I'm thrilled to be taking part in the Western Maryland Independent Literature Festival, presented by the FSU Center for Literary Arts this weekend in downtown Frostburg. I'll be repping Crisis Chronicles Press all day and reading at 1 p.m. on Saturday: jesuscrisis.blogspot.com/2025/09/sept...

A fine reading by four northeast Ohio poet Steves at Love Coffee in Parma last night! Goldberg, Brightman, Smith and Thomas.

Happy to be in this film (my role is "Theodore the Poet") to be screened October 6th at the Lincoln Community Center Library, 1255 Manchester Road, in Fairview, Pennsylvania. jesuscrisis.blogspot.com/2025/09/106-...

Just a reminder that registration is open for our 11 October quarterly workshop, "How to Write Better Using Lessons from Haiku," presented by Geoff Anderson of DiVerses. Attend virtually or in-person in Columbus, Ohio. For more information and to register, please visit www.ohiopoetryassn.org/events.

My Crisis Chronicles Press table at the 2025 Writers Association of Northern Appalachia conference in Wheeling, featuring 4 authors we've published who have Appalachian roots. I added in my own Rattle & Numb (published by Venetian Spider Press) for good measure. ccpress.blogspot.com/p/crisis-chr...

Picked up some great books by great authors at the Writers Association of Northern Appalachia Conference: Continued Cases by Richard Hague [2023, Dos Madres], In Velvet: New and Selected Poems by Jeanne Bryner [2024, Bottom Dog], Mrs. Nussbaum's Monkey by Frank Lehner [2025, Bottom Dog].

What a wonderful event it was Thursday at Kent State, celebrating the release of The Nature of Our Times: Poems on America's Lands, Waters, Wildlife, and Other Natural Wonders (edited by Luisa Igloria, Aileen Cassinetto, and David Hassler, via Paloma Press). natureofourtimes.poetsforscience.org

So good to hear Jan Beatty's keynote last night at the Writers Association of Northern Appalachia Conference in Wheeling!

So looking forward to attending and representing Crisis Chronicles Press tonight and tomorrow at the Writers Association of Northern Appalachia Conference: writersassociationofnorthernappalachia.org?page_id=630

I really can't thank you enough for your kind birthday wishes and fun Facebook photo memories and generous donations to the Ohio Poetry Association. The world is a difficult place in so many ways, but I feel fortunate (and fortified) having friends like you. ❤

Nothing is more central to a free society than the right to criticize one’s government. Nothing.

If Jimmy Kimmel had called for lethal injections of homeless people he would still be on the air. #ProudBlue

Today, I'm 59. And as I celebrate the onset of my 60th year, I couldn't be more grateful for the Ohio Poetry Association (@ohiopoetry.bsky.social). ❤ www.facebook.com/donate/78208...

Thursday in Kent, Ohio! www.kent.edu/today/news/w...

... If all you Have is scissors, everything looks like It’s hanging by a thread. [From "Shiftless" by Amy Woolard, www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazi... ]

Arthur Sze Will Be the Next U.S. Poet Laureate www.nytimes.com/2025/09/15/b...

A wonderful reading by Jason Baldinger today at Mac's Backs-Books On Coventry! So grateful to all who came out.

Come see and hear poet Jason Baldinger today at Mac's Backs Books in Cleveland Heights. Sunday, September 14th at 5 pm. Details: www.facebook.com/events/20060...

Had a fine time hanging out with poets and reading last night at Werner Books in Erie, Pennsylvania. So many thanks to Chuck Joy for hosting and to Shelley Chernin for kicking things off.

Thank you, @paisleyrekdal.bsky.social! www.nytimes.com/2025/09/09/o...

Newly picked up lit goodies, out for a drive: Proof That This Isn't Hell Even Though It Feels Like It Sometimes by Dan Denton, Voluptuous Lies by R. Nikolas Macioci, 77901 by PW Covington, Rattle #89 (Fall 2025), Haunt Me by Jose Enrique Medina, Glock by Annmarie O'Connell.

Wednesday 9/10 at Werner Books in Erie, Pennsylvania, hosted by Dr. Chuck Joy! Starts at 6 p.m. www.facebook.com/events/79987...

Looking forward to having John Dorsey and Jason Baldinger return to Cleveland Heights for a poetry reading on September 14th, 5 p.m., at Mac's Backs-Books on Coventry. Hope to see you there! macsbacks.com/event/2025-0...

Some more great stuff I picked up at the 2025 Nat’& Int’l Beat Poetry Festival includes Joshua Michael Stewart's latest (Welcome Home, Russell Edson); three volumes of Keeping the Flame Alive; titles by Patrick Chapman, Lindsey Royce, and Suzanne E. Edison; and an issue of Naugatuck River Review.

