National Poetry “Month” Ain’t Over Yet

…at least for some of us.

Tomorrow, May 5th, at 7:30 p.m. I will host Monday at Mahall’s.  Join us for a fabulous night of living literature, featuring Ohio treasures Dawn Shepler Shimp and Smith & Lady — PLUS, for any who dare, brews, bowling and a bowl-you-over open mic.  For more information, click here.

Dawn photo by Jen Pezzo, Smith/Lady photos by Smith

Thursday May 8th at 7 p.m. I will be at Heights Arts in Cleveland Heights for Ekphrastacy.  The gallery’s current exhibition is Morganites: Fiber in Flux, curated by Tom Balbo of the Morgan Papermaking Conservatory.  Balbo will give an informal talk about the conservatory and the artists represented in this show. Then poets Bunny Breslin, Jill Sell, Linda Tuthill, Linda Goodman Robiner and me (John Burroughs) will read new poems inspired by works in the exhibition.  I will debut my “In Due Season,” written from the perspective of Melissa Jay Craig’s Reap.  (To see Reap from three angles, click here, here and here.  To see and hear my poem, you’ll have to come to the event.)  Thanks to Cleveland Heights Poet Laureate Kathleen Cerveny for having me be a part of this.

Then on Wednesday May 14th at 7 p.m. I will probably be participating in the annual Hessler Street Fair Poetry Competition at Mac’s Backs Books in Cleveland Heights.  I say probably because I’ve submitted a poem, but I’ve not yet heard whether I’ve made the cut.  For more info on the competition, click here.

And finally, don’t forget to get your submissions in for the 2014 Best Cleveland Poem Competition sponsored by Tim Misny. Later this year, Crisis Chronicles Press will publish a book of the best work submitted. 

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2014 Best Cleveland Poem Competition

In February, Crisis Chronicles Press published Songs in the Key of Cleveland: An Anthology of the 2013 Best Cleveland Poem Competition, guest edited by contest winner Dianne Borsenik and featuring contributions from some of northern Ohio’s best writers.

Now the 2014 Best Cleveland Poem Competition, sponsored by Tim “Make Them Pay” Misny, is underway and we’d love for you to contribute.  Submit your best poems with the theme ThisIsCLE to buddyraymc@aol.com by May 18th for your chance to win groovy prizes and appear in the next anthology. 

Inside the Razor Ribbon, Then Underground

This Thursday at 5:30 I’ll be performing poetry for the residents of the Grafton Reintegration Center in Lorain County, then helping judge their poetry slam.  This is especially meaningful for me on a couple of levels.  (1) My Mom, who passed away a year ago, used to work at this same prison back when it was known as the North Coast Correctional Treatment Facility.  And (2) I was once a prisoner myself, from 1993 to 2004, though not at that facility.  I also returned to prison as a civilian volunteer mentor in 2006 and 2007 before finally deciding to put some distance between myself and the system for many years.  The time feels right to return.  But more on that in a future blog post….

Then Saturday April 26th (the day before Mom’s birthday) I’ll be performing in the basement of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Cleveland during the Underground Poetry segment (orchestrated by HobGob Press) of Station Hope, “a block party with a purpose” put on by Cleveland Public Theatre.  “Station Hope is a multi-arts event that celebrates the triumphs of the Underground Railroad, the history of St. John’s Church and the contemporary struggles for freedom and justice.”  Poets from several northern Ohio small presses will be joining us in the underground.

(BOTTOM DOG PRESS) 6:30-7:00 — Larry Smith / Ray McNiece / Vladimir Swirynsky

(WRITING KNIGHTS/GREEN PANDA) 7:30-8:00 — Azriel Johnson / Skylark Bruce / Russell Vidrick

(NIGHTBALLET/CRISIS CHRONICLES) 8:30-9:00 — Dianne Borsenik / John Burroughs / Jim Lang

(HOBGOB PRESS) Wandering Poet in Between Time Slots — Brandon Stroud

Took a face from the ancient gallery and I walked on down to Mahall’s

The Monday at Mahall’s Poetry and Prose Series happens the first Monday of each month at Mahall’s 20 Lanes, 13200 Madison Avenue in Lakewood, Ohio.  It’s almost right across the street from the long gone Bela Dubby beer cafe and art gallery where Dianne Borsenik and I hosted the Lix and Kix Poetry Extravaganza for years.

