Overview

Barry Vitcov's second collection of poems give old and established poetic forms a fresh voice, at times playful, with his standard poodle making several appearances, but in other poems soberly metaphoric, as in the Shakespearean-style sonnet Our Ukraine. His casual, conversational language takes any of the expected stiffness out of the formal structures; rhyme and meter are unforced, and repeated lines in the villanelles and triolets read as emphasis, not redundancy, like the language of an earnest speaker. The collection is cleverly organized as well-notice the haibun titled One Sentence Poem preceding the section of one-sentence poems, and the tightly constructed and humorous triolet, Plural of Haiku, leading into the final section, a generous plurality of haiku. Structures explores love, loss, and romance with tenderness and touches of irony.

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Reviews

Barry Vitcov's poems, collected here as Structures, give old and established poetic forms a fresh voice, at times playful, with Barry's standard poodle making several appearances, but in other poems soberly metaphoric, as in Our Ukraine. His casual, conversational language takes any of the expected stiffness out of the formal structures; rhyme and meter are unforced, and repeated lines in the villanelles and triolets read as emphasis, not redundancy, like the language of an earnest speaker. The collection is cleverly organized as well-notice the haibun titled One Sentence Poem preceding the section of one-sentence poems, and the tightly constructed and humorous triolet, Plural of Haiku, leading into the final section, a generous plurality of haiku. Structures is a fine chapbook, a delightful and worthwhile read.-Lisa E Baldwin, author of Truths and Consequences, editor and publisher at N8tive Run Press From the lyric sonnet to the (deceptively) simple haiku form that Barry Vitcov is so well-known for, this collection of poems explores love and loss, hope and regret, and, of course, the beauty and wonder of the natural world. Sometimes serious and sometimes whimsical, Vitcov's poetry helps us to appreciate what life has to offer. And you will be sure to delight in the cameo appearance of his beloved standard poodle at least once in each poetic form! Dive in: there's something good waiting for you inside these pages.-Jennifer Rood, past president of the Oregon Poetry Association and author of What the Heart Says At turns whimsical and tender, Barry Vitcov's explorations of poetic forms pay homage to classic themes. But there's a modern personality at work here too, with its inquisitive poodles, river otters, and wordplay. The book moves like a journey through a closely observed landscape with an amiable friend who finds joy in working the puzzles of language.-Amy Miller, author of Astronauts The poems in Barry Vitcov's Structures represent a throwback to Shakespearean forms and times, and will delight literary readers seeking not the typical free verse offerings of modernity, but the rhythms and discipline of a form that, today, is rarely utilized and seems largely forgotten.-Diane Donovan, Donovan's Literary and Midwest Book Review

Author Information

Barry Vitcov is a retired educator having spent 45 years as a middle school English teacher, school administrator, leadership coach, and adjunct university professor. He lives in Ashland, Oregon with his wife and exceptionally brilliant standard poodle. He has had fiction and poetry published in EAP: The Magazine, Literary Yard, Scarlet Leaf Review, Vita Brevis, Finding the Birds, Cobra Lily, and The Drabble. Finishing Line Press published three of his books, a poetry collection Where I Live Some of the Time (2021), a collection of short stories The Wilbur Stories & More (2022), and a poetry chapbook Structures (2024). A novella The Boy with Six Fingers will be released by FLP in June 2025.

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