American poet Mike Jurkovic is the 2025 Ulster County, NY Poet Laureate. His work has been published internationally, though with little reportable income. His full-length poetry collections include Buckshot Reckoning (2023), mooncussers (2022), and American Mental (2020), all from Luchador Press. His haiku collections are Monet’s Bamboo (CAPS Press, 2025) and Blue Fan Whirring (Nirala Press, 2018). His forthcoming collection, Circling Planes, will be released by Bushwhack Books in October 2025.
He has contributed to numerous anthologies, including Poets For Harris (Viewless Wings Press, 2024); Calling All Poets 25th & 20th Anniversary Anthologies (CAPS Press); Reflecting Pool: Poets & the Creative Process (Codhill Press, 2018); Like Light: 25 Years of Poetry & Prose (Bright Hill Press, 2018); Water Writes: A Hudson River Anthology; and Riverine: Anthology of Hudson Valley Writers (Codhill Press, 2009, 2007).
A 2016 Pushcart Prize nominee, Jurkovic is President of Calling All Poets, now in its 26th year serving the Hudson Valley and beyond. He also co-chairs the Music Fan Film Series at Rosendale Theatre in Rosendale, NY. His CD reviews appear online at All About Jazz and lightwoodpress.com.
He has been a featured poet in London, San Francisco, Seattle, Los Angeles, New York City, Albany, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. His music writing has appeared in Rhythm and News Magazine (1996–2003), Chronogram (2003–2007), Van Wyck Gazette (2013–2022), and Elmore Magazine (2013–2017).
Jurkovic also hosts NuJazzXcursions on WVKR-91.3FM (Vassar College), every Monday from 9:00–10:30 a.m. Above all, he loves Emily most of all.