Beginning on April 7th 2014 I will be helping to carry on the great tradition of hosting Monday at Mahall’s. We hope to make founder Catherine Criswell proud, and we are very excited to meet and hear this month’s acclaimed featured poet Frank Giampietro!

About Frank [stolen from his website]:

While earning an MA at Washington College and an MFA from Vermont College, Frank Giampietro was the president and general manager of a retail appliance business in Dover, Delaware. His first book of poems Begin Anywhere was published by Alice James Books in 2008. He is the co-author of Spandrel with Denise Bookwalter and Book O’ Tondos with Megan Marlatt. Awards for his poetry include a Walter E. Dakin Fellowship from Sewanee Writers’ Conference, a Kingsbury Fellowship from Florida State University, a fellowship from the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, and a Florida Book Award. He is the creator of La Fovea, and Poems by Heart. His poetry, nonfiction, short-short fiction, and book reviews have appeared in journals including 32 Poems, American Book Review, Barrow Street, Black Warrior, Cimarron Review, Copper Nickel, CutBank, FENCE, Hayden’s Ferry, Ninth Letter, Poetry Daily, Poetry International, Ploughshares, Rain Taxi, Subtropics, and Tampa Review. He was a resident scholar at The Southern Review from 2010 to 2011 and the managing editor of Alice James Books from 2011 to 2012. Currently, Frank Giampietro serves as the interim director of Cleveland State University Poetry Center and visiting assistant professor of English at Cleveland State University and in the North East Ohio Master of Fine Arts program.

So come hear Frank, buy his book, have some brews, roll a few strikes and spares (if you dare) and share your latest spoken word masterpiece-in-the-making at our open mic.  RSVP, if you wanna, on Facebook.

Frank Giampietro [photo also stolen from his website]

Thank you, Snoets!

What a beautiful day Sunday was with Snoetry 4. I’ll be posting photos on Facebook soon.  Thank you to everyone who made it so, including Dianne Borsenik, Ra Washington, Gork, Mark Sebastian Jordan, Heather Ann Schmidt, Serena Castells, Azriel Johnson, Skylark Bruce, Amy from Ashtabula, Alan Mathos, Clarissa Jakobsons, John Dorsey, Ian Hannold, Kathy Smith, Steve Brightman, Blaire Bommer, Juliet Cook, Steven Smith, Veronica Hopkins, Marisa Moks-Unger, Jeffrey Bowen, Marissa Hyde, Chuck Joy, James E. Stanley, Jennifer Hambrick, Luke Kuzmish, Eric Anderson, Claire McMahon, Tracie Morell, Bradley K Meyer, Alex Nielsen, Dan Smith, Bridget Kriner, Shawn King, Josh Romig, Amanda Oaks, Mary O’Malley, Elliot Smith, Christine Howey, Jeremiah Walton, Andy Roberts, Ryan Sagert, Theresa Göttl, Steve Thomas, Cee Williams, Lennart Lundh, mark s. kuhar, PoetJoe Gallagher, Shelly Ann, Christina M. Brooks, Zach Ashley, Shelley Chernin, Vladimir Swirynsky, Christopher Franke, Mark Cronin, Cavana Faithwalker, Steve Goldberg, Terry Provost, Lyz Bly and Julie Ursem Marchand. And Guide to Kulchur was the perfect venue for it.  Much love to you all!

Ashley furniture truck driver lies

I’ve learned that the guy who hit my car on I-490 is trying to say I swerved to the left and cut in front of him.  Fortunately, I’m fairly certain there is a witness who saw that I was firmly established in my lane when his truck struck me (I saw police approach and talk to a vehicle that was on the shoulder behind me).  I did not swerve.  I intended to get off at the Broadway exit that was coming up on the right to pick up Geri from work. The dog didn’t run out in front of me; it ran out in front of the SUV that slammed on its brakes in front of me.  I slammed on mine and was lucky I was able to come to a stop and avoid hitting the SUV.  There was no room in the 4pm traffic for me to go right OR left.  Only then did I notice the dog running out from in front of the vehicle in front of me, whereupon the truck hit my rear end, I went into a short spin and the vehicle in front of me drove off unscathed.  If anything, the truck driver swerved slightly to the left while slamming on HIS brakes.

