My "Silence in Mourning" is Poem of the Week in BeatLife Magazine

So much gratitude to BeatLife magazine for featuring my piece "Silence in Mourning" as their poem of the week. Though written in March, it appears, in an unforeseen coincidence, mere days after the death of my biological father, Arnold. 

Read the poem and its backstory at https://beatlife.org/poem-of-the-week-by-john-burroughs.

BeatLife is the official magazine of the National Beat Poetry Foundation, Inc.

Mourning Mom and Leda

Today, May 5th, is the eight anniversary of Mom's death and I am still reeling from my dog Leda's passing two days ago. Here they are together on April 7th 2008 in my music room in Elyria when Leda was just a puppy. I can't help but recall what Patricia Kennealy said to Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone's film The Doors: "Death does not part, only lack of love." And there is no lack whatsoever.

Stormy Whether

Four years ago today, my wife Geri Lynne unexpectedly passed away. Sometimes it still feels like yesterday. 

I took this photo of us after a severe storm destroyed part of the stage during the 2007 Warped Tour in Cleveland.

Eric Jerome Dickey, 1961-2021

I am sad to see that Eric Jerome Dickey has passed away. When I was a clerk in the library at Marion Correctional Institution (I'm guessing it was around 2001), we wrote to Mr. Dickey. He responded by sending us a personal letter and a box of free new copies of all of his books. We hardly expected a response, let alone one so kind and generous.

Read Author Eric Jerome Dickey Has Died At 59 in Essence.

[Photo credit: his Facebook page]

I Am Not Ready to Die - new poem in Rusty Truck

 

I am grateful to Scot D Young and Rusty Truck for giving this recent piece of mine a home:

I Am Not Ready to Die.

Fair thee well, Vertigo Xi'an Xavier

Stunned and heartbroken. I just learned that my friend Vertigo Xi'an Xavier passed away unexpectedly. Vertigo (real name Chris Draime) was one of the first people I met in the NE Ohio poetry scene. As head of The Poet's Haven, he gave me my first featured reading. He published two of my chapbooks. And that doesn't even begin to scratch the surface. Vertigo was one of the hardest working people in poetry, always generous with his time and talents. I want to say more, but I'm still in shock. Sending love and my deepest sympathies to his family and all who know and care about him.

https://www.paquelet.com/obituaries/Christopher-D-Draime?obId=5599517

Geri Lynne Burroughs, Vertigo, me and Marlana-Patrice Pugh Hamer in May 2009
at the Barking Spider Tavern in Cleveland [photo by Ken Kitt]

Remembering Geri

Three years ago today, Geri posted this photo of us on Facebook. We never imagined that exactly one year later, when I left her at the hospital to go home and get some sleep, it would be the last time I saw her alive. She passed away on the morning of February 8th 2017. It feels like yesterday, or tomorrow. And there remain gaping holes that can never be filled.

Melissa K. (Guthrie) Bako, 6 March 1967 to 11 February 2018

December 2005

Without meeting Melissa Guthrie when I was 14 or so, I might never have been a poet. Her obituary doesn't do her justice. But then neither can I.  Fare well, dear friend.

One year ago today

Geri Lynne Burroughs

Around 6:20 on Wednesday morning, February 8th, I received a call from the Cleveland Clinic saying Geri's heart had stopped and they were trying to resuscitate her. I sped to the hospital and when I arrived I learned that they were unsuccessful. Just the day before the doctors had seemed so certain she would be fine. I've been wanting to write more but I have more tears than words. 

We will receive guests from 6 to 7 pm on Monday February 13th at Laubenthal-Mercado funeral home, 38475 Chestnut Ridge Road, Elyria, Ohio 44035, right down the street from where I grew up. Memorial service will follow at 7 pm. And then I'm gonna hibernate for a while.

http://www.chroniclet.com/obituaries/2017/02/10/Geri-Lynne-Burroughs.html

Thank you so much to everyone who has been so kind and supportive to our family and me. Love to you.

Heartbroken,
John