Video: Geoff Anderson of diVERSES Poetry interviews John Burroughs

It was good to chat about meaningful things recently with Geoff Anderson of diVERSES Poetry. Though I love the Ohio Poetry Association, I recently stepped away from my vice president role to focus more on some other priorities. At this stage of my life, I find I have more questions than answers. And some stories need a whole book (or library) to tell. This is a short promo clip. If you want to hear our entire hourlong conversation, it is now available at https://youtu.be/oMbKUSaFONM. 

Awash Returns Ashore!

[August UPDATE: These are now all sold out. Thank you so much to everyone who picked up a copy or two! The original post follows.]

My most recent chapbook, AWASH, was published in July 2025 in a very limited edition by Evansville's Pure Sleeze Press (alongside chaps by John Dorsey, Jason Ryberg, Scott Laudati, and Tony Brewer). AWASH has been out of print since that original run almost immediately sold out.

However.... 

I have just found (among things that I never fully unpacked from last year's road trip to the U.S. Southwest) FIFTEEN unread author copies of AWASH. I'm numbering them 1 through 15, signing them, and selling them on a first come, first serve basis to help fund my forthcoming revised and expanded edition of The Wrest of the Worthwhile.

While they last, if you want a copy (shipped to you free), send me $10 US via Venmo (@jesuscrisis), CashApp ($crisischronicles), PayPal (jc@crisischronicles.com), or cash/check to John Burroughs, 535 Parkside Blvd., Cleveland, Ohio 44143 USA.

Reviews of AWASH:

"John's poems make me think and stop for a second and see things in a different way. Good writers do that."

     —Scot Young, author of Brautigan Meets Bukowski, All Around Cowboy, and more

In reading (and rereading) AWASH, I have only found more to admire in Burroughs' concision, precision, dexterity, and vulnerability. These are beautiful, tenderly-rendered poems.

     —Jennifer Browne, author of American Crow, The Salt of the Geologic World, and more

Throughout AWASH (Pure Sleeze Press, 2024), John Burroughs condenses the big stuff of life into fistfuls of resonant words like the strange debris that comes awash upon the shores of everyday consciousness. 

"Each step into abyss leads to

where feet become ungrounded,

hearts astounded."

(stanza 3, "Faithwalking")

"Potential Energy" from this beautifully produced poetry chapbook will be reprinted in the second volume of Stormwash: Environmental Poems (Seaker Press, August 2025).

     —Hiromi Yoshida, author of Umami, Icarus in Crete, Icarus Superstar, and more

Poems in Awash:

Faithwalking
Darshan
Shaktipat
Bilateral Heart Moon Resolution
Aura
Beacon
Hunger
A Wait, A Final Fall
Deluge
Critical Condition
A Superior Stimulant
But for Now
Potential Energy
Selkie

ISBN: 979-8-88596-400-5. 

Finally, deepest thanks to Jonathan S Baker, K Arizona, and Antoine Ball of Pure Sleeze for seeing this work into print in the first place.

July 28 on Zoom: Time to Arrive Open Mic features John Burroughs

I look forward to joining recent California Beat Poet Laureate Dane Ince and the Time to Arrive Open Mic community as their featured artist this Tuesday, July 28th at 9 p.m. Eastern (that's 6 p.m. Pacific and cetera). Find the Zoom link at eyepublishewe.com or click the photo below.

July 21: Poetry Speaks in Evansville, Indiana

Totally jazzed to be returning to Evansville, Indiana, on July 21st to read with the brilliant Jennifer Browne for Poetry Speaks at the Bokeh Lounge. Now I suppose I need to write a frog poem.

Bokeh Lounge, 1007 Parrett Street, Evansville, IN 47713

June 28: Allen Ginsberg Centennial Celebration in Bloomington, Indiana

On June 28th, 2026, The Writers Guild at Bloomington will present the Allen Ginsberg centennial celebration edition of Last Sunday Poetry, featuring Ian Uriel Girdley, John Burroughs, Joan Hawkins, Marilyn Wolf, Josh A. Brewer, Lylanne Musselman, and Mary Sexson at Morgenstern Books, 849 Auto Mall Road, in Bloomington, Indiana 47401.

