Work in two new anthologies from New Generation Beat Publications

New Generation Beat Publications - Part of NBPF, Inc. has three new books out and I'm honored to have work in two of them. So many good poets between these covers! Thanks to Debbie Tosun Kilday and the National Beat Poetry Foundation, Inc. for keeping the fires burning!

My poem "Redux Isn't Pronounced Ray Do But That Hasn't Stopped Me" appears in New Generation Beats: National Beat Poetry Foundation, Inc. 2022 Anthology. I wrote it in July as part of Tupelo Press' 30/30 Project.

My poem "Let's Not and Say We Did" is in Remembering Jack Kerouac on His 100th Birthday. I began writing it during a trip to New England in September 2019 and completed it in February of this year in time to include it in my limited edition chapbook You Can't Trust It to Remain [Between Shadows Press].

On the Urban Appalachian Community Coalition Blog

"It should not come as a surprise that we count a Beat poet among urban Appalachians...."

I recently had the pleasure of talking with Mike Templeton for the Urban Appalachian Community Coalition blog. Read at https://uacvoice.org/2022/08/john-burroughs-urban-appalachian-and-national-beat-poet-laureate/.

Reading for the Bronx Book Fair August 13th

Next up, I'll have the privilege of sharing poetry with these fine folks on Saturday, August 13th as part of this year's Bronx Book Fair, happening on Zoom. Please send a message to Executive Director Lorraine Currelley at bronxbookfair@gmail.com to register.

4:00 PM

Marion Deutsche Cohen, Edward D. Currelley, Arlene Klein, Alison Koffler, Stephen Kuusisto, Prince A. McNally, Deedle Tomlinson, Tim Tomlinson, and Dayl Wise

4:45 PM

John Burroughs, William F. DeVault, Dane Ince, Patricia Ince (aka Tish The Writer), Debbie Tosun Kilday, Carlo Parcelli, Chryssa Velissariou, and Ron Whitehead

5:30 PM

Makeela B. Amani, Robert Anthony Gibbons, Bobby Gonzalez, Jesus Papoleto Melendez, Mutiu Olawuyi, Eva Lianou Petropoulou, Julia Stein, and Danielle Stelluto (aka Poetical Dee)

6:15 PM

Roxanne Hoffman, Pierre Joris, Michael Lally, Linda Lerner, Abiodun Oyewole, Nicole Peyrafitte, Zev Torres, Tony Towle, George Wallace, and Joseph Weil

Bronx Book Fair 2022 Theme: And Still We Rise!

My July, August & September 2022 Readings

I am so looking forward to seeing friends and sharing poetry at the following special events in the next several weeks.

16 July 2022 beginning at noon near Richwood, West Virginia
The Baber Mountain Poetry Festival will feature poets and musicians from throughout the Appalachian region. Baber Court, 26261. 

30 July 2022 in Portsmouth, Ohio
Noise Complaint at the Warehouse will feature live music by D.J. Everman, Commercial Television, and Soft Pain, plus poetry by Dianne Borsenik, John Burroughs, and Tony Brewer. 2134 Gallia Street Apt. B, 45662.

31 July 2022 at 6 p.m. in Cincinnati, Ohio
Word of Mouth Cincinnati presents a reading by John Burroughs plus open mic at MOTR Pub, 1345 Main Street, 45202.

2 August 2022 at 5:30 p.m. in South Euclid, Ohio
South Euclid poets including Doc Janning, Raja Belle Freeman, Amy Kesegich, Shelley Chernin, Michael Ceraolo, Adrian Schnall, Amanda Terman and John Burroughs will read during the annual Bexley Bash at Bexley Park, 1630 Wrenford Road, 44121.

6 August 2022 in Erie, Pennsylvania
Poetry during Erie's Blues & Jazz Festival will feature poets including Thasia Anne, Chuck Joy, Mabel Howard, Niecy Nicole, Dianne Borsenik, John Burroughs and an open mic at Frontier Park, 1501 W. 6th Street, 16505.

13 August 2022 at 4 p.m. - ONLINE
The Bronx Book Fair will present a reading by National Beat Poetry Foundation honorees including William F. DeVault, Dane Ince, Patricia Ince, Carlo Parcelli, Chryssa Velissariou, Ron Whitehead and John Burroughs, facilitated by Debbie Tosun Kilday.

2 thru 4 September 2022 in New Hartford, Connecticut
The National and International Beat Poetry Festival will feature poets from around the world and John Burroughs will be officially christened the U.S. National Beat Poet Laureate for 2022-2023.

10 September 2022 at 4 p.m. in Toledo, Ohio
Uncloistered Poetry presents readings by Pauletta Hansel, Mary Biddinger, Lylanne Musselman, Miles Budimir and John Burroughs, hosted by Lucas County Poet Laureate Jonie McIntire at The Attic, 1701 Adams Street, 43604.

I'm participating in Tupelo Press' 30/30 this month

I am participating in Tupelo Press' 30/30 this month to raise money for their vital work and to give me an extra incentive to write daily. My first three days' poem/drafts are now online, along with those by the other participants. Many thanks to the friends who have donated so far to sponsor me in this poem-a-thon. 

Anyone who donates at least $25 through my link will receive a complimentary copy of my next book when it's out as a token of my appreciation. Of course I will revise and refine these pieces later. I was tentatively planning to christen this series "30 Days in the Hole" (after Humble Pie) until I remembered that there are 31 days in July.

My goal is to raise $500 for Tupelo Press (as well as 31 poems for myself).

Athens Poet Laureate Chalks My "Half Write"

 

Many thanks to Athens Poet Laureate Wendy McVicker! I've been enjoying her sidewalk poem posts on Facebook and feel incredibly honored that she chose one of mine this time.

This poem appears in my book Rattle and Numb: Selected and New Poems, 1992-2019, published by Venetian Spider Press.

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.

Performing June 21st in Evansville, Indiana!

I'm looking forward to performing at the Bokeh Lounge in Evansville this Tuesday at 7 p.m Central. This event is part of the Poetry Speaks: Readings and Performances series hosted by "Hoosier Bill" Sovern, the recent Indiana Beat Poet Laureate. It will be my first reading in that state since 2017. Looking forward to seeing area poet friends and hearing new voices!

Bokeh Lounge
1007 Parrett Street
Evansville, IN 47713.

NFSPS Convention in Columbus Next Week!

 

You now have until June 19th to register for the National Federation of State Poetry Societies Convention that is happening in central Ohio on June 23rd through 26th, hosted by the Ohio Poetry Association. 

Hanif Abdurraqib will be their convention Keynote speaker. If you can't attend in person, there is also an option to attend virtually.

More info: https://www.ohiopoetryassn.org/nfsps-2022-convention.

I'll be participating in two events there:

A reading by contributors to I Thought I Heard a Cardinal Sing: Ohio's Appalachian Voices on 6/23 at 8 p.m. and a Poets Laureate panel on The Power of Literary Citizenship on 6/24 at 1 p.m.

Hope to see you!

June 11th online: I Thought I Heard a Cardinal Sing anthology reading

On June 11th, the Cuyahoga County Public Library will host a reading by contributors to the new I Thought I Heard a Cardinal Sing: Ohio's Appalachian Voices anthology (edited by Ohio Poet Laureate Kari Gunter-Seymour and published by Sheila-Na-Gig). This reading will take place online and we'd love for you to tune in. 

Registered participants will also have the option of attending in-person at the South Euclid-Lyndhurst Branch to watch the event on a large screen.

Please register here to attend.