this is a still from luba halicki's video poem

luba.still, originally uploaded by carbonator.

that will appear in MiPo's special Asian American Poetry issue that i am guest editing. there is also another video poem by eric gamalinda that will be premiered in that issue. i have 30 awesome asian american poets lined up. i received just over 140 emailed submissions. if you haven't heard yet about your submissions, that's good news because the rejections are always sent first! this is going to be a historic issue not only because of the high quality of work chosen but also because of the diversity of aesthetic temperaments and visualisations. i am quite excited about the more than usual number of younger asian american poets whose names are not yet well-known and who will make their first appearance in a national (international) format. expect something wonderful!

last of the AWP pics

beth:denise, originally uploaded by carbonator.

you always have to have a awp shot of fab poet beth gilys.

denise:nick:sharon:rick:susan

denise:nick:sharon:rick:susan, originally uploaded by carbonator.

the last night we went out and got taxis to go to an expensive sushi restaurant called uchi. the servings were small but the company of poets was intimate.

deborah.landau

deborah.landau, originally uploaded by carbonator.

deborah thinks, if husbands were only like cut-outs, they could be folded and put away in my purse when they fuck up.

denise:kirby:cindy

denise:kirby:cindy, originally uploaded by carbonator.

denise and cindy poking at david.

dufresne:kirby

dufresne:kirby, originally uploaded by carbonator.

our friend, novelist john dufresne sticks one to david.

denise:terrance:cate

denise:terrance:cate, originally uploaded by carbonator.

caught up with terrance hays and cate marvin. cool poets are taking over!

kelle.groome:d:malena

kelle.groome:d:malena, originally uploaded by carbonator.

at the bookfair we find kelle and malena, two fine poets.

mypatchofsky

mypatchofsky, originally uploaded by carbonator.

roger:denise

roger:denise, originally uploaded by carbonator.

denise and her astute publisher, roger lathbury, who chose to publish Kinky almost 10 years ago and 8 reprintings later.

b.j.ward&denise

b.j.ward&denise, originally uploaded by carbonator.

we play scrabble at vcca and he likes to challenge our words like: vim, anent, & vizier.

nick&b.j.

nick&b.j., originally uploaded by carbonator.

ran into old buddy b.j. ward. we play tennis at vcca.

mark.halliday&j.allyn rosser

mark.halliday&j.allyn rosser, originally uploaded by carbonator.

after the panel met mark & allyn, hey, cool poetry couple. shouldn't someone propose a poetry couple panel?

humor panel audience

comicpanel, originally uploaded by carbonator.

it got full just as we began. lots of people said it was the best panel this year.

you know your country has reached bottom

Jessica-Simpson-86, originally uploaded by carbonator.

when even Jessica Simpson refuses to attend a national republican fund raiser and have the chance to meet face to face with the president. life is just not worth living!

fantastic foursome

fantastic foursome, originally uploaded by carbonator.

vikas, marlon, ed bok lee (who i've wanted to meet for a long while to congratulate him on his awesone first book), and neil. just the poetry power of these four could light up two continents!

dynamicduo

dynamicduo, originally uploaded by carbonator.

the coolest dudes at the conference are asian and bald! marlon and oliver.

neil.aitken&jay.snodgrass

neil.aitken&jay.snodgrass, originally uploaded by carbonator.

met neil aitken who really hails from canada and to his left is the famous fiu poet jay snodgrass, author of "monster zero" a fine first book of poetry.

eduardo

eduardo, originally uploaded by carbonator.

my brokeback moment with eduardo. oh, those norteño eyes want a hug. ah ya yay!

nick&rigoberto

nick&rigoberto, originally uploaded by carbonator.

in the evening met up with large group of friends to go out to dinner. it was nice to get a hug from rigoberto.

victoria.chang

victoria.chang, originally uploaded by carbonator.

victoria gave a fabulous reading and she was beaming (secret, five months pregnant).

siupoets

siupoets, originally uploaded by carbonator.

victoria chang, amy fleury, and david hernandez prepare for their reading.

allison.joseph

allison.joseph, originally uploaded by carbonator.

in the afternoon i headed over to the crab orchard/siu poetry reading and i had all poets sign their books. here's allison ready to introduce.

the guysatredmorningpress

the guysatredmorningpress, originally uploaded by carbonator.

for you ivy, the guys at red morning press. really friendly and cool dudes.

arielle.greenberg&d.a.powell

arielle.greenberg&d.a.powell, originally uploaded by carbonator.

bought arielle's latest book "my kafka century" and gossiped while d.a. powell interupted saying, it's the shoes, that's why you hire them, for their taste in shoes."

chris.green

chris.green, originally uploaded by carbonator.

friday afternoon went over to the bookfair to do the rounds. saw good chicago friend chris green who is a fabulous poet and a co-editor of rhino poetry.

2queens

2queens, originally uploaded by carbonator.

what glamour! what royal sparkle from the two queens of american poetry: Denise Duhamel & Beth Anne Fennelly.

lisa&david

lisa&david, originally uploaded by carbonator.

close up of lisa & david all full of barbeque!

morestubbs

morestubbs, originally uploaded by carbonator.

thurs night we had dinner at Stubbs again. that's lisa & david under the famous sign.

oliver2

oliver2, originally uploaded by carbonator.

oliver de la paz waves back after i've had my 5th margarita!

pat.rosal

pat.rosal, originally uploaded by carbonator.

pat is shocked to hear that he has to read first. he gave a dope ass reading!

newlyweds

newlyweds, originally uploaded by carbonator.

dustin & aimee graced the panel with their glowing presence.

marlon&purvi

marlon&purvi, originally uploaded by carbonator.

marlon and purvi making chismis!

kazim.ali

kazim.ali, originally uploaded by carbonator.

kazim ali also read. he's got a first book of poems that kicks ass.

historicpanel

historicpanel, originally uploaded by carbonator.

it was grand, it was awesome: L-R, pat rosal, sarah gambito, marilyn chin (hidden behind podium), purvi shah, mary chi-whi kim, marlon unas esguerra, oliver (standing tall).

evelina

evelina, originally uploaded by carbonator.

thursday in austin. this noon was the big day of the kundiman reading. all the APA stars came by to support the kundiman community. evelina says hi to her many fans. her big featured reading is tommorow afternoon.

night view

night view, originally uploaded by carbonator.

view from our 20th flr hotel room.

stubbs

stubbs, originally uploaded by carbonator.

yummiest b-b-q in texas at stubbs. i had the minor barbeque plate which had two kinds of meat.

kevinwalzer&kids

kevinwalzer&kids, originally uploaded by carbonator.

kept running into my publisher kevin walzer, his wife lori, and his sons david and bobby (who likes to be called "luke" from star wars).

lanyard

lanyard, originally uploaded by carbonator.

we arrived last night in austin and today we registered and kept meeting people we knew all over the place. notice my affiliation is listed as Florida International University NOT the University of Miami.