Poetry Shop 5: Tracey Knapp author of Swerve

By Katie Kemple April 22, 2026

Last year, I bought Tracey Knapp’s first book, Mouth (42 Mile Press) in preparation for a writing retreat led by Tracey and Kim Addonizio at La Romita Art School. You know that feeling when you read a poet’s work and are simultaneously impressed and jealous as hell? That was my experience of Mouth. Tracey’s poems perfectly balance narrative, humor, and form. When I heard Tracey was releasing a new book this year, Swerve (Pine Row Press), I ordered a copy as soon as it became available.

In Swerve, the poems place us in middle age (“The moment you realize / your life is over halfway over”) and deal with complex romantic relationships, a parent’s passing, and a breakdown of the body’s resilience. This collection contains Tracey’s signature wit, observations, and pop culture references. You may recognize some of these poems from literary journals such as – “Weather Report with Turkeys” (Rattle), “Answer the Question” (The Shore), and “Open Mic at Tony’s Bar and Grill” (New Ohio Review). Tracey’s poems have a way of lingering.

We’re thrilled to have Tracey join us at the Poetry Shop 5 and to hear her poetry book recommendations. Read on to discover what’s on her bookshelf…

Who was your "gateway poet," the poet whose book or poem inspired your interested in poetry?

Mark Strand. In my freshmen year of college, we were assigned Contemporary American Poetry, edited by A. Poulin for two of my classes, which meant I saved money, and I read the whole thing. When we got to Mark Strand's "Eating Poetry," I had found the voice that cracked open poetry for me.

Which poetry book are you currently reading?

I Do Know Some Things by Richard Siken. Siken really takes the prose poem in exciting new directions, and his own questioning of storytelling within the text is something I think about a lot, and it's great to see how he explores the stories that construct the self.

Is there a book on the craft of writing that you recommend to poets?

Structure & Surprise: Engaging Poetic Turns by Michael Theune. I love to think about how a poem is made, how another poet approaches the page. This book has essays from nine poets discussing the way we organize our words, and how we can shift to create elements of surprise, insight, or revelation. A good nerdy read.

Who is a new voice in poetry that we need to check out–someone with a debut book or recent release?

Daniel Ruiz, Reality Checkmate.* In his book, Reality Checkmate, Ruiz moves easily between the first person, second person, and collective "we." The poems ask big questions about literature, history, and the slippery sense of self amidst all of it.

Finally, what’s a poetry book that others may not know about but deserves a shout out?

Contemplative Man (Sibling Rivalry Press) by Brock Guthrie. In a voice all his own, Guthrie finds meaning in simple interactions over a bar in a small town. I know this book isn't brand new, but I'm hoping Guthrie will come out of hibernation and delight us with a second book.

About the Author

Tracey Knapp's second collection, Swerve, was released from Pine Row Press this month.. Her first full-length collection of poems, Mouth, won the 42 Miles Press Poetry Award and was published in 2015. Tracey has received awards and scholarships from La Romita School of Art in Terni, Italy, the Tin House Writers’ Workshop, and the Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Fund. Her work has appeared in Cream City Review, The Pinch, Best New Poets, Poetry Daily, Rattle, Five Points, New Ohio Review and elsewhere. She has been nominated for Best of the Net and two Pushcart prizes. Originally from New York’s Hudson Valley, Tracey lives in the Bay Area of California.