KĀRLIS VĒRDIŅŠ (born 1979) is a Latvian poet, critic and translator. He has graduated in cultural theory from the Latvian Academy of Culture and he has PhD in Literature from the University of Latvia. Vērdiņš works at the Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art of the University of Latvia in Riga. He is also a member of the editorial team of the literary magazine Latvju teksti (Text of Latvia). His book reviews and essays regularly appear in Latvian press.

Vērdiņš is an author of three poetry collections: ledlauži (the icebreakers, 2001), biezpiens ar krējumu (cottage cheese with cream, 2004) and es (me, 2008). In 2012, an edition of his collected poems Mēs (We) was published. His poetry has been translated into several languages. Vērdiņš has translated the works of T.S. Eliot, Konstantin Biebl, Georg Trakl, Joseph Brodsky, Lev Rubinstein, Charles Simic, Walt Whitman and Russian poets of Latvia.

Kārlis Vērdiņš has received several literary awards in Latvia and abroad. This summer Vērdiņš' poem “Come to Me” was chosen by London Southbank centre for its love poetry event as one of 50 best love poems of last 50 years.