Circling Planes, poetry by multi-talent Mike Jurkovic (Bushwack Books 2026) is a fine addition to the cultural and literary scene. An early poem in the book is titled, “Mediums, Mystics and Madmen.” Having known the author for many years, I believe that if we deleted the plurals, this phrase could be the title for Mr. Jurkovic’s autobiography. This current compilation of poems submerges us into our collective psyche in both whimsical and unsettling ways. The author is a seer, conjuring up past and present and alerting us about potential cliffs that we’re approaching. He also drops in mythic and biblical references, not to show is how much he knows, which is both eclectic and deep, but to reflect on how we are all connected. There is also a Mad Hatter quality to the volume, revealing how the insanity we now confront every day has become part of our normal workaday world.
This volume of poetry explores a wide variety of topics, themes, and cultural images. Many of the poems are political in nature, but with a small “p” and often subtle in their delivery. The author never talks down to us and always assumes we’re well-read and aware of the political climate around us. For that reason, Mr. Jurkovic can bring his well-known wit to the forefront as well as bring insightful messages to brood over. Two examples are:
“Bleed Out”: (p 24)
“If I should get caught in the crossfire/before finishing this poem Will you/ dovetail our voices together”
and
“we bear a king” (p 29):
“Imagine/like Mayans/We bear aloft/a king/A feral brute/rash w/bile”
Four of the poems in the book are collaborations with Will Nixon, a gifted Hudson Valley writer and editor and the publisher of Bushwack Books. These poems are: “salt water taffy” (5); “Two Doors Down” (23); “first hand” (42); and “She Sparred the Room” (53). The two authors share a literary vision, and readers will find it impossible to detect which writer wrote which lines. This is a tribute to true creative connection. Authors Jurkovic and Nixon have joined in on a number of projects and poems, and it’s both refreshing and magnanimous to have author Mike Jurkovic open up his book to collaborations with another major voice.
Along with a variety of cultural subjects, Mr. Jurkovic plays with meta-poems, where poetry and writing are the subjects. These go beyond the navel gazing as some poets do in this sub-genre. The author here journeys to the heart of creativity. Here is the short poem, “wiggle room” in its entirety:
the last poem before this one/ was about the erosion of memory/ (which may seem wishy-washy but)/ leaves me plenty of wiggle room
Other meta-poems include: “kickboxing gravity” (36); “those last few pale ink moments” (66); and “wish” (68). The author’s insertion of a few meta-poems breaks up the social/political focus with more personal wit, showing his range of writing, something I’ve admired over the years. Also to note, I was pleased to revisit the poem “1906” (57) which I published in my magazine Lightwoodpress in the fall of 2025. If you visit the magazine at Lightwodpress.com
you’ll be able to read not only more of Mike Jurkovic’s poetry, but also his book and music reviews, including his popular series on Bob Dylan’s Bootleg Tapes.
Circling Planes is a major achievement by poet/writer and CAPS (Calling All Poets) series producer. This collection of poems shows a writer at the high point of his career, and each poem has something to say in ways both evocative and accessible. We’re lucky to have Mike Jurkovic near, in person and on the page.
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2025 Ulster County Poet Laureate, Mike Jurkovic has been published globally but with little reportable income. Full-length collections include Buckshot Reckoning, mooncussers, American Mental, (Luchador Press 2023, 2022, 2020); haiku collections Monet’s Bamboo (CAPS Press, 2025) Blue Fan Whirring, (Nirala Press, 2018). President, Calling All Poets, 26 years in the Hudson Valley. 2016 Pushcart nominee. CD reviews appear online at All About Jazz and lightwoodpress.com. He is the Monday 9am-10:30am host of NuJazzXcursions,WVKR-91.3FM Vassar College. He loves Emily most of all.
Mike is a frequent contributor to Lightwood. Read more poetry, reviews and articles by Mike Jurkovic here on Lightwood. Scroll to our Search Link and insert his name.
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Laurence Carr, reviewer, is the publisher of Lightwood. You can read more of his reviews and poetry here on Lightwood.
Lightwood 