Here’s the police report: http://clevelandoh.policereports.us/viewreportpdfrawv.html?sid=s4js65tj114gdevpc4qeq92q65&rid=0&f=report.pdf

Tuesday’s Accident

Tuesday at 4 p.m. I was on a bridge on I-490 east, just west of the Broadway exit, on my way to picjk up Geri from work at the prison, when an SUV/van in front of me slammed on its brakes to avoid hitting a dog that had run onto the freeway. I slammed on mine to avoid hitting the SUV (and was successful) – but I couldn’t go left or right because there was too much traffic. The big Ashley furniture truck behind me didn’t have anywhere to go except up my ass. Fortunately the truck driver did a pretty good job of getting it almost stopped before hitting me. Then my car spun into the traffic coming onto 490 from I-77, but fortunately no one else hit me.

I took these photos and posted them on Facebook after the police came and had us move our vehicles to the side of the road.

Somebody call the Po-po in the City

My “Po-poetry,” a true story piece I wrote in a coffee shop on Shaker Square in October when I was trying to make myself write a poem a day for Oct Tongue, was just published in the 2013-2014 Winter Issue of The City.  This issue, wonderfully crafted by Lady K, also includes work by Meridianna Reborn, Steven B. Smith, Sam Hubish, Geoffrey Landis, Meribeth Hutto, Margie Shaheed, Heather Ann Schmidt, Peter Leon, Adam Brodsky, Dianne Borsenik, Mary Weems, Geraldine Green and Lady.

Peruse for free at http://thecitypoetry.com/2014/03/2013-2014-winter-issue/

Crisis Chronicles Press publishes Songs in the Key of Cleveland anthology!

Crisis Chronicles Press is thrilled to announce the long-awaited publication of Songs in the Key of Cleveland: An Anthology of the 2013 Best Cleveland Poem Competition.

cover photo by Michael Spear

The first annual Best Cleveland Poem Competition was held on Sunday, May 5, 2013 at the Willoughby Brewing Company.  Songs in the Key of Cleveland features the best poems shared that day, including work by lit stars Catherine Criswell, Katie Daley, T.M. Göttl, Dianne Borsenik, Geoffrey Landis, Joshua Gage, Terry Provost, Jack McGuane, Ruth J. Coffey, Martin Snyder, Jeffrey Bowen, Mary A. Turzillo and competition emcee Ray McNiece. 

The book is around 40 pages, perfect bound, 6×9″ and a steal at only $10 from Crisis Chronicles Press, c/o John Burroughs, 3344 W. 105th Street #4, Cleveland, Ohio 44111.

Available now by mail and online — and soon from particular local independent bookstores across the country!  Please join us for the official Songs in the Key of Cleveland release party on March 3rd during Mondays at Mahall’s Poetry & Prose series, hosted by Catherine Criswell at Mahall’s 20 Lanes, 13200 Madison Avenue in Lakewood, Ohio.  Meet and hear many of the contributors there. PLUS… the evening will feature a reading by Cleveland lit superhero Brad Ricca, author of Super Boys.  Talk about a dynamic duo!

Project editor for Songs in the Cleveland: Dianne Borsenik
Executive editor: John Burroughs
ISBN: 978-1-940996-07-3

For more information about the annual Best Cleveland Poetry Competition sponsored by attorney Tim Misny, please visit http://misnylaw.com/best-cleveland-poem-competition/.

2014 Events with John Burroughs and/or Crisis Chronicles Press

Perhaps more will be added, but these are the ones we have scheduled so far.
[Last updated on 11/18/2014.]

