A Month of Poems for the Book Baron
Support my July 30/30 Project — in memory of my dad, who turned books into magic.
Help me turn grief into something you can hold.
In March, my dad died unexpectedly after surgery. A few weeks later, I wrote my first poem in 19 years—about the peonies in our backyard. He transplanted them from my grandparents’ farm in New Jersey to my home in Baltimore in 2015. Since then, the poems haven’t stopped.
Did you know? Peonies can live for 100 years.
Much like poems, they keep blooming long after the storyteller is gone. This July, I’m participating in the 30/30 Project with Tupelo Press—a nonprofit poetry press. I’ll be writing and sharing one new poem every day, in memory of my father and in support of the press that’s made space for this return to language.
If you’ve ever lost someone who shaped who you are—
If you believe in the power of words—
If you love poetry, or books, or just a good underdog story—
I hope you’ll give what you can.
The Book Baron
My dad ran a secondhand bookshop named Paperback Writers at the Collingswood Auction and later sold books online. We called him The Book Baron. When he wouldn’t stop suggesting, we (affectionately, freshly) called him The Book Pusher. He made stories feel personal—like bedtime myths made just for me. He’s the reason I read. He’s the reason I write.
This project is for him.
What’s the 30/30 Project?
Each month, Tupelo Press invites nine poets to write one new poem a day for thirty days. The project builds community, supports poets, and raises critical funds for one of the most respected nonprofit literary presses in the country.
This July, I’m honored to be part of it.
Support poetry—and memory.
Your donation helps me meet my fundraising goal for Tupelo Press. More than that, it helps keep poetry alive—and honors a man who believed books could change everything.
Thank you for reading.
And thank you, Dad.
Want to know more about my dad? Read his obituary.