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. 

Video: A Gathering of Laurels III in South Euclid

April 5th, I had the privilege of being part of A Gathering of Laurels III at the Skirball Writers Center of the South Euclid-Lyndhurst branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library, along with recent Ohio Beat Poet Laureate Sandra Feen, current Parma Poet Laureate Jeremy Jusek, current Lucas County Poet Laureate Jonie McIntire, and current South Euclid and recent Cuyahoga County Poet Laureate Doc Janning. Here is the video, recorded and edited by Andy Matovic.

The poems I read (beginning at the 15-minute mark) are "Bully for You," 17 September 1966," "A Kiss for David Johansen," "Aim High," and "Needful Things," all written in March of this year during the Tupelo Press 30/30.

April 5th 2025: A Gathering of Laurels III in South Euclid

Ohio Poets Laureate to read from their work for National Poetry Month

Beginning in December 2024, I chose to take six months off from giving featured readings in order to focus on 1) getting up to speed in my new role as vice president for the Ohio Poetry Association, 2) finishing the manuscript I promised some time ago to New Generation Beat Publications, and 3) catching up on myriad other long-suffering tasks.

But I'm making one exception, on April 5th, to read with Doc Janning and other Poets Laureate from around Ohio at my favorite (and local) public library. This will be a free event, but they hope you will register here if you wish to attend.

Featured poets:

John Burroughs, recent Beat Poet Laureate of Ohio and the U.S.
Sandra Feen, recent Beat Poet Laureate of Ohio
Siaara Freeman, recent Heights Poet Laureate
Doc Janning, Inaugural Poet Laureate of South Euclid and Third Poet Laureate of Cuyahoga County
Jeremy Jusek, Poet Laureate of Parma
Jonie McIntire, Poet Laureate of Lucas County
Ray McNiece, recent Poet Laureate of Cleveland Heights

https://attend.cuyahogalibrary.org/event/12795676. 

A Gathering of Laurels III
5 April 2025 at 3 p.m.

South Euclid-Lyndhurst Branch
Cuyahoga County Public Library
1876 South Green Road
South Euclid, Ohio 44121

[4/20/2025 note: Siaara and Ray weren't able to make it after all.]

April 6th in South Euclid: A Gathering of Laurels II

A Gathering of Laurels II

Ohio Poets Laureate read from their work for National Poetry Month on Saturday, April 06, 2024 from 2:00pm to 3:30pm EDT at the South Euclid-Lyndhurst Branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library.

Join us as Poets Laureate from around Ohio share their work. Doc Janning, the Inaugural Poet Laureate of the City of South Euclid, will emcee the event. Books will be available for sale and signing, and we'll celebrate with light refreshments.

Featured poets:

John Burroughs, Beat Poet Laureate Emeritus of Ohio and the U.S.

Sandra Feen, Beat Poet Laureate of Ohio

Doc Janning, Inaugural Poet Laureate of South Euclid and Third Poet Laureate of Cuyahoga County

Jeremy Jusek, Poet Laureate of Parma

Jonie McIntire, Poet Laureate of Lucas County

Ray McNiece, Poet Laureate Emeritus of Cleveland Heights

Dr. Mary Weems, Poet Laureate Emeritus of Cleveland Heights

https://attend.cuyahogalibrary.org/event/9574197 

1876 S. Green Road
Writers Center Conference Room
South Euclid, Ohio 44121

A Gathering of Laurels: Six Poets Laureate, April 8th in South Euclid

This Saturday, 8 April at 2 pm, join us at the South Euclid-Lyndhurst branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library for A Gathering of Laurels. Poets Laureate from around the area will read from their work, emceed by Doc Janning, the Poet Laureate of South Euclid. Books (including my brand new one, The Wrest of the Worthwhile) will be available for sale and signing, and we'll celebrate with light refreshments. This is a free event and there are seats still available.

Poets reading will include:

Doc Janning, Poet Laureate of South Euclid
Honey Bell-Bey, Poet Laureate of Cuyahoga County
Siaara Freeman, Poet Laureate of Cleveland Heights & University Heights
Mary Weems, Poet Laureate Emerita of Cleveland Heights
Jeremy Jusek, Poet Laureate of Parma
John Burroughs, U.S. Beat Poet Laureate

Please register here: https://attend.cuyahogalibrary.org/event/7644203.

1876 S Green Road
South Euclid, Ohio 44121

A Wreath of Golden Laurels: An Anthology of Poetry by 100 Poets Laureate

I feel greatly honored that my poem "I Am Not Ready to Die," written not long after the murder of George Floyd, appears in this new anthology published by Local Gems Press, alongside the work of so many fine poets.

A Wreath of Golden Laurels: An Anthology of Poetry by 100 Poets Laureate

I've been selected to serve as the 2022-2023 U.S. Beat Poet Laureate

OMG. I have been pretty much speechless since hearing the news earlier today. There are so many worthy candidates across our nation and I'm a bit incredulous that I've been selected. But I promise I will do everything I can to be worthy. Poetry saves lives. Someone asked me if I really believe that and I do. It saved mine.

Immense gratitude to the National Beat Poetry Foundation and everyone who has supported me over the years and has helped me evolve and continue evolving as a poet and person.