Cleveland, Ohio — Crisis/Ballet Book Release Party — Barking Spider Tavern
Saturday 1/25/2014 from 5 to 7 p.m. — Celebrating new chapbooks by three of NE Ohio’s finest poets: Steve Brightman (whose 13 Ways of Looking at Lou Reed was just published by Crisis Chronicles Press), Dianne Borsenik (Corpus Lingua, The Poet’s Haven Press), and Dan Smith (The Liquid of Her Skin, the Suns of Her Eyes, NightBallet Press). John Burroughs emceed an open mic.  Barking Spider, 11310 Juniper Road in Cleveland.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — A Confluence of Poets — Modern Formations Gallery
Saturday 2/8/2014 at 8 p.m. — Presented by Lilliput Review and featuring these poets: Sara Ries (from Buffalo, NY), Chuck Joy (Erie, PA), Dianne Borsenik & John Burroughs (Cleveland, OH), Ally Malinenko & John Grochalski (New York, NY), Maggie Glover (San Francisco, CA) and Pittsburgh’s own Heather McNaugher, Kristofer Collins & Don Wentworth.  Admission: $5 or a Covered Dish. Modern Formations, 4919 Penn Avenue in Pittsburgh.

Lakewood, Ohio — Mondays at Mahall’s — Mahall’s 20 Lanes
Monday 3/3/2014 at 7:30 p.m. — The Mondays at Mahall’s poetry and prose series features Super Boys author Brad Ricca and the launch of Crisis Chronicles Press’ new book Songs in the Key of Cleveland: An Anthology of the 2013 Best Cleveland Poem Competition.  An open mic will follow the features.  Emceed by Catherine Criswell.  Mahall’s 20 Lanes, 13200 Madison Road in Lakewood.

Cleveland, Ohio — Snoetry 4: A Kulchural Winter Wordfest — Guide to Kulchur
Sunday 3/16/2014 from noon to 11 p.m. — Lix & Kix, clevelandpoetry.com and friends present the fourth almost annual Snoetry festival, with an open mic from noon to 1, followed by 60 featured poets from several states (Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania and of course Ohio), in Cleveland for the first time ever.  Close to a dozen Crisis Chronicles Press authors will participate. Guide to Kulchur, 1386 W. 65th Street in Cleveland.  More details at www.snoetry.com.

Cleveland, Ohio — Write Club — Literary Cafe
Saturday 4/5/2014 from 7 to 10 p.m. — Serena Castells and John Burroughs will be the featured poets during this month’s Write Club hosted by Writing Knights at the Literary Cafe, 1031 Literary Road in Cleveland.  Writing Knights Press will celebrate new book releases by Serena Castells and Sharon Gariepy Frye.

Lakewood, Ohio — Monday at Mahall’s Poetry & Prose — Mahall’s 20 Lanes
Monday 4/7/2014 from 7:30 to 10 p.m. — Frank Giampietro, interim director of the CSU Poetry Center and author of Begin Anywhere, will be the evening’s featured poet, followed by an open mic. John Burroughs carries on as series host this month. Click here for more details. 13200 Madison Avenue in Lakewood.

Grafton, Ohio — National Poetry Month event — Grafton Reintegration Center
Thursday 4/17/2014 at 5:30 p.m. — John Burroughs will perform his poetry for the residents of the Grafton Reintegration Center and serve as one of the judges for their poetry slam.

Cleveland, Ohio — CPT: Station Hope — St. John’s Episcopal Church
Saturday 4/26/2014 from 6 to 10 p.m. — Crisis Chronicles Press and others will participate in HobGob Press’ “Underground Poetry” presentation in the basement of St. John’s Episcopal Church during Station Hope: A Block-Party with a Purpose, an Arts Event for the People, a Celebration of Hope, presented by Cleveland Public Theatre, Ohio City Incorporated and Ward 3 Councilman Joe Cimperman.  2600 Church Street in Cleveland.

Lakewood, Ohio — Monday at Mahall’s Poetry & Prose — Mahall’s 20 Lanes
Monday 5/5/2014 from 7:30 to 10 p.m. — Featured readings by Dawn Shepler Shimp with Smith and Lady, followed by an open mic.  John Burroughs will host. More details forthcoming. 13200 Madison Avenue in Lakewood.

Cleveland Heights, Ohio — EKPHRASTACY: Poets Respond — HeightsArts
Thursday 5/8/2014 from 7 to 10 p.m. — Poets John Burroughs, Linda Tuthill, Bunny Breslin and Jill Sell will read their work inspired by the current exhibition (Morganites: Fiber in Flux, curated by Tom Balbo) at HeightsArts Gallery, 2375 Lee Road in Cleveland Heights.  More details forthcoming.

