A Poetry Oracle Deck Literary Cards for Inspiration
This collection is a love letter to our Tupelo Press authors
and their marvelous book covers. - Tupelo Press
This exquisite, layered, 78 card tarot-sized deck is a perfect instrument for poets and writers of all genres, including creators, artists, and anyone who is looking for unusual and diverse visual and literary inspiration! Consider this an invitation and oracular opportunity to enliven your craft!
Discover the Marvels within you - Tupelo Press
Photo by Angela Narcisco Torres at AWP LA, 2025
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Kirsten Miles is the one of the masterminds behind this project. She is the National Director of the 30/30 Project at Tupelo Press and Regional Director for Tupelo Press Conferences. I met her in 2013 when Tupelo Press just started their 30/30 Project. I was involved in their second month, and it was National Poetry Month. My fellow poets were amazing. There were just a couple of us, but Diana Khoi Nguyen and Justin Boening's poems were astonishing every morning. I was honored to be a part of the circle. When I left my fulltime job in 2016, she was the first person to contact me about joining their residency program at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art in North Adams, the hub for Tupelo Press. |
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During the residency, I started working on my graphic poems and sharing them on social media. Jeffrey Levine contacted me after one of my posts and gave me an idea to create a full-length graphic poetry book. Kirsten has been my great supporter of "GLYPH Graphic Poetry = Trans. Sensory" and the forthcoming translation anthology, "of Women," in 2026. She selected my graphic poem from GLYPH Page 21 to create their Marvels' box and deck front. Allison O'Keefe did all the card designs. We were at AWP Kansas City in 2024 when I heard about the concept of their poetry oracle deck literary cards from Kirsten. She asked, "Which graphic poem should I choose for the front art?" I proposed Page 20 from GLYPH. She smiled and pointed out the next page, "This!" My proposal was very close. She also encouraged me to talk to Jeffrey about my new translation manuscript, "of Women." Now, this manuscript is on the way to be published. A free study guide and educational material will be available from Tupelo Press' website. Sneak peek can be found here. |
Photo by Angela Narcisco Torres at AWP LA, 2025
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Angela Narciso Torres
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I asked Angela Narcisco Torres to take a picture of Marvels at AWP Los Angels. She is my poet-sister, and we have been creative partners since 2016. (Yes, 2016 was a pivotal turn in my life.) I was so glad that she finally met Kirsten. Angela said, "She was so bright and welcomed me. She read from Marvels for me." The deck was sold out, but Kirsten sent her one from her secret stash later. I could finally read from this awesome creative deck at a Southern California beach. I posted a short video on Working On Gallery's Instagram. Ten minutes of audio is available below. Angela and I analyzed two cards in the bottom right corner with my new translation project of Akazome Emon. |
