Tag: contemporary poetry

Explore the lively atmosphere of Little Italy, NYC, under a colorful, festive display on a sunny day.

October is Italian American Heritage and Culture Month in the U.S.!

Published on by abbernLeave a comment

Do you have a connection to Italy?
Do you want one?

My new book, Dreams of the Return, contains my poems, translations, stories, and photos based on my connections to Italy, especially southern Italy and Naples, where I lived in 1965 as a teenager attending liceo, and continuing through to the present day.

Published by Old Scratch Press in 2025, Dreams of the Return is available from Amazon:

For more information about the book, visit:

Dreams of the Return

If you’re looking for a gift for October or for the upcoming holiday season, I hope you’ll consider Dreams of the Return.

I send greetings and wish you well in these difficult times.

Alan Bern
Poetryandpics.com

Thanks for your interest in my work and my new book!

Alan Bern is a poet, writer, photographer, and retired children’s librarian whose work brings together poetry, prose, and visual art. A Pushcart Prize nominee, he is the author of three books of poetry, the hybrid fictionalized memoir In the Pace of the Path, and the chapbook because lack. His work has appeared in Third Street Review, EcoTheo Review, The Hyacinth Review, DarkWinter, Feral, and Porridge Magazine, among others. His recent honors include winning the 2022 Saw Palm Poetry Contest and being longlisted for The Bedford Competition in 2023. Alan is also a founding member of the Old Scratch Press collective. Please visit him.

Alan’s newest book, Dreams of the Return, is available from Old Scratch Press. The collection brings together poetry, prose, photography, memoir, and translations inspired by Alan’s lifelong connection to Italy, particularly Naples and Southern Italy.

Join Us Today for Voices, Visions, and Poetry: A Live Reading & Book Launch

Published on by CWPLeave a comment

Join us today for a triple poetry book launch and live reading event taking place over Zoom.

This special online event will spotlight:

  • Alan Bern, Dreams of the Return
  • Anthony Doyle, Jonah’s Map of the Whale
  • Virginia Watts, Tracing Bodies

Each author will take the mic to share selections from their work, offering an intimate glimpse into the themes, rhythms, and stories behind their collections.

📅 Date: Saturday, October 25
⏰ Time: 2:00 PM PT | 5:00 PM ET
💻 Format: Virtual meeting (Zoom)

Preregistration has ended, but you can still attend by following the link below. Meeting will start promptly at 2 PM PT.

join live meeting

We can’t wait to see you there!

Meet the Authors

Alan Bern

Alan Bern is a poet, photographer, and retired children’s librarian whose creative work often explores themes of memory, migration, and belonging. His poetry pairs evocative imagery with emotional depth, reflecting on journeys both personal and collective. Alongside his writing, Bern’s photography provides a visual dialogue with the poetic world he creates, underscoring the interplay between text and image.

In Dreams of the Return, Bern reflects upon being a teenager in the mid-sixties, living in Napoli for a year with his family, and falling in love with it as if it were his true second home. His travels through Napoli and Southern Italy are expressed in poetry, prose, and photos, offering readers verse that moves fluidly between the outer landscapes of travel and the inner landscapes of longing.

“Bern captures nuances of disparate facets of Italian life with a flair for both drama and revelation.”
MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW

Anthony Doyle

Anthony Doyle is an Irish writer and translator whose work bridges cultures and languages. He has published fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, and his projects often weave together myth, history, and human experience in unexpected ways. As a translator, Doyle has brought the works of Brazilian writers to English-speaking audiences, deepening cultural exchange.

Hibernaculum, Doyle’s gripping speculative fiction tale of human hibernation, is a 2024 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist in the SF category. His new poetry collection, Jonah’s Map of the Whale, charts vast emotional and imaginative territory, drawing on his keen ear for rhythm and layered meaning. Doyle’s poetry speaks with both intimacy and universality, inviting readers to journey through mythic depths and modern consciousness alike.