Cleveland Heights, Ohio — Hessler Street Fair Poetry Contest — Mac’s Backs
Wednesday 5/14/2014 from 7 to 10 p.m. — John Burroughs will be one of many poets participating in this year’s event at Mac’s Backs, 1820 Coventry Road in Cleveland Heights. Joshua Gage will host.  Click here for more details.

Willoughby, Ohio — Best Cleveland Poem Competition — Willoughby Brewing Co.
Monday 6/1/2014 from 4 to 7 p.m. — Sponsored by Tim Misny, hosted by Ray NcNiece.  In late 2014, Crisis Chronicles Press will publish an anthology of the best poems submitted to this contest.  Click here for more details.

Lakewood, Ohio — Monday at Mahall’s Poetry & Prose — Mahall’s 20 Lanes
Monday 6/2/2014 from 7:30 to 10 p.m. — Featured readings by Michael Salinger and Sara Holbrook, followed by an open mic. More details forthcoming. 13200 Madison Avenue in Lakewood.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — Words Dance in the Night Ballet — Modern Formations Galley
Saturday 6/14/2014 from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. — Words Dance Publishing and NightBallet Press present featured poets Dianne Borsenik, Amanda Oaks, John Dorsey, John Burroughs, Nikki Allen, Karen Lillis, Heather McNaugher, Jason Irwin, Karen Lillis and Jason Baldinger, who will being reading round robin in the dark. Multiple books will be released. Modern Formations is located at 4919 Penn Avenue in Pittsburgh.

Columbus, Ohio — Community Festival 2014 — Columbus
Saturday 6/28/2014 — John Burroughs, Dianne Borsenik, Connie Everett, Mark Hersman and Ben Rader will be among the Ohio poets performing during this year’s ComFest in Columbus.  More details forthcoming. 

Lakewood, Ohio — Monday at Mahall’s Poetry & Prose — Mahall’s 20 Lanes
Monday 7/7/2014 from 7:30 to 10 p.m. — Featured readings by Jack McGuane, Chuck Joy and Eva Xanthopoulos, followed by an open mic.  More details forthcoming. 13200 Madison Avenue in Lakewood.

Cleveland, Ohio — Mad Sing You II Poetry/Music Fest — Pat’s in the Flats
Sunday 7/20/2014 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. — Jesus Crisis Ban/ne/d (John Burroughs & guitarist JJ Haaz), Tom Adams with Goggles Pisano, The Leftovers (featuring Steven B. Smith and Shawn Mishak), Shelley Chernin, Terry Provost (backing band: the Rickety Claque, featuring Dave Shaggy Snodgrass), and dan smith and the Deep Cleveland Trio (Morgan Ellington, Miles Budimir & Eric Anderson) will be among the many musical and spoken word performers at the second annual Mad Sing You festival.  More details forthcoming.  2233 W. 3rd Street in Cleveland.

Lakewood, Ohio — Monday at Mahall’s Poetry & Prose — Mahall’s 20 Lanes
Monday 8/4/2014 from 7:30 to 10 p.m. — Featured readings by Sean Thomas Dougherty, John Dorsey and John Swain, followed by an open mic.  More details forthcoming. 13200 Madison Avenue in Lakewood.

Painesville, Ohio — Words and Wine — Your Vine or Mine
Tuesday 8/5/2014 from 6 to 8 p.m. — John Burroughs will be the featured poet during Words and Wine at Your Vine or Mine, 154 Main Street, Painesville, Ohio.  This event will begin with an open mic.

Erie, Pennsylvania — Voices from the Viaduct — McBride Viaduct
Friday 8/15/2014 at 7:30 p.m. — Poets’ Hall weekly gathering moves to the McBride Viaduct (located 12th and East Ave north entrance).  Featured poets: Ron Androla, Sean Thomas Dougherty, Ron Hayes, Veronica Hopkins, John Burroughs, Dianne Borsenik, Fazed Cookies’ host Michael Bennett, Marisa Moks-Unger, Kim Noyes, Greg Brown, and Keith Moses.

