Immensely grateful to Erica Goss for this tremendous review of my book, In Those Years, No One Slept, published last year by Broadstone Books. I hope you give it a read. Erica offers an excellent newsletter with great advice on poetry craft. Subscribe if you can.
When it rains, it pours! Thank you for bearing with me as I announce a new embarrassment of riches: a book of translations I started working on 8 years ago was just published by Guernica Editions!
The book is titled The Seizure of the Beast by the award-winning Romanian poet, editor, and performer Iulia Militaru, and I started working on it a long time ago while attending endless swim meets with my young daughter. It is now available from the esteemed Canadian publisher Guernica Editions, and you can check it out here. Many thanks to publisher Michael Mirolla for giving this book a great home.
Here is what others are saying about this book—many thanks for their kind words of appreciation.
Iulia Militaru’s poems combine different types of speech, from medical and philosophy textbook to “newspeak,” witness accounts, police reports, obituaries, and other written forms. Militaru turns on their head concepts about what we know and accept as poetry, truth, historical facts, philosophy, and language. A fierce feminist who explores the degrees by which speech and the performative act affect our relationship with the Other, Militaru creates unsettling idea collages that force us to examine the discourses throughout history and look at the world with unflinching eyes. The result is a text that draws surprising conclusions, points out absurd realities, and laughs in the face of norms—a dazzling, courageous tour de force.
—Guernica Editions
Iulia Militaru’s poetry unravels social, political, and literary mirages, weaving an unenchanted world in a hybrid, queer writing as a manifesto with a fascinating imaginative power, haunting, performative, hypnotizing, and revelatory.
—Medeea Iancu, writer and feminist activist
In short: this a wild experimental book that imitates the structure of an academic demonstration of sorts, except it is also done through lots of blood splashes and other FX, collages, and vispo moments—and entirely in a deconstructive and feminist spirit, demystifying certain notions such as death or gender in a far more direct and sensible manner than the verbose continental philosophy Iulia Militaru is inspired by. In many sections, things might seem too dry and relentless in comparison with conventional literature, but no, at least some of the things said here had to be done in this manner and not in a more conventional one (either “purely” academic or “purely” literary). Yes, it may be seen as “too” radical for the general readership. But it’s a good thing you can now find here such a book.
—Yigru Zeltil, poet, translator, literary and art critic from Romania
Over the moon excited to find out that my poem, “Making Sausage in the Time of Revolution,” published last year by Consequence, has won a Pushcart Prize! Grateful to Kate Hollander, Matthew Krajniak, and all the editors at Consequence Forum for nominating my poem and to the Pushcart editors for this honor. The poem is included in my latest collection, “In Those Years, No One Slept,” published earlier this year by Broadstone Books.
I remembered my favorite poem by e e cummings today, so here it is.
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#spring #springiscoming #springisnear #poetrycommunity #poetrylovers #poetrygram #eecummings #weekendmood #saturdaymood
https://www.instagram.com/p/CqO3QMQr9LJ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
Save the date! Excited to read on March 25 at 4 PM with my press mates and excellent poets Brenda Nicholas (DAY SWALLOWS NIGHT) and Meredith Trede (BRINGING BACK THE HOUSE)! Register in advance to get the Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMvc-ytqT0oE9UHH_c2qDVKqh8wxB2cnFwQ (at Zoom Online)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CqJfumALxYw/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
Photos from the fantastic opening last night of the exhibition SHATTERED: SYMBOLIC GESTURE at the Romanian Cultural Institute in New York. Many thanks to all the participants, to Oana Maria Cajal for initiating this project, to the RCI team for hosting us and for all their support, and to my co-features Olena Jennings, Adina Dabija, Mihaela Moscaliuc, Adela Sinclair, and Vera Sirota for sharing their beautiful poems. So proud and happy to hold metaphorical hands with these fabulous women artists in support of Ukraine. SHATTERED: SYMBOLIC GESTURE is open until March 24 at the Brancusi Gallery, 200 East 38 street, New York. Go see it if you can. (at Romanian Cultural Institute in New York / ICR New York)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CpjLbAkrkVR/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
TONIGHT!! SHATTERED: SYMBOLIC GESTURE by Oana Maria Cajal is the result of an international collaboration between the Romanian-Canadian artist and several poets and musicians. Inspired by Cajal`s works, artists from Ukraine, Romania, United States and Canada contributed to the project with poems, vocals, instrumental music pieces, in response to the atrocities of the war in Ukraine.
