Sooooo wanna know what I’ve been up to? Sheesh, so much. Too much, actually, to cram into a blog. For those of you who know me in real life, call me and we’ll have coffee and catch up. For everyone else (including those who know me but don’t want to have coffee with me) here’s some awesome highlights.

1. Tour with Brendan Kiely and (John) Corey Whaley was amazing. We had such a great time bopping around from city to city, talking to young people, middle people, and old people about our books. I have to tell you, it’s always cool to hear what people got from your work. Every time it’s a trip. What I didn’t like was the flying. I mean…I’m just not a good flyer and having to do it over and over again was ROUGH. But worth it. So, so, so worth it.

2. WHEN I WAS THE GREATEST IS NOW AN AUDIOBOOK! Hahahaha weird! But it’s good!

3. And lastly, the ARCs (Advanced copies) of THE BOY IN THE BLACK SUIT are in my hand! I’m so excited to share this story with everyone, but in the meantime, check out the cover!

4. And lastly, lastly…lastly forreal, I have a new website! www.jasonwritesbooks.com Some of you may wonder why I have a new website. The answer is simple. Laurie Halse Anderson said that I was a professional now and needed better internet representation. So, I did it. That simple. Turns out I really like it. And yes this blog is part of it. Nothing changes. Check it out!

I SWEAR I’m gonna update this thing more often. Gotta get a rhythm going. Working on it. In the mean time, be patient with me.

Later!

WORDS (the point of my 30/30

Words

Can set the world
On your back

Or put the world
In your palm

SEASONS

We’ve had enough of teeth that chatter
The bitter sting of winter’s fist
And spring and fall no longer matter
For spring and fall just don’t exist

The coats and hats that help the cause
We clutch in fear of frost’s repeat
And pray to God for winter’s pause
Just to complain about the heat

CHANGING FACE

This morning
I found a new gray
in my mustache

Torn between
the presumptive image
of sophistication

and the inevitable
breakdown of
young cool

I can’t believe
my face is being
gentrified

INSTINCT

From childbirth
we grip instinctively
with as much might as possible
to anything that crosses the
threshold of our palms

to anything that is holdable
to anything that is warm

and as adults
our hands have grown
strong enough to grip
exhaust pipes

and we do

let the smoke blow
in our faces
be burned and dragged by
fishtailing vehicles
prepare for whatever
unaccidental accidents
are coming

because
even exhausted

holding on to
that which is holdable
that which is warm

feels far more natural
than letting go

REMINDER

When a child shows you
Every tooth from hard laughter
Know that life’s alright

THE HUNGER POSE

There’s no contortion
like stomach touching back

a nothingness nobody strives for
but everybody thinks they understand

And they

talkin’ bout
be grateful for your breath
Talkin’ bout
focus on being present in your breathing
Talkin’ bout hold steady
a little while longer
a little while longer
hold it
hold it

while nothingness rumbles
a response
a growl

in you

talkin’ bout
what you talkin’ bout

and what kinda yoga
is this anyway?

THE DAWN CHORUS

At day break
as the dawn chorus begins
with the repetitive chirping
of birds

we rise
as for us that sound
marks the beginning of a new day

but really
for the birds
it’s a battle call
a protective stance
that balanced on these branches
is a family
a nest
a life
that will not be tampered with

See there are wars we’ve yet to learn
the language of

I keep this in mind

at day break
as the dawn chorus begins
with the repetitive bawking
of teenagers

perhaps this too is a battle call
a declaration of beaks
to mask the silence of flapless wings
or a seemingly windless air

They try to delicately balance
their pride for their branches
with their sometimes empty nests
all while never coming across
as peck-bait

Yes it sounds like noise sometimes
a whole bunch of squawking

but

there are wars we’ve yet to learn
the language of

a battle that sounds like babble

SHALL NOT BE MOVED

God

thanks for
serenity
courage
wisdom
and all that

but you think
You
could also
grant me
life as
a mountain

yeah
a mountain

the one mountain
you refuse to move
when they
be gnashing their teeth
flashing their badges
banging their gavels

banging their fists
frustrated
praying to You
about how I
always
be in the way

GOTTA BE KIDDING ME

I mean
you got
no wife
no kids
no house
no future
he said

I mean
aint you
thirty
he asked

I mean
don’t you
wanna be
happy
he asked

I mean
when you
gon’ get
it together
he asked
and asked
and asked

like I was some
infected vagrant
his head cocked
to the side
to the angle of
sympathy and
dissappointment
the last bit of
sense oozing
from his ear

I imagined it
as invisible lanyard
he used to use
to keep his passion
bound to his nuts
before swallowing
his pride
chocking on rope
of responsibility
breaking his back
on social benchmarks
way back then

I mean
seriously
you thirty
he said

Yes
yes
I know
I said
then laughed

and laughed

and laughed

and laughed