Kārlis Vērdiņš (1979) is a Latvian poet, literary theoretician, author of research papers, monographs, and several collections of poetry, as well as an editor of various publications. Vērdiņš has pursued a successful academic path, has a Ph.D. in Philology from University of Latvia (2009), and is known for his well-balanced reviews, his research on the prose-poem sub-genre and other subjects in Latvian literary culture (The Social and Political Dimensions of the Latvian Prose Poem, 2010). Vērdiņš is among the Latvian poets most often seen on international literary platforms, he is involved in music projects, and his contribution to art is not limited to Latvian language – he translates English and American modernists, has translated several works from Russian, including poems of the well-known creative collective Orbita. His own poems have been included in various collections in English, as well as been translated into Lithuanian, Swedish, Czech, Polish, Slovenian, Basque, and other languages. One of his most touching poems Come to Me was listed by the experts at the Southbank Centre among 50 greatest modern love poems of our day. Kārlis Vērdiņš' poetry can be viewed to be gentle, vivid and intimate; it often reveals uncomfortable truths in a piercing, playful, highly relatable way. Among his subjects is love, sex, coming to terms with one's self, all of which he talks about with a great deal of compassion, wit, and sense of irony. Poet and critic Gregory Woods has commented that "his first person is singularly hard to pin down, apparently detached while involved, precise while vague, inventing stuff while accurately recording memory". Vērdiņš has been called “the most honest Latvian poet of his generation” by his peers.
Poetry
Jandāliņš [Ruckus]. Riga: Liels un mazs, 2023.
Gatavā dzeja [Ready Poetry]. Riga: Neputns, 2020.
Dilles tante [Aunt Dilly]. Riga: Liels un mazs, 2018.
Tētis [Dad, poems for children]. Reiņa Pētersona ilustrācijas. Rīga: Liels un mazs, 2016.
Pieaugušie [Adults]. Rīga: Neputns, 2015.
Mēs [Us]. Rīga: Mansards, 2012.
Ledlauži [Icebreakers]. Rīga: Nordik, 2001; Rīga: Mansards, 2009.
Es [Me, collected poems]. Rīga: Neputns, 2008.
Burtiņu zupa [Alphabet Soup, poems for children]. Illustrated by Otto Zitmanis. Rīga: Liels un mazs, 2007.
Biezpiens ar krējumu [Cottage Cheese with Sour Cream]. Rīga: Atēna, 2004.
In other languages
Ja. Prague: Dauphin, 2013.
Niosłem ci kanapeczkę. Vroclava: Biuro Literacke, 2009.
Титры. Maskava/Tvera: Argo-Risk/Kolonna, 2003.
Books to fall for

Daddy
Daddy (Tētis)
Kārlis Vērdiņš can sound both ironic and loving when he writes about a family’s everyday life and he will definitely make people of all ages laugh. The main character of this poetry collection is Daddy, but which Daddy is it? The one who stays at home with his son while mom is out at work, or the aggressive driver? Vērdiņš challenges his readers to rethink traditional social roles.
Contacts: pasts@lielsmazs.lv
K.Verdins_Daddy_Poems_for_children_ENG.pdf