Join us for a multimedia exhibition that includes 24 collages bearing the visceral imprint of an artist confronted with the horrors of war and in awe with the Ukrainian people’s stoic resourcefulness. The artworks will be displayed together with a short film by Ștefan Cajal and will be accompanied by live readings featuring US-based Romanian and Ukrainian poets Adina Dabija, Cătălina Florescu, Olena Jennings, Mihaela Moscaliuc, Claudia Serea, Adela Sinclair, and Vera Sirota.
See you at RCI New York tonight at 7 pm!
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#StandWithUkraine #oanamariacajal #RomanianCanadianartist #claudiaserea #adinadabija #CatalinaFlorescu #olenajennings #mihaelamoscaliuc #adelasinclair #verasirota #Ukrainianwar #Ukraine #womenwriters #RomanianAmericandiaspora #UkrainianInstituteofAmerica #RCIUSA #RCINY #ICRNewYork #InstitutulCulturalRoman #ICR
https://www.instagram.com/p/CpfXdFgOM9U/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
TOMORROW NIGHT! Excited to be a part of SHATTERED which will open tomorrow night at the Romanian Cultural Institute in New York / ICR New York—and to read with these amazing poets! Celebrate International Woman’s Day early and join us!! 200 E 38th St, New York, 7 PM. Free to attend, but registration is required. Register at the link below.
Seven Ukrainian-American and Romanian-American writers join Romanian-Canadian visual artist Oana Maria Cajal on a special journey that makes their voices heard against the war waged by Russia against Ukraine.
Oana Maria Cajal’s multimedia exhibition, opening at RCI New York tomorrow evening, will be accompanied by a series of readings featuring Adina Dabija, Catalina Florescu, Olena Jennings, Mihaela Moscaliuc, Claudia Serea, Adela Sinclair, and Vera Sirota.
👉 Visit this link for details and to register: https://www.rciusa.info/events/shattered-symbolic-gesture-3
#StandWithUkraine #oanamariacajal #RomanianCanadianartist #claudiaserea #adinadabija #CatalinaFlorescu #olenajennings #mihaelamoscaliuc #adelasinclair #verasirota #Ukrainianwar #Ukraine #womenwriters #RomanianAmericandiaspora #UkrainianInstituteofAmerica #RCIUSA #RCINY #ICRNewYork #InstitutulCulturalRoman #ICR (at Romanian Cultural Institute in New York / ICR New York)
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpdylv-Ljmz/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
TOMORROW NIGHT! Excited to be a part of SHATTERED which will open tomorrow night at the Romanian Cultural Institute in New York / ICR New York—and to read with these amazing poets! Celebrate International Woman’s Day early and join us!! 200 E 38th St, New York, 7 PM. Free to attend, but registration is required. Register at the link below.
Seven Ukrainian-American and Romanian-American writers join Romanian-Canadian visual artist Oana Maria Cajal on a special journey that makes their voices heard against the war waged by Russia against Ukraine.
Oana Maria Cajal’s multimedia exhibition, opening at RCI New York tomorrow evening, will be accompanied by a series of readings featuring Adina Dabija, Catalina Florescu, Olena Jennings, Mihaela Moscaliuc, Claudia Serea, Adela Sinclair, and Vera Sirota.
👉 Visit this link for details and to register: https://www.rciusa.info/events/shattered-symbolic-gesture-3
#StandWithUkraine #oanamariacajal #RomanianCanadianartist #claudiaserea #adinadabija #CatalinaFlorescu #olenajennings #mihaelamoscaliuc #adelasinclair #verasirota #Ukrainianwar #Ukraine #womenwriters #RomanianAmericandiaspora #UkrainianInstituteofAmerica #RCIUSA #RCINY #ICRNewYork #InstitutulCulturalRoman #ICR
https://www.instagram.com/p/CpdyK7wrpgu/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
SAVE THESE DATES! Excited to announce these upcoming readings this spring, online and in person. Hope to see you at some of them! Many thanks to all the organizers for making these events possible.