From @robertreich.substack.com.web.brid.gy: robertreich.substack.com/p/who-decide...

We had a fine time at the Beat Poetry Festival in Connecticut! Love and gratitude to the NBPF! More photos forthcoming, but for now, here's my poem from the New Generation Beats 2025 anthology. I love the page it is because 333 for Trump plus 333 for Musk equals something.

Happy to find these books in my mailbox: Italian Dinner Music by Alissa Sammarco [2025, Turning Point], Finding God in Arby's by John Dorsey [2025, Maverick Duck], Shibori Blue: Thirty-six Views of the Peak by Beth Copeland [2024, Redhawk], Selfie with Cherry by Beth Copeland [2022, Glass Lyre].

This is "not safe for work," as you might have guessed from the title, and likely not to everyone's taste, but I'm pleased that my old poem "Allen Ginsberg Wants You" is finding a new audience here. Thanks to editor K.V. for taking it!

Brand new books I've picked up at the National Beat Poetry Festival: Power Spots by Ron Myers, pyre by Chris Dean, Letter to Xhevdet Bajraj by Jeff Weddle, Brockwood Cemetery by Carlo Parcelli, Goddess Festival 2025 anthology, New Generation Beats 2025 anthology.

Tomorrow, Sandra Feen and I are heading to Connecticut to represent Ohio at the National Beat Poetry Festival. We look forward to sharing a stage with these stellar poets from all over on Friday and then seeing more (including the new Beat Laureates receiving their awards) on Saturday.

Visible Voice Books is on the move! www.clevescene.com/news/visible...

This poem by Bob Hicok (via The New Yorker): www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...

SAVE THE DATE: November 15th in South Euclid, Ohio! attend.cuyahogalibrary.org/event/13881294

I'm happy that my poem "Bully for You" has been accepted into this year's New Generation Beats 2025 Anthology. Thank you, @nbpfdebtosunkilday.bsky.social! www.barnesandnoble.com/w/new-genera...

The Affordable Care Act is the only reason I am able to have healthcare coverage. But thanks to Trump and Congress prioritizing tax cuts for the rich and authoritarianism over the real needs of Americans, this is happening. signalcleveland.org/aca-health-i...

"Prayer," a short poem I wrote on the back of a Cathie Joslyn art postcard during an April workshop presented by Pauletta Hansel and Tabassam Shah (sponsored by PAR-USA) appears here: poetsagainstracism-usa.org/featured-poem/. Poems by Jennifer Browne, Pauletta Hansel and others are also featured.

Since I'm way behind on posting photos of books that have recently found their way into my hands, I will share this stack as a way of catching up (and satisfying my OCD). 😂 But it's going to be 2026 before I have time to read them.

So grateful to @ravnica11.bsky.social for sharing these books with me! 💕

Man, I love when books by great writers arrive in the mail. EPIGRAMMAR volume 1 by Douglas John Imbrogno [2025, A-OK Poetry], I Ask the Mountain to Heal My Heart by Beth Copeland [2025, Redhawk], Vintage Denim by PW Covington [2024, Alien Buddha], Notes to John by Joan Didion [2025, Knopf].

Earlier today, hiking with @shelleychernin.bsky.social in Coopers Rock State Forest, West Virginia

With Venetian Spider Press authors William F. DeVault, Patricia Nwoko, and Daniel McTaggart at this afternoon's event at Barnes & Noble in Morgantown, West Virginia. (📸 by Susan Dines)

On my recent weeks traveling across the southern United States and attending the NFSPS Conference, I saw so many cool places and people, but nothing beat getting to spend time with these marvels of marvelousness in Albuquerque: Holly Brians Ragusa, Susann Moeller, PW Covington & Leann Covington.

These are just the unread. I really am trying to catch up.

Looking forward to reading these picked-up titles when I get caught up: Cleveland Review of Books 3.1, The Rose by Ariana Reines [2025 Graywolf], Rattle #88 and the Best of Poets Respond 2014-2024, Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds [2017, Atheneum], Appetites by Jules Nyquist [2012, Beatlick].

Very much looking forward to being part of this year's National Beat Poetry Festival featuring fine poets from across the country and around the world. Labor Day weekend in Collinsville and Barkhamsted, Connecticut. Hope to see you there! Check out more at beatlife.org.

Another fascination: www.theparisreview.org/interviews/4...

Pleased to finally have hard copies: How to Tie Tobacco by A.M. Hayden, Please Treasure Yourself by Susan F. Glassmeyer, Paper Monsters by Lisa Bennington-Love, Orange Is Not a Colour edited by Fin Hall, Wolf Whistles Behind the Dumpster by Dan Provost, Disposable Darlings by Todd Cirillo.