More info: facebook.com/events/1319150030057218.

Video: "Bully for You" and "Aim High" at the 2025 National Beat Poetry Festival

Recorded by Paul Richmond for the National Beat Poetry Foundation on 29 August 2025 at Canton Town Hall in Collinsville, Connecticut. Introduction by Virginia Shreve. I was one of 20 Beat Poets Laureate who read that night and I shared two poems: "Bully for You" and "Aim High," both written for the Tupelo Press 30/30 in March 2025 (a few months before the death of my biological father, which I referenced in the introduction to my second poem).

Video permalink: https://youtu.be/UnEhDDLyYO8. 

"Surf Smart" in Ohio Bards 2026

Local Gems Press is launching their new Ohio Bards Poetry Anthology 2026 this Sunday, May 3rd, at 6:30 p.m. and I am pleased that my poem "Surf Smart" appears in it. This event will take place at the Hilton Garden Inn Columbus-University Area, 3232 Olentangy River Road, in Columbus, Ohio 43202.

You may pre-order the book for pickup or mailing at https://www.localgemspoetrypress.com/ohio-bards-preorders.html.

April 23rd: Tongue-in Groove Jam featuring NE Ohio Poets Laureate

Ray McNiece and his Tongue-in-Groove Band will host a special Laureates edition of their regular Poetry Jam on Thursday 23 April, 6 p.m., at the new Visible Voice Books location at 4601 Lorain Avenue in Cleveland. Poets scheduled to appear include John Burroughs, Dianne Borsenik, and Doc Janning.

[UPDATE: Due to illness, I could not appear.]

April 4th: A Gathering of Laurels IV in South Euclid

I'll be part of this reading on Saturday, April 4th at the Cuyahoga County Public Library's South Euclid-Lyndhurst branch. South Euclid Poet Laureate Doc Janning will emcee. Free event. Other featured readers include Doc, Ray McNiece, and Jeremy Jusek. Register at
https://attend.cuyahogalibrary.org/event/13505877. 

2026 Sun & Moon Poetry Festival: May 15–17 in Yellow Springs

The 2026 Sun & Moon Poetry Festival Invites Attendees to “Navigate with Poetry.”

The Ohio Poetry Association (OPA), in partnership with Miami Valley Astronomical Society, presents the fifth Sun & Moon Poetry Festival, May 15–17, 2026, in Yellow Springs, Ohio.

Poets and poetry lovers are invited to explore the theme, “Navigate with Poetry,” during a weekend of writing workshops, readings, stargazing, and other activities that culminate in a celebration of poetry and the cosmos. Keynote guest Geoffrey A. Landis is an award-winning poet, science fiction writer, and scientist whose writing has appeared in more than twenty languages.

“At Glen Helen, Poetry and Nature become one in the ravine, the open sky, and our words,” said Susann Moeller, OPA First Vice President and festival chairperson.

Additional workshop leaders for the weekend are renowned poets Lauren Camp, Manuel Iris, Paula J. Lambert, and Dior J. Stephens. A special haiku hike led by Ray McNiece will offer visitors a chance to hear poems in the beautiful setting of Glen Helen Nature Preserve. The weekend also offers street poetry in downtown Yellow Springs, a haiku “death match,” native flute music, sound bathing, and an open-mic for festival attendees to share their own poetry.

"Thanks to the support of our sponsors, we have a remarkable lineup of poets and activities planned for this year's Sun & Moon Poetry Festival, which is a signature OPA event that demonstrates our commitment to expanding poetic craft and community in inclusive spaces," said Holly Brians Ragusa, OPA President.

Sponsors for the festival include the Ohio Arts Council, Full/Crescent Press, Lit Youngstown, LitCincy, Sheila-Na-Gig Editions, and Crisis Chronicles Press.

Complete festival information, a program schedule, and accommodations information is available on the OPA website at ohiopoetryassn.org/sun-moon-festival

Registration is available through April 22th at eventbrite.com/e/sun-moon-poetry-festival-tickets-1892651303999.

The Ohio Poetry Association (OPA) is a nonprofit, educational volunteer organization with a 501(c)(3) Federal designation and a member state of the National Federation of State Poetry Societies.