Video of 10/17 SpoFest Laureate Reading feat. Bargen, Barnstone, Craigo, Burroughs, Gunter-Seymour

If you missed last night's SpoFest reading, here's the video. Hearty thanks to our host James Bryant! It was an honor for me to read with Ohio Poet Laureate Kari Gunter-Seymour, Missouri Poet Laureate Karen Craigo and former Missouri Poets Laureate Walter Bargen and Aliki Barnstone. I begin around the 1:27:00 mark.

Video permalink: https://www.facebook.com/SpoFest/videos/1077209229398979/.

Follow SpoFest Open Mic Poetry and Prose on Facebook.

John Burroughs - Ohio Beat Poet Laureate 2019-2021

Wow! I'm as close to speechless as I can be about this — extremely honored that the National Beat Poetry Foundation, Inc. has selected me as their Beat Poet Laureate for the State of Ohio, 2019-2021. I'm still a bit incredulous! :) Many thanks to the Foundation and executive directors Debbie Tosun Kilday and Colin Haskins for their relentless advocacy on behalf of Beat poetry. And hearty congratulations to the newly named Beat Poets Laureate from other states/regions. I look forward to seeing and hearing as many of you as possible this August in Connecticut.

Second Sunday Poets to launch, feature John Burroughs on 3/10 in South Euclid

My next reading is March 10th at 3 p.m., where I'll have the honor of being the first featured poet for a new monthly series curated by M. A. "Doc" Janning, Poet Laureate of South Euclid, OH, at the Cuyahoga County Public Library's South Euclid-Lyndhurst branch. I hope you'll join me in supporting Doc in this new endeavor and bring something to share at the open mic.

William N. Skirball Writers' Center
Cuyahoga County Public Library
1876 South Green Road

South Euclid, Ohio 44121

Pure Poetry in Lorain Bar

Thanks to Geoff Landis and Cleveland Poetics
for this photo of the newspaper clipping

Many thanks to Speak of the Devil, Dianne Borsenik, Dave Lucas and NightBallet Press for a wonderful night of poetry, merriment and ribaldry on Thursday. Good times with good friends, old and new, at We're No Angels: An evening of poetry performances!

We ended up in the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram too. Read Ohio poet laureate Dave Lucas among readers at Lorain's Speak of the Devil by Carissa Woytack.

We're No Angels (Lucas, Borsenik & Burroughs in Lorain 1/24)

This coming Thursday, 24 January, at 6:30 p.m., I will have the honor of reading with Ohio Poet Laureate Dave Lucas and NightBallet Press publisher Dianne Borsenik as NightBallet presents We're No Angels: an evening of poetry performances at Speak of the Devil, 201 W. 5th Street in Lorain, Ohio.

Ohio Poet Laureate Established

You may recall that I was one of several Ohio Poetry Association members who testified at the Ohio Statehouse earlier this year in support of Senate Bill 84.  I am now pleased to report that the General Assembly has passed the bill and created the position of Ohio Poet Laureate. 

Read Senator Kearney's announcement at the Minority Caucus Blog.

An excerpt from the bill (as passed by the House):

Sec. 3379.12. (A) The position of Ohio poet laureate is hereby created. The Ohio poet laureate shall be appointed by the governor from a list of not less than three candidates recommended by the Ohio Arts Council based on qualifications developed by the arts council under division (F) of section 3379.03 of the Revised Code. The arts council shall submit its list of candidates to the governor not less than ninety days prior to the beginning of the Ohio poet laureate's term of office.

(B) The term of office for the Ohio poet laureate shall be for two years. The initial term shall begin on January 1, 2016.

(C) In the event of the death, resignation, or any other vacancy or inability to perform the duties of Ohio poet laureate during an individual's unexpired term of office, not later than sixty days after the vacancy occurs, the Ohio arts council shall recommend a candidate to the governor to serve as poet laureate for the remainder of that unexpired term of office.

(D) An individual may be reappointed to subsequent terms of office, at the discretion of the governor.

Ohio Senate Passes Bill Establishing Ohio Poet Laureate - House Next!

Steve Abbott testifying on behalf of S.B. 84 on May 21st
in Columbus [photo by Michael Salinger]

Click here to read about it on the Ohio Senate's minority caucus blog.  

Many thanks to the senators, including many from our area and from both political parties, who have stepped up and supported Senate Bill 84.  Letters from poets and other bill supporters from across the state, as well as great support from the Ohio Arts Council and Ohio Poetry Association have helped immensely.  But our work's not done yet.

Now Senate Bill 84 is moving on to the Ohio House for consideration and this is the perfect time for us to write to our state representatives and express our support for the establishment of a Poet Laureate position in Ohio.  It doesn't seem right that Ohio, the home of so many fine poets statewide, is one of only five United States not to have such a position.

So please write to your state representative and urge him or her to pass this bill.

Click here to find your representative.
Click here to read Senate Bill 84, the Ohio Poet Laureate bill.
Click here to read my testimony before the Senate in support of S.B. 84.
Click here to read Michael Salinger's testimony before the Senate in support of S.B. 84.
Click here to read a statement by Steve Abbott on the O.P.A. blog in support of S.B. 84.