“A wonderfully inspiring read.”
MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW

Virginia Watts

Virginia Watts is a fiction writer and poet whose work has appeared in numerous literary journals and anthologies. Her writing frequently examines the intricacies of human connection, place, and memory, offering poignant and sharply observed narratives. With a background in both short fiction and poetry, Watts brings an attentive eye to detail and a lyrical sensibility to her storytelling.

Watts’ debut prose collection, Echoes From the Hocker House, IS a 2023 KIRKUS Best Indy Books selection and a 2024 Eric Hoffer Book Awards finalist.

Her latest collection, Tracing Bodies, reveals Watts’ skill at mapping emotional terrain—tracing the fragile lines between presence and absence, past and present. Her voice resonates with honesty and tenderness, leaving lasting impressions on her readers.

“A vulnerable, cleareyed portrait of humanity.”
KIRKUS

Voices, Visions, and Poetry: A Live Reading & Book Launch

Published on by CWP2 Comments

Old Scratch Press invites you to an unforgettable evening of words, imagery, and discovery. On Saturday, October 25 at 2:00 PM PT (5:00 PM ET), we’ll gather virtually to celebrate the launch of three extraordinary new poetry collections—each bringing a unique voice and vision to the page.

This special online event will spotlight:

  • Alan Bern, Dreams of the Return
  • Anthony Doyle, Jonah’s Map of the Whale
  • Virginia Watts, Tracing Bodies

Each author will take the mic to share selections from their work, offering an intimate glimpse into the themes, rhythms, and stories behind their collections.

📅 Date: Saturday, October 25
⏰ Time: 2:00 PM PT | 5:00 PM ET
💻 Format: Virtual meeting (Zoom)

👉 Click here to register for free

This event is free and open to the public, but preregistration is recommended. Come celebrate the power of poetry with Old Scratch Press and three remarkable voices—we can’t wait to see you there!

Meet the Authors

Alan Bern

Alan Bern is a poet, photographer, and retired children’s librarian whose creative work often explores themes of memory, migration, and belonging. His poetry pairs evocative imagery with emotional depth, reflecting on journeys both personal and collective. Alongside his writing, Bern’s photography provides a visual dialogue with the poetic world he creates, underscoring the interplay between text and image.

In Dreams of the Return, Bern reflects upon being a teenager in the mid-sixties, living in Napoli for a year with his family, and falling in love with it as if it were his true second home. His travels through Napoli and Southern Italy are expressed in poetry, prose, and photos, offering readers verse that moves fluidly between the outer landscapes of travel and the inner landscapes of longing.

“Bern captures nuances of disparate facets of Italian life with a flair for both drama and revelation.”
MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW

Anthony Doyle

Anthony Doyle is an Irish writer and translator whose work bridges cultures and languages. He has published fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, and his projects often weave together myth, history, and human experience in unexpected ways. As a translator, Doyle has brought the works of Brazilian writers to English-speaking audiences, deepening cultural exchange.

Hibernaculum, Doyle’s gripping speculative fiction tale of human hibernation, is a 2024 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist in the SF category. His new poetry collection, Jonah’s Map of the Whale, charts vast emotional and imaginative territory, drawing on his keen ear for rhythm and layered meaning. Doyle’s poetry speaks with both intimacy and universality, inviting readers to journey through mythic depths and modern consciousness alike.

“A wonderfully inspiring read.”
MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW

Virginia Watts

Virginia Watts is a fiction writer and poet whose work has appeared in numerous literary journals and anthologies. Her writing frequently examines the intricacies of human connection, place, and memory, offering poignant and sharply observed narratives. With a background in both short fiction and poetry, Watts brings an attentive eye to detail and a lyrical sensibility to her storytelling.

Watts’ debut prose collection, Echoes From the Hocker House, IS a 2023 KIRKUS Best Indy Books selection and a 2024 Eric Hoffer Book Awards finalist.

Her latest collection, Tracing Bodies, reveals Watts’ skill at mapping emotional terrain—tracing the fragile lines between presence and absence, past and present. Her voice resonates with honesty and tenderness, leaving lasting impressions on her readers.

“A vulnerable, cleareyed portrait of humanity.”
KIRKUS