April is national poetry month, and I will be sending out free books to anyone who leaves a comment to this post by April 30 (your comment might also rank the books in order of desire / lust). I will randomly choose the winner (or winners, maybe one book per winner?) on May 1 if I'm not too busy grading finals. The below are some of my favorite books, one for obvious reasons.
The Wild Iris by Louise Gluck
Lush, lyrical persona poems on flowers, plants, times of day, prayers.
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What the Body Told by Rafael Campo
Gay physician, father, Cuban-American, reinvents formal poetry for the 21st century in gritty and moving imagery.
Dien Cai Dau by Yusef Komunyakaa
The best poetry collection on the Vietnam War experience ever, and by a good poet to boot.
Indelible Marks by Benjamin Vogt
My first chapbook. It's ok. There are two poems I'd like to cut. The second chap, forthcoming this October, will be better.
Thanks to Kelli Russell Agodon for instigating this idea for poet bloggers (I am a poet / nonfiction / garden / environmental / whiney blogger).
What a fantastic giveaway! I am sending your blog link to my college son who is majoring in writing..in his 3rd yr. at U of I. He LOVES to write! One of your books would be a fantastic gift for his 21st birthday (May 6th). Keeping my fingers crossed...Thanks!
ReplyDeleteWhile I wouldn't pretend to rank the entire list, my favorite to get would be anything from a whiney blogger with an environmental bent who happens to garden and writes nonfiction and poetry.
ReplyDeleteIt is necessary that I rate Louise Gluck (can't make that little mark that indicates it is Glick) first only because we are contemporaries.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, I can relate to a young man who has a collection of ancient family photos and a story to tell. So do I, partly told on a web site somewhere.
Send me poetry and I'll come to your house and let the air out of your tires.
ReplyDeleteGasp, giving away books, Benjamin! This is like waving fried chicken under the nose of a reformed but inherently carnivorous vegetarian! Have too many books... no space for books... must get more books... BOOKS, gasp, ack, crash... But I digress. Should you feel inclined to send me a copy of your chapbook (inscribed, of course), I would be really, really delighted. And when in the fullness of time I win the Nobel Prize for Poetry, I promise to mention you in my acceptance speech and note that it was in part due to your selfless generosity that I was motivated to go on...
ReplyDeleteBook give-aways! Outstanding. my friend NicoleRobinson works on poetry outreach at Kent State. if I win, i'll let her read the book, but i'm going to keep it and read it to my class. jim
ReplyDeleteI'm torn between two...gardening poetry of any kind is like heaven on earth. However, poetry about Vietnam...so much to write about; so many emotions to illustrate; so political; so personal; who's right and who's wrong...and who's to judge...difficult choice to make!
ReplyDeleteAwesome give-away!!
I have the Gluck volume. Love her work.
ReplyDeleteThank you for introducing me to the other titles.
I don't think I'm ready to rank this, but can I give you an A-plus for the generous prize package? Cheers!
ReplyDeleteCount me in. And please add your name to my Giveaway.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun giveaway! Please add me to your drawing. :)No ranking
ReplyDeleteI am still a gardener of that little vegetable garden even when my post has a tendency to merge gardening and a hint of poetry. Count me in... ~bangchik
ReplyDeletealoha,
ReplyDeletei've started using more poetry and quotes into my posts and would love to have more inspiration, thanks for sharing this contest :)
They all look great! Please enter me in the drawing and thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeletePlease enter me into the contest. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteMe too please! All the books look great to me; I already own the Gluck, however. Thanks! chloeAmartinez@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteooh ooh ooh!!! Pick me Pick me!!!! I have actually been intending on ordering the one you wrote, but just haven't done it yet. I would LOVE to have it! :)
ReplyDeleteYes, please add me to the list, and feel free to stop by Myself the only Kangaroo among the Beauty for a chance at other free books.
ReplyDeleteCount me in! I'm also participating in the giveaway over at http://www.litwindowpane.blogspot.com.
ReplyDeleteS
Hi Benjamin
ReplyDeleteCount me in.
I can always send you a cheque for the postage, what d'you reckon?
Have a good weekend.
PS The Wild Iris floats my boat.
Wow, great idea! I may have to steal this from you... :)
ReplyDelete1, Vogt.
