The Big Poetry Giveaway 2011

Just in time for April's observance of National Poetry Month, I'm taking part in the 2011 Big Poetry Giveaway, which was created by the fab poet, Kelli Russell Agodon. While the rules state you must give away two books of poetry, I'm going a bit hog wild. Here's what I'm giving away to four lucky folks:

Earthquake Came to Harlem by Jackie Sheeler - One of my favorite collections of 2010. Ellen Bass describes the poems in this collection as "vivid and compelling," while Wanda Coleman calls Sheeler an "urban word warrior."

Abyssinia, Jill Rush by David Herrle - A dizzying array of pop culture and literary references that send readers down the rabbit hole in this debut by Herrle (editor of SubtleTea lit mag).

After the Poison by Collin Kelley - This is my chapbook of political poetry from Finishing Line Press. Hurricane Katrina, George Bush, Ronald Reagan, Patty Hearst, body politics, homophobia and racism all get deconstructed here.

Java Monkey Speaks Vol. 3  - I had the pleasure of co-editing this volume with Kodac Harrison. It features poems by Natasha Trethewey, Beth Ann Fennelly, Cecilia Woloch, Patricia Smith and Thomas Lux among many others.

All you have to do is leave a comment saying you'd like to be entered in the drawing to win one of the books from now through April 30. The book you win will also be chosen at random, so it will be a surprise when you open your mailbox! I will choose the four winners on May 1 and announce them on Modern Confessional. I'll get a mailing address and you'll receive your book. No fuss, no muss.

To find our more about the competition or if you're a blogger who wants to get involved in the giveaway, visit this link at Kelli's blog.