Title
:Daddy
Title*
:Tētis
Authors
:Illustrators
:Genre
:Childrens-book
Publisher
:Rīga, Liels un mazs
Pages
:64
Year
:2016
Foreign rights
:Rights sold to Spanish
Catherine Fortuna. Songs about the end of the world - 12th Miłosz Festival in Krakow // Radio Krakow, July 2023 [PL]
Kārlis Vērdiņš poetry // Citarny, June, 2023 [CZ]
Latvian Poetry Celebration. Kārlis Vērdiņš // European Poetry festival, May 2023 [EN]
Lauris Veips. Saying what you mean: trends in recent Latvian poetry // Versopolis, March 2023 [EN]
In Estonian and Latvian poems, jokes are made about the neighbors // Viro-instituutti.fi, March 2023 [FI]
Don't look the Latvian in the eye. Ball of introverts. Anthology of new Latvian poetry // Sirp, January, 2023 [EE]
Annika Suna. Kārlis Vērdiņš collects poems from legal texts, text messages and place names // /viro-instituutti.fi, February 2022 [FI]
Poetry by Kārlis Vērdiņš // Online magazine Punctum 2021 [LV]
About Ready Poetry // Online magazine Satori, 2020 [LV]
Conversation with Kārlis Vērdiņš // Online magazine Punctum, 2020 [LV]
Kārlis Vērdiņš profile // Speaking Volumes. Live Literature Productions [EN]
SJ Fowler, maintenant #76 – kārlis vērdiņš, interview with Kārlis Vērdiņš // 3:AM Magazine [EN]
Fifty greatest modern love poems list embraces 30 different countries // The Guardian, 2014 [EN]
Sabine Walther. Recommended book: Young poetry from Latvia // sabinewalther-bücher.de, October 2022 [GER]
Agnieszka Smarzewska. Lights in the fog. Review of the anthology of Latvian poetry "All the birds that are in me..." translated by Olga Wiewióra // Przeglad Baltycki October, 2020 [PL]
Anna Auziņa, Konceptuālisma dzejas grāmatas recenzēšana, review of Ready Poetry // Online magazine Punctum, 2020 [LV]
Ivars Šteinbergs, Kā (ne)uzrakstīt grāmatu, review of Ready Poetry // Online magazine Satori, 2020 [LV]
Inga Pizāne, Poēma ar ironiju un laimīgām beigām, review of Aunt Dilly // Ubi Sunt, University of Latvia, 2019 [LV]
Undīne Adamaite, Dzejoļi visiem zobiem, review of Dad // Diena, 2016 [LV]
Aivars Madris, Tēta azotē, review of Dad // Internet magazine Satori.lv, 2016 [LV]
Dainis Deigelis, Literāri anatomiski tēta (iz)meklējumi, review of Dad // Ubisunt, University of Latvia, 2016 [LV]
Artis Ostups, Dzeja pieaugušo dzīves pabērniem, review of Adults // Diena, 2015 [LV]
Anna Auziņa, Mīlēta varoņa skumjas, review of Adults // Internet magazine Satori.lv, 2015 [LV]
Anda Baklāne, Jēga, kura nepārklāj visu vienlīdz biezi: kāpēc Kārļa Vērdiņa dzejas krājumi pagaidām nekļūst sliktāki, review of Adults // Internet magazine Punctum, 2015 [LV]
Helen Mort, ‘the terrible’ by Daniel Sluman, ‘Come to Me’ by Karlis Vērdiņš and ‘A Formula for Night’ by Tamar Yoseloff // The Compass magazine [EN]
Anna Auziņa, Meklējot Kārļa Vērdiņa iekšējos orgānus, review of Me // Iternet magazine Satori.lv, 2008 [LV]
2021, shortlisted for the Annual Latvian Literature Award for Ready Poetry
2018, IBBY Honour List 2018, for Dad
2017, International Baltic Sea Region Jānis Baltvilks Prize as best collection of children's poems for Dad
2017, Dad Included in the White Ravens 2017 Best Children's Literature Catalog
2015, the Annual Latvian Literature Award for best poetry collection, for Adults
2014, poem "Come to Me" included in the selection of 50 greatest modern love poems by the London's Southbank Centre
2008, Poetry Days Festival Award as the best collection of poems, for Me
2007, the Annual Latvian Literature Award for Best Translation for Best Poetry Collection for Children, for Alphabet Soup
2001, The Diena Newspaper Award in Culture, for debut collection Icebreakers

Come to me
Come to me (Izlase)

Title
: Come to meTitle*
: IzlaseAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Poetry
Language
:English
Publisher
:Arc Publications, UK
Pages
:106
Year
:2015
Copyrights
:Kārlis Vērdiņš
Synopsis
:Poetry collection in English of Latvian poet Kārlis Vērdiņš.

Papás
Papás (Tētis)

Title
: PapásTitle*
: TētisAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Children`s Book
Language
:Spanish
Pages
:61
Year
:2017
Copyrights
:The author, the illustrator, the translator, the publisher;
Synopsis
:The author can sound both ironic and loving when he writes about a family's everyday life and he will definitely make people of all ages laugh.

Modern Poetry in Translation. No.1,2018
Modern Poetry in Translation. No.1,2018 (Mūsdienu dzeja tulkojumā. No.1,2018)

Title
: Modern Poetry in Translation. No.1,2018Title*
: Mūsdienu dzeja tulkojumā. No.1,2018Authors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Anthology
Language
:English
Publisher
:Modern Poetry in Translation, United Kingdom
Pages
:122
Year
:2018
Copyrights
:The contributors;
Synopsis
:Three poems by Latvian poet Kārlis Vērdiņš translated into English by Ieva Lešinska.

