Poetry Rules

I love receiving books for Christmas. Not just poetry books. I like novels, as well. I will attempt to give a few suggestions based on my personal experience. Whatever you choose for your family and friends, may it be something you love. I hardly ever buy books I have not read (or that I would not want to read) as gifts. Also, choose indie whenever you can!          1.   Support small presses! Here are a few worth picking one or more books from: Two Sylvias Press   http://twosylviaspress.com/ Dancing Girl Press  http://www.dancinggirlpress.com/ Blood Pudding Press https://www.etsy.com/shop/BloodPuddingPress Hyacinth Girl Press http://hyacinthgirlpress.com/ Sundress Publications https://squareup.com/market/sundress-publications Misty Publications http://www.mistypublications.com/ 2. Support women writers ! A few suggestions when it comes to poetry. Some books I have  read or reviewed this year and that I truly love: ...

So, it has happened at last. I am so happy of having a chapbook of my poems published in the US. It is a dream come true. It is almost a great act of hybris for somebody whose mother tongue is Italian, but who has dwelled in the English language since the age of 8 when she lived abroad for 5 years--in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates--attending American and International schools. I write poetry in Italian as well naturally but, I do believe that I write my best poems  in English. I hope this will not sound conceited. Honestly, I just look at some of my poems from this collection and think to myself that they make me proud. I guess I can say that a hint to how "good" one of the poems is came from a rejection that John Rosenwald, Co-editor of Beloit Poetry Journal  mailed to me: Dear Alessandra Bava, At our quarterly editorial board meeting that concluded yesterday we spent considerable time discussing your work, especially "Never Thirty-Seven" and "...