Poetry
Praise for Standing with Trees
“There are poems that tell a story, and then there are poems that reach beyond the story, trying to bring balance to the earth, trying to change the world, one small step at a time. Karin's strong, beautiful poems move the readers along, heart by heart, toward a better world."
—Gary Lawless
Dear Karin - finally a moment to let you know how good it was to see you a couple of weeks ago and how strong and clear your poetry rang in my ear. Thank you for writing such fresh, funny, and moving poems. It certainly is your medium - can contain all your fiery tenderness!
—Love, Patricia Reis
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR GOING FOR YOURSELF, FOR PULLING BEAUTIFUL POEMS OUT OF YOUR BELLY BUTTON, FOR SPEAKING ALAYS IN THE LANGUAGE OF YOUR OWN TRUE NORTH AND FOR REFUSING TO KNUCKLE UNDER TO THE DOMINANT CULTURE IDEAS OF POWER.
THANK YOU X1000 AND A DEEP BOW TO YOUR FIRE WHICH IS NOT ALWAYS SPITTING BUT OFTEN JUST WELL-BANKED AND GLOWING.
—YOUR FAN, ZANDA (Alexandra Merrill)
You can purchase either book at most of the independent bookstores in Maine, such as Gulf of Maine Books, Book Stack, Blue Hill Books, Print, and Shermans. I have only a few copies of Standing With Trees, so these stores are your best bet. And you can order The Body in Late Stage Capitalism here.
Praise for The Body In Late Stage Capitalism
Working in a variety of inventive forms, Karin Spitfire offers brave, sad, angry, tender, and ecstatic poems encompassing the personal and the political, the Belfastian local and the late capitalist universal. There are manifestos and recriminations, presented in no-nonsense terms, but also dreams and love. “If I were god,” Spitfire writes, “I would stand next to you/until/you knew yourself/as me.//Then, like a mother/whisper/clean up your room//And you would do it.” These poems will move you--and get you moving.
—Carl Little, author of Ocean Drinker: New & Selected Poems
The Body In Late Stage Capitalism slices open the dark underbelly of the settler-colonial, capitalist, christian, patriarchal, imperialist machine; leaving a gaping wound. The visceral imagery evoked in these poems is a phenomenon that you don't want to miss. Stunning.
—Dawn Neptune Adams, filmmaker, member of the Penobscot Nation
These are poems of art and intelligence. These poems are alive. This is language that wants to change the world. Listen. Listen with your heart. Let these poems change your life.
—Gary Lawless, Poet, Publisher, Co-owner Gulf of Maine Books
In this visceral, grief-filled & crystalline new collection, Karin Spitfire’s poems inhabit resilient & beautiful bodies of all scales: the entire earth, dreamy leaping belugas, disappearing bees, sardines, river water, family members, the self. Spitfire’s images are sharp, lyrical and breathtaking.
—Jan Bindas-Tenney (they/them), poet
Karin’s poetry in The Body in Late Stage Capitalism is astonishing. At once both wide and deep, her art takes us from the depths of despair to the exquisite beauty of mother earth. Drawing on history, her own story, her keen intuition, and deep love, she invites us on a journey of complex emotions that make us laugh, rage, cry and hope. Pour yourself a cup of tea and sit with this amazing poetry, let it crack open your heart and let the love flow.
—Betsy Sweet, political advocate, feminist, mom