movements & measures

On Monday, Zero Edition Press released my first poetry chapbook, movements & measures as an e-Book distributed by Smashwords.com . It's been a long time coming.

movements & measures
ISBN: (ePub) 978-14524-6192-2
Publisher: Zero Edition Press
Distributor: Smashwords.com
Release Date: November 08, 2011

In the foreword, I wrote that these poems are "the little ghosts of children that haunt me like pictures displayed on a mantle." Written between1998 and 2003, they came into existence during a very complicated and tough time in my life. Since then "my children" have grown up, changed into their current versions--some of which you've read here. They wait to be reunited. These new versions will be included in the next collection along with my newer works.

I would also like to thank you all, my dear fans and followers, family and friends. Your support and encouragement over the years gave me the confidence and the courage to follow my dreams. My sincere, heart felt thank you goes out to you all.

Thank you.

Please visit and "like" the Zero Edition Press Facebook page <click here>  to receive updates on other Zero Edition Writers, news and events, and coupon codes.

Thanks again, everyone!

Support Our Troops

I participated today in The Big Thank You, a letter righting campaign sponsored by The Bert Show  and Local Atlanta Area Taco Mac. In appreciation for the selfless service of US servicemen and women, The Big Thank You asks people to write a letter that is "heartfelt, handwritten, original, and free of any political statements" to our troops overseas and drop it off at their local Taco Mac location. Their goal is to give 1 letter for each of the 400,000+ service members around the global for Thanksgiving. The deadline is tomorrow, October 28th, 2011 and as of this morning were way behind. Please help out. 

My letter is below in case you're interested. I typed it out as well for legibility.

To the Service Person Reading This Letter:

            It is hard for me to find sufficient words to express my gratitude for your service to our country. So let me start off by saying: Thank You.

If one were to filter out all the noise of politics and protests, the debates and demagoguery of foreign affairs, one would find that all that would be left is you—you and the millions of men and women, past and present, like you, who sacrificed so other wouldn’t have to. You are more than a collection of Purple Hearts and Service Ribbons. You are our brothers and sisters, our parents and children. You are our husbands, wives, friends and lovers. You are the protectors of an America more transcendental than any particular war and more intrinsic than the ever changing definition of “American Values.” You are American, a citizen of this country and of the planet Earth. Your service will mean more to us than you’ll ever admit and more than we’ll ever know.

I hope that when you finally make it home that the American people have done and will continue to do right by you. I hope that when you finally get to come home, we, the people who stayed behind, have made your country a little better than when you left it. And I hope that you will never be ashamed of us or of your service to us.

Thank you and sincerely yours,

T.J. Blackburn

Atlanta, Georgia.

Depression

The sun warms my cheek and I

smile like a tree in spring. My shoes

are the concrete foundations of cities

abandoned for years and my toes,

like roots, burst through them

just as easily. Into the earth, they dig

like excavators digging new foundations.

I close my eyes against the sun’s

phosphorous light. I am concrete drying:

pointless and transient, waiting

for trees to grow in a hundred years time.

Copyright 2011 by T.J. Blackburn

Tuesday. 08:46:40 AM

andinablinkofaneye
E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G




changed.

Morning. November 5th,

Hey, Johnny:
Welcome to your Party. 

Did you bring the Tea,

China 

or the sea?

The Hare and the Hatter
Spar over whose truth is truer
while the Dormouse 

demand both houses 

and the head that wears the crown.

The Cat 

now, frowns.
And Alice keeps waiting...

And waiting...

And waiting...

Copyright 2010, 2011 by T.J. Blackburn