUL, essays by Ali Smith

THE DECOLONIZED EYE: FILIPINO AMERICAN ART AND PERFORMANCE, essays by Sarita See

WHAT I TALK ABOUT WHEN I TALK ABOUT RUNNING, autobiographical essays by Haruki Murakami

INDIAN CREEK CHRONICLES: A WINTER ALONE IN THE WILDERNESS, memoir by Pete Fromm

ITALIAN SHOES, novel by Henning Mankell

CAROLINE: LITTLE HOUSE, REVISITED, novel by Sarah Miller

DAUGHTERS OF THE DRAGON, novel by William Andrews

TESTIMONY, novel by Scott Turow

ENEMY OF THE STATE, novel by Vince Flynn

WINES

2014 Mondavi cabernet

2016 Cliff Lede sauvignon blanc

2014 QUPE syrah

2016 Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Haut-Lieu Demi-Sec

2016 Eponymous Proprietary White Carneros

2014 Calera pinot noir Central Coast

2015 Frog’s Leap zinfandel

2014 Truchard pinot noir Carneros NV

2015 Ferdinand Albarino

2010 Trefethen Reserve cabernet NV

2007 Saxum Booker Vineyard

2012 Les Clos Chablis

2012 Dancing Hares cabernet

2016 Bedrock Evangelho Vineyard Contra Costa County

2015 Ch. Belleflont-Belcier

2015 Ch. Chauvin

2015 Couvent Des Jacobins

2010 Couvent Des Jacobins

2003 Ch. Dassault

2015 Ch. Fombrauge

2012 Ch. Fombrauge

2015 Ch. Fonplegade

2015 Ch. Fonroque

2015 Ch. Grand Corbin

2015 Ch. La Tour Figeac

2015 Ch. Laroze

2015 Ch. Le Prieure

2015 Ch. Ripeau

2015 Ch. Yon Figeac

2014 Ch. Yon Figeac

2010 Saint Marigold chardonnay Sonoma Coast

2001 La Rioja Alta Vina Ardanza Reserva Especial

Krug NV

1958 G. Conterno Barolo Reserva

Vega Reserva Especial L-016 (1990, 1991 & 1994)

1994 Taylor’s Fladgate

2012 Limestone Tinto Negro Mendoza

2010 Clos Mogador Priorat

2008 Schramsberg J Schram Sparkling Wine

2009 Trimbach Cuvee Frederick Emile

2009 Malartic Lagraviere Blanc

2014 Chateau Grillet Viognier

2001 Louis RemyLatricieres Chambertin

1985 Shafer Napa Cabernet

1994 Oliveira Malvazia Madeira

2001 Sandrone La Vigne

2016 Kongsgaard 2016 Albarino NV

2011 Jean Et Sebastien Dauvissat Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses

2010 Favia Rompecabezas Amador County

1985 Silver Oak Cabernet NV

2010 Raveneau Blanche Chot