Entomological catastrophes are rarely
a source of poetic inspiration. Ditto Goldbach's prime number
conjecture. Poet and spoken word artist Michele Battiste, however, is
anything but a stodgy traditionalist. She is more likely to panegyrize
her food processor than to lament the icy decisiveness of Death (the
fact that one of her favorite hobbies is collecting epidemiological
statistics on the world's major diseases notwithstanding). Her work is
vivific, yet thoughtful; intellectual, yet sultry - one moment wizened
and worldly, the next, purring with vernal allure. Additionally,
Battiste's command of the English language is a marvel. Her verse is
bursting with bewitching imagery and the rhythmic elegance of Latin
jazz. And she can unfold a trope like a peacock's fan, revealing a
staggering bounty of striking patterns and unexpected connections. As
far as this (NY Times) critic is concerned, Battiste is a major
talent.
She's sure to become one of the true luminaries of American poetry in
the 21st century.
Michele blogs about contemporary poetry at
Poetry in the
11111011010.
Photo by Tom Sundro Lewis
Michele lives in Boulder, CO where she writes, studies,
teaches and wades in the creek.
She is the author of four chapbooks and two poetry collections:
Ink for an Odd Cartography,
(2009) and the forthcoming Uprising (2013), both from Black Lawrence Press.
According to Jim Daniels, editor of American Poetry: The Next Generation,
"(Michele Battiste's) poems are driven by some super high-octane duende. They spin and spill all over the place with a controlled recklessness and a sustained energy. She's ready to take flight at the smallest provocation, wings oiled up, in tune with the mad universe."
I have new work online at Anti-, Yew, The Bakery, and 27 Rue de Fleures. Check out these amazing journals and give them some love!
I'm thrilled to take part in a text and video collaboration with the amazing Aaron Angello at ONandOnScreen.
Print poems will be showing up in upcoming issues of Spoon River Poetry Review, Salmagundi, and Upstairs at Duroc. So please keep your eye out for these publications and pick up a copy if you can.
The amazing Black Lawrence Press is publishing my second book, Uprising, in 2013! Better brush up on the history of the Hungarian Revolution now.
Click on the News tab for archived announcements.