Jason Reynolds's Blog, page 18

What’s been going on…

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!

Day 30 of 30

WORDS (the point of my 30/30

Words

Can set the world

On your back

Or put the world

In your palm

Day 29 of 30

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

Day 28 of 30

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

Day 27 of 30

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

Day 26 of 30

REMINDER

When a child shows you

Every tooth from hard laughter

Know that life’s alright

Day 25 of 30

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?

Day 24 of 30

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

Day 23 of 30

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

Day 22 of 30

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