$0/moFreeHiddenPatron count not public
$5/moThe SupporterHiddenThis tier is all about support. Do you get anything for it? Hell yes: You know that you are someone who gives to the Arts and to artists, the world needs so many more of you.Seriously, there is no clear career path for poetry. Whether I'm working with veterans on their poems and stories or hosting a haiku slam with 8th graders in the basement of an Arts center, I love this work. Your support makes more possible for me and I am grateful.
$8/moThe Poem-A-Month ClubHiddenWonder why I have five books published and at least three others I'm working on? Since 1990 (When I was a senior at Santa Clara University), I've kept a weekly deadline to write a new poem by Monday night. That means I write four or more poems a month. No, let me correct that: that means I START about four poems a month... many still need work.Here on Patreon, I promise you and everyone else a poem each month, a good one. One that's been worked on, sharpened, honed, and baked to perfection (or, if not, shows you the process I use in writing). It'll be made available both in writing and a video of me reading it, for a mini poetry reading every month for you.Also, maybe we'll have some Zoom chats, some coffee meetups, who knows, please send me suggestions and ideas on what would make this better for you.
$25/moThe Supporter, Volume 2: Nothing FancyHiddenWant to just add support at a higher level with nothing wild attached? Then come on down!Your help helps help the helping. Put plainly (and with more word diversity): Thanks. Every bit allows me to do more, lets me take on schools and events around the state who may not have the budget to bring someone in.
$75/moThe WriterHiddenCarl Sandburg says poetry is "hyacinths and biscuits." Gwendolyn Brooks calls poetry "life, distilled." For me, it can mean these things and more; I believe everyone shouldn't worry about what they think a poem is supposed to be but, instead, write the poems they want to see more of, the kind they wish had been assigned to them when they were in high school.At this tier, you have the option to join me for a monthly writing workshop to write poems together that demand their own definition of what a poem is and what it does.This tier has all the previous benefits (A poem and an acknowledgement that you are wonderful for supporting the Arts and artists) plus access to the monthly writing workshop led by me.The workshop will be live, on Zoom. For those unable to make it, I can email you the prompt if you like and we can discuss what you come up with via email.
$150/moThe Super SupporterHiddenAt this level, you get everything from the previous levels and can also claim a once-a-year super bonus that's either:Door #1: I write you a poem. On anything you want.orDoor #2: I come read poems for you for an event, a party, a lunch, a work meeting, a club, most anything. (Did you know there used to be an Omaha event called "Pinot, Pigs and Poetry" which I was in charge of supplying poets for? That I once read in a giant tent at the Nebraska State Fair? At a birthday party? At a Board of Trustees meeting for History Nebraska?) Okay, if there's more than 75 miles travel, I'll need to ask for travel costs, but otherwise I'm happy to coordinate a reading with you.
$1000/moThe Poetry PatronHiddenPoetry takes time and concentration, things that are in short supply in the world right now. Support at this level is a generous gift which I aspire to make worthwhile for you.You'll get signed copies of all five of my poetry collections, all the previous rewards, and one unlisted reward which we work out together (Going with you on a poetry trip to Disneyland? I write you an additional commissioned poem? Whatever it is, let's have coffee and talk about it).