Jared Morningstar

10/18/2026

From the 2026 National and International Beat Poetry Festival Open Mic (9/4).

10/18/2026

WRITING ANNOUNCEMENT: “Loud, Loud, Loud”, Fin Hall’s wonderful documentary tribute to the late, great Lawrence Ferlinghetti, premiered yesterday. The director’s cut is now available to watch on YouTube at the link below. I am honored to be one of the participating poets who are featured in the film. Other amazing voices paying tribute include Fin, Ron Whitehead, Jason A. Hendricks, Jacob R. Moses, Michael Sindler, Therese Craine Bertsch, Merilee Johnson, Merritt Waldon, Joe Kidd, Sheila Burke, Scott Sprunger, Sebastian Dureaux-Russell, Antoinette Vella Payne, Lesley Constable, and so many more. Be sure to check it out! It’s worth the watch! 🙂

https://youtu.be/7wwH29wQDRw?is=mxGWLlJGh27Biudd

10/13/2026

Happy Indigenous People’s Day!

This poem is one of the few I am most proud of, and it might just be my most important. It also illustrates why recognizing and learning about the stories of Indigenous Peoples is so, so important.

Our country has always had a way of hiding and/or silencing our darkest historical chapters. We cannot let that happen if we ever are going to be as great as we can be.

From Midland Reads Poetry, April 2025, at Creative 360.

10/10/2026

Another great meeting with the Writer’s Club today. I am so lucky I get the chance to talk writing and poetry with such creative, intelligent, and genuinely good people. I know Theodore Roethke would be proud of the wonderful work we do in his home.

10/09/2026

WRITING ANNOUNCEMENT:

“Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?” - Freddie Mercury

Well, for me, apparently, on October 26th, it’s the former.

I did not have returning to one of my favorite Route 66 cities, Albuquerque, New Mexico, on my radar in 2026. Or having the opportunity to take my poetry out of state. But life is funny sometimes.

I will be taking my words and voice to Quirky Used Books and More in Albuquerque later this month to participate in Last Monday Poetry, their monthly poetry event, which is sponsored by Hercules Publishing. It is such an honor to be this month’s event featured poet, especially since the invite was from PW Covington, US National Beat Poet Laureate, personally.

Pinch me. 🙂

https://www.facebook.com/share/1GEtT9JWjs/?mibextid=wwXIfr

09/21/2026

From the 2026 National and International Beat Poetry Festival that took place over Labor Day weekend.

This is my acceptance speech and reading. It’s such an honor to be Michigan’s Beat Poet Laureate!

As part of the Nat’l & Int’l Beat Poetry Festival 2026, Jared Morn...

09/21/2026

ANNOUNCEMENT: For those who are interested, the recording of my State of Michigan Beat Poet Laureate title acceptance is now available to watch on YouTube. It includes my “speech” and a brief poetry reading and commentary. It is awesome to have the chance to relive the moment!

Here is the video link:

https://youtu.be/WNh5M56DwcA?is=HwJhSGCD3hoiySzG

09/21/2026

Look what arrived over the weekend!

My twentysomething self would never believe it.
Neither would my thirtysomething self.
Heck, my fortysomething self barely believes it.

To say I am honored is putting it lightly. Very lightly. :-)