Cleveland Heights, Ohio — Oct Tongue -1 Book Release — Mac’s Backs
Wednesday 8/27/2014 at 7 p.m. — Crisis Chronicles Press will debut the new book Oct Tongue -1 (written by Mary Weems, John Swain, Steven Smith, Lady [Kathy Smith], Shelley Chernin, John Burroughs and Steve Brightman) and the authors will read at this event.  Mac’s Backs is at 1820 Coventry Road in Cleveland Heights.  Click here for more info.

Lakewood, Ohio — Monday at Mahall’s Poetry & Prose — Mahall’s 20 Lanes
Monday 9/1/2014 from 7:30 to 10 p.m. — Featured poets Ray McNiece and Mary Weems, followed by an open mic. Click here for more details. 13200 Madison Avenue in Lakewood.

Lakewood, Ohio — Cleveland’s Starving Artist and Vendors Bazaar — Foundry Club
Sunday 9/7/2014 from 5 to 10 p.m. — Crisis Chronicles and NightBallet Presses will participate in this special event featuring food, art, clothing, live entertainment and more at the Foundry Club, 11729 Detroit Road in Lakewood.  Click here for more information.

Lakewood, Ohio — Monday at Mahall’s Poetry & Prose — Mahall’s 20 Lanes
Monday 10/6/2014 from 7:30 to 10 p.m. — Featured poets will be contributors to the 2014 Lipsmack anthology published by NightBallet Press. Scheduled so far: Jennifer Hambrick (Columbus), Andy Roberts (Columbus), Jason Baldinger (Pittsburgh), and Dan Smith (Cleveland).  An open mic will follow. More details forthcoming. 13200 Madison Avenue in Lakewood.

Cleveland, Ohio — Renegade Flowers: levyfest 2014 — CSU Library
Friday 10/24 thru Sunday 10/26/2014 — Crisis Chronicles Press will be among many participating in this year’s levyfest in Cleveland. We’ll have a table set up Saturday at CSU’s Michael Schwartz Library. Editor John Burroughs will read 8:50 Saturday evening at the Lava Lounge. Other press authors will participate throughout the weekend. More details here.

Lakewood, Ohio — Monday at Mahall’s Poetry & Prose — Mahall’s 20 Lanes
Monday 11/3/2014 from 7:30 to 10 p.m. — Featuring the group Writer’s Root authors Regina Geither and Elise Geither, followed by an open mic.  Crisis Chronicles Press will debut Elise Geither’s new chapbook at this event. More details forthcoming. 13200 Madison Avenue in Lakewood.

Sandusky, Ohio — Coffeehouse Reading Series — Mr. Smith’s Coffeehouse
Saturday 11/8/2014 from 2 to 4 p.m. — Featured poet John Burroughs will read, followed by an open mic.  Hosted by Bottom Dog Press and the Firelands Writing Center.  More info here.

Amherst, Ohio — Cemetery Arts Productions — Arabica Coffee Bistro
Friday 12/12/2014 from 7 to 10 p.m. — Event will feature poetry and music by Ryan Sagert, Ruben Escandon, Jeremy Ryzhevski, John Burroughs and more TBA.  Click here for details.

Lakewood, Ohio — Monday at Mahall’s Poetry & Prose — Mahall’s 20 Lanes
Monday 12/1/2014 from 7:30 to 10 p.m. — Featured poets Clarissa Jakobsons (Aurora, OH), Juliet Cook (Medina, OH) and Baraka Noel (Wheaton, MD), followed by an open mic. More details forthcoming. 13200 Madison Avenue in Lakewood.

Erie, Pennsylvania — Friday Night Writes — Poets’ Hall
Friday 12/15/2014 from 8 to 10 p.m. — John Burroughs will be the evening’s featured poet, followed by an open mic.  More details forthcoming.

Canton, Ohio — Writing Knights: Apocalypse — Journey Art Gallery
Friday 12/12/2014 from 7 to 10 p.m. — A catered event featuring four dynamic performers – John Burroughs, Andi Line, styles83 and Zach – at Journey Art Gallery, 431 4th Street NW.  Click here for more info.