March 7, 7PM
Romanian Cultural Institute, NY
Reading at the opening of the SHATTERED exhibition, a collaboration project with Oana Maria Cajal in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and in protest against the heinous war
Featuring: Adina Dabija, Olena Jennings, Mihaela Moscaliuc, Adela Sinclair, Vera Sirota, and Claudia Serea
Details and RSVP: https://www.rciusa.info/events/shattered-symbolic-gesture-3
March 25, 4 PM
Broadstone Books Poetry Reading on Zoom
Featuring: Brenda Nichols, Meredith Trede, and Claudia Serea
Zoom link to be provided
April 7, 6PM
FBomb Poetry Reading on Zoom, hosted by writer Paul Beckman
Featuring: Alina Stefanescu, Lloyd Schwartz, Anton Yakovlev, and Don Zirilli
Zoom link to be provided
May 4, 6 PM
Broadstone Books poetry reading—in person
Jefferson Market Library
Featuring: Indran Amirthanayagam, Myra Malkin, Mary Tautin Moloney, Mervyn Taylor, Meredith Trede, and Claudia Serea
Hosted by Larry Moore, publisher of Broadstone Books
Details here: https://www.nypl.org/events/programs/2023/05/04/broadstone-books-poets
Repost from @romanianculturalinstituteusa
With my thanks for a moving night in support of Ukraine and of the project SHATTERED.
When war is raging in Europe arts can’t and mustn’t remain silent. And silent they are not as proven by yesterday’s show of solidarity with Ukraine in what was possibly one of the finest hours of cultural diplomacy in New York. We are proud to have partnered with the Ukrainian Institute of America for the first, abbreviated chapter of our common project “Shattered”, which was presented as part of the program marking one year since the start of the Russian aggression in the presence of top American and foreign dignitaries, including the Foreign Minister of Estonia and New York Governor Kathy Hochul. The grand house of UIA in the Upper East was literally packed with all leadership of EUNIC New York, our association of European cultural institutes, in attendance. The evening culminated across Central Park, at the The Metropolitan Opera with “For Ukraine. A concert of remembrance and hope”, opened by First Lady Olena Zelenska.
The complete version of Shattered - the entire exhibition by Oana Maria Cajal and the poetry performances by Adina Dabija, Olena Jennings, Mihaela Moscaliuc, Claudia Serea, Adela Sinclair, Vera Sirota - will take place at the Romanian Cultural Institute on March 7 so let’s get together again in denouncing Putin’s atrocities and demonstrating the power of solidarity and the relevance of artistic imagination in times of tragedy.
#StandWithUkraine #oanamariacajal #claudiaserea #adelasinclair #verasirota #Ukrainianwar #Ukraine #UkrainianInstituteofAmerica #RCIUSA #RCINY #ICRNewYork #InstitutulCulturalRoman #ICR
https://www.instagram.com/p/CpF-91LuNd2/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
Friends from New York and New Jersey, I hope you can join me, @adelasinclairpoet and Vera Sirota this Friday, February 24, at 5 PM, at a poetry reading at the @ukrainianinstitute commemorating 1 year of this terrible war. Honored to be included in this event co-organized by the @romanianculturalinstituteusa presenting a preview of the collaboration project SHATTERED: SYMBOLIC GESTURE between visual artist @oanamariacajal and an expanding group of poets from Ukraine, Romania, and the United States.
In abbreviated version, featuring 10 works by Oana Maria Cajal and short readings by Adela Sinclair, Vera Sirota, and yours truly, the project will be presented at the Ukrainian Institute of America as part of the Open House commemorative event on February 24, with readings starting at 5 pm.
The Open House will allow guests to participate in the commemoration at their own pace. The event will feature multiple themed rooms and experiences, including video greetings from friends of Ukraine and of the UIA, a tribute to fallen artists, a healing space, and more.
Details and RSVP:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/open-house-commemorating-one-year-of-war-in-ukraine-tickets-555697374807
#oanamariacajal #claudiaserea #adelasinclair #verasirota #Ukrainianwar #Ukraine #UkrainianInstituteofAmerica #RCIUSA #RCINY #ICRNewYork #InstitutulCulturalRoman #ICR
https://www.instagram.com/p/Co-7KRrrPiY/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
Romanian-born poet, copywriter, translator, and editor; co-founder of #TranslationMonth; Pushcart Prize winner; author of 7 poetry books—check out my latest collection, In Those Years, No One Slept (Broadstone Books, 2023) https://bit.ly/InThoseYearsNoOneSlept
@Claudia_poetry on Twitter, Instagram.
How much for that hat?
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