Ah, Thursday, and the news is terrible. So here's a puppy pic.

My poem "I Owe You a Poem" is today's poem of the day on Rattle.com (and you can see it (and hear it, if you like) afterward at: rattle.com/i-owe-you-a-... ). It's for my mom and, really, for everyone, so thanks, @rattlepoetry.bsky.social , for publishing it:

High Plains Public Radio (out of Kansas) is featuring poets every Thursday (started at the beginning of this month). I'm on today and well be back in coming months with segments on a few other Nebraska poets: www.hppr.org/podcast/hppr...

May 4, I'm running an online writing workshop based on The Great British Baking Show. It's about being fearless with first drafts and, yes, there will be someone declared Star Writer at the end. Buckle up and get signed up, it's going to get weird: buttonpoetry.com/product/butt...

A total of zero votes were cast for the guy currently running America.

From Bench Marks, a 2005 public art display where Omaha bus benches were painted by a local artist with words by a local writer. This quote is from my poem "Watching Snow Fall." I'm posting this today in memory of Eddith Buis, our great local advocate for public art who just passed away.

Mason Family Reunion, Part 3 Okay, here's the actual reunion part, both with brothers sisters and cousins but also with my wife and youngest daughter who finally made it!

Family Reunion, Part 2 Spoiler Alert: Yes, Sarah and Lucia will make it. Not yet, but Lucia gets better and, somehow, Southwest Airlines does an amazing job letting us late-cancel their original tickets and rebook.

Family Reunion, Part 1. The Masons (grandkids on down from Charles and Elizabeth Mason, my grandparents on my dad's side) planned a reunion in Hilo, where my dad was born, to end 2024 and begin the New Year.

As we close out the calendar, I find myself nothing but grateful: grateful for my family, my friends, the people of my state. I'm grateful for everyone who helped me come out to every county here with a poetry event, grateful to the new puppy, to all the writers I've been lucky enough to work with.

Breaking News: Kopiko is terrified of the vet's office and tried to hide in my coat. (And, no, just because I only have a few days left as State Poet, I am not switching over to an All-Puppy channel, there will still be poetry news. Sometimes.)

There's a new monthly poetry show starting in Lincoln on January 10th and I get to be the first feature! Come by for some poems, some conversation, and an open mic after. 6-8pm, The Lion at St Mark's on the Campus (1309 R St, Lincoln): sites.google.com/view/smoc-li...

I finally made it to Walt Disney World, thanks to having great friends Monica London and Mark London to guide me! Though I prefer the whole Disneyland area's walkability, it was fun to see new rides and different versions of the rides I know.

My last video poem of the year is up on my Patreon and it includes the cheapest of ploys (Cute Puppy!). I appreciate the support as it helps make more school and community visits possible (Plus, it's fun). Join in, tell friends, support a poet (and a puppy) today! www.patreon.com/posts/year-e...

My guest column today is in the Springfield News-Leader and will be in other papers this week. It's about wanting to see poetry more recognized as an entertaining form of Art and, in my opinion, does a tremendous job of not taking any cheap shots at Ezra Pound. www.news-leader.com/story/entert...

I'm a guest columnist this Sunday in Poetry from Daily Life, a newspaper column by Missouri Poet Laureate David L. Harrison which appears in Springfield News-Leader and other papers in Missouri, Kansas, and South Dakota. Here's a little more info on it: davidlharrison.wordpress.com/2024/12/12/m...

Here's a conversation about writing I had with Becky of Briar Haus Writes, up now! youtu.be/X_YZQZ4Mxbw?...

Some days all you have to offer the world is puppy pictures. So, well, here's a puppy picture:

What's the best thing to get someone for Christmas? Donuts! But at #2 is, of course, books of poetry. Button Poetry has every book on sale at half the price through Dec 3rd with coupon code: bfcm50 They have a plenty of great titles, including THIS little beauty! buttonpoetry.com/product/rock...

Kopiko would like to wish you a Happy Digestion Night!

What do I have to add to your day? This.

On the plus side, we have an owl come back to watch us this year. Some Novembers, we get an Owen Julius (so named by my daughters, each gave the owl one name (a diplomatic way of saying they each had a name and fought about it)). It's a little magic (the owl, not the fighting children).

The U. of Nebraska Press has ALL books (4,000+) 50% off! Use coupon code 6HLW24 in your shopping cart. There are great books in all subjects, including this little beauty: www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/the-backwate... Don't give Bezos your $, save money and buy more Elf-themed Goldfish crackers...

I have some good news to share: My wife tried these and she hates them. (Which means every bag in the house is mine, all mine)