ReplyDelete2, Gluck,
3, Komunyakaa
4, Campo
I hate to rank-order anything, but I'd rather get a volume from the onlie begetter.
Your book is my first choice. The Wild Iris is my second choice. You rock!
ReplyDeleteI love giveaways. The Wild Iris by Louise Gluck looks very interesting.
ReplyDeleteThanks for inspiring us! I'd be happy with any of the books!
ReplyDeleteIt's very kind of you! One book for winner will be better, in my opinion. The more happy winners, the better for humankind!
ReplyDeleteI'd like to have your book.
How great! Of course, I would like your book. Second choice is the Louise Gluck book.
ReplyDeleteI love poetry and plan to put up my National Poetry Month in the Garden post in the next day or so--after I finish grading essays. :-)
ReplyDeleteYay for you having a chapbook.
Please count me in. I have all these but yours. And thanks for signing up for my book giveaway, too. (I think I'll increase the odds by adding free copies of some of the chaps I publish...)
ReplyDeleteHello, I love your taste in books and have all of them but yours - which would be lovely.
ReplyDeletePlease feel free to visit my giveaway over at
http://thealcemistskitchen.blogspot.com
I would love to be entered. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI was so pleased to find your blog, combining interests in poetry and gardening. I am a fan of Louise Gluck, having been introduced to her by my son who has an MFA in Poetry (though he makes his living as an attorney). I would love to be entered in your book giveaway!
ReplyDeleteHi Benjamin,
ReplyDeleteI remember thinking how early the pasque flowers bloomed last year, so I wasn't surprised to see them this year. I try not to play favorites in the garden, but these are awesome! The seedheads and foliage stay cool looking after they bloom. I'm thinking they may sometimes go dormant, but I can't remember for sure. Still, the foliage is almost as pretty as the blooms.
I hope you have your energy back!
Ben: Giving away books? What is better than that? Love your pasque flower. I used to have some but they are nowhere in sight these days. I hope they are bringing you some peace.
ReplyDeletePlease count me in. I'm giving away two books here.
ReplyDeleteWhat fine gifts!
ReplyDeleteAngela
newzoopoet@aol.com
Please enter my name, too. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteWow, I sit watching the A-team all winter, wake back up to the blogs, and someone's promoting reading out here, reading poetry! There's a comedic poetry to this comment thread, btw. No ranking from me, but Les sums it up. And considering I was born while my dad was in Vietnam, it seems I owe that a read. Who can resist the wild iris? Thanks.
ReplyDeletePut me in the gardener's hat please!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to join the crowd. (mattnienow(at)gmail(dot)com)
ReplyDeletethis is a lovely gesture. i would rank your book first, as i either have read or already own the others. good choices, though.
ReplyDeleteamanda-yskamp@att.net
very generous...count me in...
ReplyDeletePlease count me in - thanks
ReplyDeletePlease add my name, Benjamin.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSounds like good fun. Count me in.
ReplyDeleteHi Benjamin, great give-away! I used to have a poetry blog and participated in 30-poems-in-30-days at Read, Write, Poem. Used to write poetry all the time...not so much these days. But I would really enjoy either book by Gluck or Vogt;-)
ReplyDeleteYou have tons of folks already - so don't include me in the giveaway thingie, but LOVE Louise Gluck (and have the Wild Iris - a gift from a former boyfriend who actually seemed to know me) - and when the time comes, in October, when I am hopefully again employed - I'll look forward to reading your new book.
ReplyDeleteGreat selections! Count me in :)
ReplyDeletefrogtown (at) gmail.com
Thanks very much for this opportunity!
ReplyDeleteWould make some great post-exams reading :)
you can contact me at,
lindsay.veenstra(at)gmail(dot)com
Please count me in! Thanks
ReplyDeleteNandini
(nandinikolkata@gmail.com)
Thank you so much for this opportunity - such a great idea! I produce the Vermont Poetry Newsletter & Poetry Event Calendar, so am looking forward to promoting your book, if I'm lucky enough to be a winner! Ron Lewis
ReplyDeleteme me!
ReplyDeleteThis is one of the best giveaways i've seen so far!
ReplyDeleteplease add me.
stacylynnmar@yahoo.com
Personally, I love the order they're already in.
ReplyDeleteIf it's not too late, please add my name.
Great to see another person participating in this generous giveaway!
cj.anythingeverythingnothing@gmail.com