Vidaus tvarkos taisyklės
Vidaus tvarkos taisyklės (Iekšējās kārtības noteikumi)

Title
: Vidaus tvarkos taisyklėsTitle*
: Iekšējās kārtības noteikumiAuthors
:Translated by
: , , , ,Genre
:Poetry
Language
:Lithuanian
Publisher
:Slinktys
Pages
:174
Year
:2022
Copyrights
:the author
Synopsis
:Poems by Kārlis Vērdiņš
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Adultes
Adultes (Pieaugušie)
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Title
: AdultesTitle*
: PieaugušieAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Poetry
Language
:French
Publisher
:Le Boustrographe
Pages
:Year
:2023
Copyrights
:The author
Synopsis
:Poetry by Kārlis Vērdiņš

Adam panker
Adam panker (Ādams panks)

Title
: Adam pankerTitle*
: Ādams panksAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Poetry
Language
:Slovenian
Publisher
:Škuc
Pages
:Year
:2018
Copyrights
:The author
Synopsis
:Selection of poems by Kārlis Vērdiņš

Титры
Титры (Titri)

Title
: ТитрыTitle*
: TitriAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Poetry
Language
:Russian
Publisher
:Maskava/Tvera: Argo-Risk/Kolonna
Pages
:Year
:2003
Copyrights
:The author
Synopsis
:Poems by Kārlis Vērdiņš

Soppaa ja saippuaa
Soppaa ja saippuaa (Dzejas izlase bērniem)

Title
: Soppaa ja saippuaaTitle*
: Dzejas izlase bērniemAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Children`s Book
Language
:Finnish
Pages
:64
Year
:2024
Copyrights
:The author, the illustrator

Six Latvian Poets
Six Latvian Poets (Izlase)

Title
: Six Latvian PoetsTitle*
: IzlaseAuthors
: , , , ,Translated by
:Genre
:Anthology
Language
:English
Publisher
:Arc Publications, United Kingdom
Pages
:174
Year
:2011
Copyrights
:Authors
Synopsis
:An anthology in English of six contemporary Latvian poets.

Small is my land. Poetry and prose from Latvia
Small is my land. Poetry and prose from Latvia (Dzeja un proza no Latvijas)

Title
: Small is my land. Poetry and prose from LatviaTitle*
: Dzeja un proza no LatvijasAuthors
: , , , , , , , , , ,Translated by
:Genre
:Anthology
Language
:English
Publisher
:Edinburgh Review, Scotland
Pages
:88
Year
:2005
Copyrights
:Authors
Synopsis
:Poetry and prose collection in English of contemporary Latvian authors.

Werde zum Gespenst
Werde zum Gespenst (Dzejas antoloģija)

Title
: Werde zum GespenstTitle*
: Dzejas antoloģijaTranslated by
: , , , , ,Genre
:Anthology
Language
:German
Publisher
:Wunderhorn, Germany
Pages
:187
Year
:2016
Copyrights
:Authors
Synopsis
:Poetry collection in German of contemporary Latvian poets.

Dzeja. Antologija sodobne latvijske poezije
Dzeja. Antologija sodobne latvijske poezije (Latvijas dzejas antoloģija)

Title
: Dzeja. Antologija sodobne latvijske poezijeTitle*
: Latvijas dzejas antoloģijaAuthors
: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,Translated by
: , , , , , , ,Genre
:Anthology
Language
:Slovenian
Publisher
:Vilenica, Slovenia
Pages
:150
Year
:2016
Copyrights
:Authors
Synopsis
:Anthology in Slovenian of contemporary Latvian poetry.

Revija malih književnosti. Latvija
Revija malih književnosti. Latvija (Mazo literatūru pārskats. Latvija)

Title
: Revija malih književnosti. LatvijaTitle*
: Mazo literatūru pārskats. LatvijaAuthors
: , , , , , ,Genre
:Anthology
Language
:Croatian
Publisher
:Booksa, Croatia
Pages
:93
Year
:2015
Copyrights
:Authors
Synopsis
:Anthology in Croatian of contemporary Latvian literature.

Kaip visuomet
Kaip visuomet (Pavasaris būs)

Title
: Kaip visuometTitle*
: Pavasaris būsAuthors
: , , , ,Translated by
:Genre
:Anthology
Language
:Lithuanian
Publisher
:Lithuanian Union of Writers, Lithuania
Pages
:208
Year
:2012
Copyrights
:Authors
Synopsis
:Selected poetry of contemporary Latvian authors in Lithuanian.

За нас
За нас (Par mums)

Title
: За насTitle*
: Par mumsAuthors
: , , ,Translated by
:Genre
:Anthology
Language
:Russian
Publisher
:Orbita, Latvia
Pages
:125
Year
:2009
Copyrights
:Authors
Synopsis
:Poetry anthology in Russian of contemporary Latvian poets.

