Summer News

July & August

Hello my darling newsletter subscriber! Thank you, again, for continuing to read my words & support my work.

Last we connected via inbox, I bundled two months into a single message. I’m continuing with that format again:

Events: Summer Daylight Ruckus

The Dirty Gerund Poetry Show in Worcester is supporting a number of youth-focused all ages poetry events this summer. You should find me at all of them.

First Tuesdays: in collaboration with the Pleasant Street Neighborhood Network Center, the Dirty Gerund is supporting an all ages sober open mic series that will kick off July 7, and if it goes well, return August 4! Join us for a Pleasant Poetry Reading from 7 to 9 PM in their community space on Pleasant Street.

Saturday, July 25 at 230 PM, join us in the main Worcester Public library Banx room for an afternoon of poetry. Bring printed copies of your poems ready to share and workshop as a group!

Sunday, August 9 at 330 PM, join us at George’s Coney Island for an all ages open mic followed by the glorious return of the Iron Poet series!

Event: Wednesday, July 15, 6-9 PM

The Fourteenth Annual One: For this summer-favorite Arts Worcester exhibition, artists exhibit the “one” piece they wanted to exhibit most. The show features hundreds of works and has no theme or medium requirement. This public reception is free, and open to all. A cash bar will be available. I have a small piece in the show which includes two poems nested inside an interactive paper ephemera assemblage with acrylic hardware. Following the public reception, the 'One' will be on view through August 23 during gallery hours: WED - SUN, each day from 12pm - 5pm. Gallery hours are open and free to all.

Event: Thursday, July 23 630 PM

Please join me at the Museum of Worcester to celebrate and honor my friend Susan Elizabeth Sweeny, the recipient of the 2026 Stanly Kunitz Medal!

Following Stanley Kunitz’s death in 2006, a sum of money was given to the Worcester County Poetry Association to create an award in his name. The Stanley Kunitz Award medal is presented annually to a community member who best exemplifies Stanley Kunitz’s life-long commitment to poetry.

Book: Tuesday, August 4

Not too long ago, I stumbled upon an artist here on Substack whose style I really admire. When he announced this project, I reached out immediately. Group Isolation started as a collection of illustrations Steven Fain wanted to turn into a book, he just needed writers.

If you’ve picked up one of my chapbooks, you know I’ve been doing something similar with collections of my writing, just needing artists. I love the unique immersive experience an artist and writer can create together, so I wrote a new piece for this project directly inspired by Fain’s art.

I am so excited to read this anthology including work from Kim Allison , Grey Matter Dispatch , Maegan Heil , Levi Polzin , and Bryan Wiler . Pre-Orders begin on August 4th, and the book is limited to 100 copies, so if you want to see what I wrote, subscribe/follow Steven Fain and be on the lookout!

Where I’ve Been:

Remember when I said that I was going to take a couple months to balance my calendar and stop over committing myself? Well… Something something make plans and watch the universe laugh …with joy and flood your life with gratitude.

In May, I volunteered at a local high school to teach poetry (and am so proud of those kids, damn), then not long after I stumbled upon a poetry reading series that takes place out of a window on a side street in Portland, Oregon.

In June, I closed out the Massachusetts Environmental Summit at Mechanics Hall with a reading of ecological poetry, then was invited out to be a “celebrity judge” in the publisher’s slam for the Roxbury Poetry Festival, where the winner took home a book deal with Button Poetry!

I also got to perform a poetry break during this summer’s first Out to Lunch Festival, and gave a surprise performance at the Museum of Worcester for the Worcester Arts Council.

More to be written about all of these experiences in future Substack posts, so don’t forget to keep an eye on the app/site for all the poetry/stories/misc writing I’m not pushing out to your inbox.

Lastly,

Where you’ll find me most Mondays this summer and every summer there after continues to be:

Every Monday night, the Dirty Gerund Poetry Show runs from approx. 8:30-9 PM to 11 PM-ish at Ralph’s Diner (21+) in Worcester. I cannot stay for the full show, but, I almost always at least drop in to hear the early birds share their poems if not jumping on the mic myself.

AND OH, HEY, WE’RE OUTSIDE FOR THE SUMMER! If you’ve ever had the passing thought, I should go sometime, this is the time of year to do it!

The patio Dirty Gerund Poetry shows are the best Worcester poetry shows, so I hope you come down and check us out some time this summer.

Weather decisions are made last-minute, so keep an eye on your forecast app and social media if you’re unsure about the inside/outside situation. I typically, also, try to post on my Instagram story if/when I’ll be there each week. Anything above 65 past 9 PM, and no rain, typically puts us outside now through September/October. Hope to see you soon!