Poem for Cleveland anthology release on 6/24

I'm happy and honored to have work in the fantastic Poem for Cleveland anthology curated by Ray McNiece and newly published by Red Giant. We hope you'll join us at the book release on Saturday 24 June 2023 from 2 to 4 pm at the main branch of the Cleveland Public Library, 325 Superior Avenue E.

More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/791491969152635.

Video: Poets Building Bridges featuring poets from Cleveland, Wales and Červená Barva Press

On June 10th, I had the privilege of taking part in an event called Poets Building Bridges, hosted by George Wallace and the Walt Whitman Birthplace Association. The three Cleveland poets I chose to  feature are Doc Janning, Shelley Chernin and Christine Howey. Three poets from Wales (led by Ian Griffiths) and three poets from Červená Barva Press (led by Gloria Mindock) were also featured. Here's the video:

June 10th on Zoom: Poets Building Bridges

This Saturday, June 10th at noon Eastern: 

While I will be in Kentucky for the Country Fried Panda festival, I am also very much looking forward to being part of an ONLINE event called Poets Building Bridges, hosted by George Wallace and the Walt Whitman Birthplace Association, where I will have the pleasure of presenting three Cleveland poets who are dear to me (Shelley Chernin, Christine Howey and Doc Janning) in triangulation with several fine poet friends from Wales and from Červená Barva Press. 

For more information, including the Zoom link, please visit https://www.waltwhitman.org/events/poets-building-bridges-series-2-june-2023-cleveland-wales-somerville-ma-cervena-barva.

 

Country Fried Panda Poetry Festival Next Weekend in Kentucky

Finally home. I've been on the road pretty much since May 25th. Didn't have my computer or wi-fi for chunks of that time—and when I did, they didn't get much use.

Although I failed to get a ton of productive writing done, I did find an ocean of inspiration.

Now I have tons of things to catch up on (for example, literally hundreds of emails) and a fairly full schedule this week before Shelley and I head to Kentucky on June 9th to read with interesting folk from around the country for the Country Fried Panda festival in Shelbyville.

I've said all this to say that if I owe you a response, a book, or anything else, I will get to it as soon as humanly possible.

Peace, love and poetry to you all!

Dianne Borsenik & John Burroughs visited Muskingum University

On March 29th, Dianne Borsenik and I had the pleasure and privilege of visiting Muskingum University. We spoke with the talented students of Dr. Jane Varley's "Modern and Contemporary Poetry" class, who had been studying our works, and then gave a reading for faculty, staff and the student population at large.

Here's a recent Muskingum News write-up about it: Dr. Varley Brings Poet Laureates to Class.

"I Am Not Ready to Die" featured by Poets Against Racism and Hate USA

Deep gratitude to Poets Against Racism & Hate USA for the work they do. A poem I wrote in 2020 after the murder of George Floyd is featured on their website today. Read it here: https://poetsagainstracism-usa.org/?page_id=85.

The poem, "I Am Not Ready to Die," originally appeared in Common Threads (2020, in an earlier version) and The Wrest of the Worthwhile. 

5/20: John Burroughs and Michael Czarnecki read in Buffalo

This Saturday, May 20th at 4:30 p.m., I'll have the immense pleasure of reading with Michael Czarnecki for the Second Stage Writers series at the American Repertory Theater of Western New York. 

 

Three new anthologies from New Generation Beat Publications

I'm thrilled to have a poem in each of these three recent National Beat Poetry Foundation anthologies from New Generation Beat Publications. [To procure yours, click on the photos below.]

Earth: Dig It - New Generation Beat Poets Laureate: An Anthology
[includes my poems "With a Clatter," "Elohim," and "If You Need a God, Make It Earth]

Natural Words: An Environmental Anthology of Poems
[includes my poem "Hampuy (Redux)"]

Beat Style Love Poems: A NBPF Anthology

[includes my poem "Cover Girl"] 

Many thanks to the NBPF and editor Debbie Tosun Kilday.

5/27 in Columbus and Online: Special Beat Poetry Workshop featuring Burroughs and Feen

May 27th, Ohio Beat Poet Laureate Sandra Feen and U.S. Beat Poet Laureate John Burroughs will present "You've Got the Beat," a unique Beat poetry workshop sponsored by the Ohio Poetry Association. Attend either online or in person at the Cooperative Chess Cultural Center in Columbus, Ohio. Please register at https://www.ohiopoetryassn.org/events.

Local Gems Press publishes Ohio Bards anthology

My poem "Unwinding" appears in this new Ohio Bards anthology published by Local Gems Press.

They're having two launch events this weekend in Ohio:

Saturday, April 29th at 7:30pm at
Hilton Garden Inn Columbus-University Area
3232 Olentangy River Rd, Columbus, OH 43202

Sunday April 30th at 5:30pm at
Courtyard by Marriott Cleveland Independence
5051 W Creek Rd, Independence, OH 44131

https://www.localgemspoetrypress.com/ohio-bards-preorders.html.