Grand Tour. Reisen durch die junge Lyrik Europas
Grand Tour. Reisen durch die junge Lyrik Europas (Grand Tour. Travel through the young poetry of Europe)

Title
: Grand Tour. Reisen durch die junge Lyrik EuropasTitle*
: Grand Tour. Travel through the young poetry of EuropeAuthors
: , , , , , , , , ,Translated by
: , , , , ,Genre
:Anthology
Language
:German
Publisher
:Carl Hanser Verlag, Germany
Pages
:584
Year
:2019
Copyrights
:The publisher
Synopsis
:Travel through the young poetry of Europe

Иностранная литература 3 (2019)
Иностранная литература 3 (2019) (Ārzemju literatūra)

Title
: Иностранная литература 3 (2019)Title*
: Ārzemju literatūraAuthors
: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,Translated by
: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,Genre
:Anthology
Language
:Russian
Publisher
:Иностранная литература, Russia
Pages
:287
Year
:2019
Synopsis
:Literary magazine on foreign literature

Ανθολογία νέων Λετονών ποιητών
Ανθολογία νέων Λετονών ποιητών (Jauno latviešu dzejnieku antoloģija)

Title
: Ανθολογία νέων Λετονών ποιητώνTitle*
: Jauno latviešu dzejnieku antoloģijaAuthors
: , , , , , , , , , , ,Translated by
:Genre
:Anthology
Language
:Greek
Publisher
:Vakxikon, Greece
Pages
:154
Year
:2019
Copyrights
:The publisher, the translator
Synopsis
:Anthology of young Latvian poets

Ord och steg. Lettland diktar
Ord och steg. Lettland diktar (Latvijas dzeja)

Title
: Ord och steg. Lettland diktarTitle*
: Latvijas dzejaAuthors
: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,Translated by
:Genre
:Anthology
Language
:Swedish
Publisher
:Tranan, Sweden
Pages
:243
Year
:2008
Synopsis
:Poetry from Latvia

Wszystkie ptaki, co we mnie…
Wszystkie ptaki, co we mnie… (Visi putni, kas manī...)

Title
: Wszystkie ptaki, co we mnie…Title*
: Visi putni, kas manī...Authors
: , , , , , , , , , ,Translated by
:Genre
:Anthology
Language
:Polish
Publisher
:Warsztaty Kultury, Poland
Pages
:296
Year
:2020
Copyrights
:The authors, the publisher, the translator
Synopsis
:Contemporary Latvian Poetry Anthology

Jos unohdat oman nimesi
Jos unohdat oman nimesi (Ja aizmirsti savu vārdu)

Title
: Jos unohdat oman nimesiTitle*
: Ja aizmirsti savu vārduAuthors
: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,Translated by
:Genre
:Anthology
Language
:Finnish
Publisher
:Palladium Kirjat, Finland
Pages
:143
Year
:2020
Copyrights
:The publisher, the translator, the authors
Synopsis
:Anthology of 15 contemporary Latvian poets

Introvertide ball. Läti uue luule antoloogia
Introvertide ball. Läti uue luule antoloogia (Dzejas antoloģija)

Title
: Introvertide ball. Läti uue luule antoloogiaTitle*
: Dzejas antoloģijaAuthors
: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,Translated by
:Genre
:Anthology
Language
:Estonian
Publisher
:Hea Lugu
Pages
:Year
:2022
Copyrights
:the author
Synopsis
:Anthology of Latvian poetry

Viisi miestä veneessä
Viisi miestä veneessä (Dzejas antoloģija)

Title
: Viisi miestä veneessäTitle*
: Dzejas antoloģijaAuthors
: , , , , ,Translated by
:Genre
:Anthology
Language
:Finnish
Publisher
:Paperiporo
Pages
:224
Year
:2023
Copyrights
:The authors

Tirpsta diena kaip ledai
Tirpsta diena kaip ledai (Dzejoļi bērniem, antoloģija)

Title
: Tirpsta diena kaip ledaiTitle*
: Dzejoļi bērniem, antoloģijaAuthors
: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,Translated by
: , , , , , ,Genre
:Anthology
Language
:Lithuanian
Publisher
:Slinktys
Pages
:160
Year
:2023

Alfabeedi sünnimaa
Alfabeedi sünnimaa (Alfabēta dzimtene: latviešu konceptuālistu dzejas izlase)

Title
: Alfabeedi sünnimaaTitle*
: Alfabēta dzimtene: latviešu konceptuālistu dzejas izlaseAuthors
: , , , , , , , , , , ,Translated by
:Genre
:Poetry
Language
:Estonian
Publisher
:;paranoia, Mina Ise
Pages
:144
Year
:2024
Copyrights
:The authors