Throughout much of 2025 I had writer’s block, and I have been intentionally trying to take time off to focus on getting treatment for my various ongoing health conditions. In spite of this it has still been quite the eventful year.

The best may be yet to come as I will be participating in the U.S. Book Launch for Billy Bragg: A People’s History at Alibi Bookshop on November 30th, and giving away a broadside of my poem at the event.

I doubt these stats are likely to change as I intend to continue my sabbatical throughout the winter, so in lieu of posting in January, here is my year in review for 2025.

In 2025 I performed 36 times, bringing my lifetime total to 485. 23 of these performances were participating in open mics. My work was published in 10 anthologies, Emerge Magazine, Fevers of the Mind, and the Benicia Herald. I also released my latest poetry collection Cavorting Havoc. I only have three outstanding anthology submissions in my queue–all of which I expect to hear from in 2026.

I started out the year by participating in Revolution Books’ Anti-Inauguration Anti-Fascist Poetry event in Berkeley, MLK Day in Benicia, and performed at Not My President’s Day and Women’s Day demonstrations Lake Merritt in Oakland.

I read online for the Vagabond Lunar Collection anthology launch–a literal launch as the anthology was sent to the moon for the Lunar Codex in February. Mark Lipman came to town in his bus Furtherer in July, and I featured as part of his Vagabond Poetry Caravan at the Bolinas Library and at Alibi Bookshop.

I featured for the Ina Coolbrith Poetry Circle via zoom, and Poets at the Barricades at the Monkey House in Berkeley. I hosted an event featuring California contributors for the Poetry is Dead II anthology at Alibi Bookshop. PW Covington of Hercules Publishing flew out to join us.

I traveled back to Oklahoma three times. I also went on the Alabama Justice Pilgrimage with GLIDE in April which I highly recommend, and expanded that trip into a road trip across the south, reconnecting with my extended family and visiting former hometowns. The poetry that my travel inspired appears in Cavorting Havoc.

I was honored to be a Woody Guthrie poet, performing at the Woody Guthrie Folk Festival on Woody’s porch for the third year in a row on July 12th. I featured at Kind Origin in Ada on August 4th with a generous 30 minute set. I also participated in open mics in Oklahoma City and Drumright. I also drove to Hot Springs, Arkansas twice and participated in the Wednesday Night Poetry open mic.

The Vallejo Poet Laureate Program celebrated its 10 year anniversary in July. All five of us received recognition from the California Legislature, Solano County, the Vallejo Mayor and City Council for our service. I compiled an anthology entitled A Decade of Poetic Unity featuring my colleagues.

I was absent from the celebration due to illness which was exacerbated by stress. This prompted me to decide to take a sabbatical to recharge after nearly 11 years of bringing this dream to fruition.

I deleted/deactivated most of my social media accounts, cancelled upcoming projects, said no to several appearances, resigned from Vallejo Poetry Society, and withdrew my participation on multiple volunteer committees. After 485 performances, 18 books, and 145 poetry publications, I deserve some much needed rest and solitude.

While I am grateful for all of the blessings of the past decade, I will be exercising more discernment regarding which future opportunities that I choose to accept, placing the priority on my health instead. I am hopeful that by focusing on activities that inspire and recharge me instead, one day the muse will whisper some poetic nonsense again.

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