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
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Photo by Tom Sundro Lewis
Michele lives in Boulder, CO where she writes, studies,
teaches and wades in the creek.
She is the author four books, Ink for an Odd Cartography
(Black Lawrence Press,
2009), Slow the Appetite Down,
(Spire Press, 2009),
Raising Petra, (Pudding
House, 2007), and
Mapping the Spaces Between, (Snark Publishing, 2004).
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 up at The Awl, Redheaded Stepchild, and SpringGun. Check out these amazing publications and give them some love!
Two of my poems from the American Proverbs series will be included in the January 2012 issue of American Poetry Review. You can pick up a copy of APR at your local bookstore. What a great way to start the year!
Binge Press has picked my poem "Lineage" to be part of their next instant chapbook and mini broadside series. It will be out in February, just in time for AWP!
Click on the News tab for archived announcements.