in high school, my drama teacher told me that I “march to the beat of a different drummer and that drummer is on a hill several towns away.”
this last year I’ve pushed through my typical self-pitting, sardonic, whiny and short-tempered poetic tendencies to find joy, light, laughter and silliness.
i’m so thankful to have found Jokes Review who continue to appreciate what I’m up to, read for yourself, three new joke poems.
Recorded live in KTAL Studios on 3/17/2025 : In this program, poet and English teacher Tim Staley treats us to some perspectives on poetry, language, images, and how they shape our ideas of reality. The conversation opens with Tim reading Rumi, the Persian Sufi, mystic poet and Muslim scholar. Tim expands into how poetry can bring us into the moment, the very centers of our own lives. He guides us through an exploration of how our minds and emotions are influenced by word choices. Tim shares his thoughts about how AI may come to influence our writing, even of poetry. In addition to Rumi, he reads writings from several poets, including his own and those of Las Cruces, NM resident and internationally recognized poet Joseph Somoza.
Today we’re treated to thought provoking readings of some works by two local poets. Our guests are Joseph Somoza, retired NMSU English Professor and current Organ Mountain High School English teacher, Tim Staley, reading selections of their own poetry. These writers reflect on their personal writing processes, and concepts of poetry in general, and more. The conversation touches on how language and poetry both shape and express the seen and the unseen aspects of who we are as individuals and as cultures. It’s a fun and thoughtful peek into the personal and professional realms of poetry. Their poetry books are available at some local bookstores and at online booksellers.
Tim Staley’s newest chapbook, The Most Honest Syllable is Shhh, is now available from Amazon.
This 32 page collection was originally released in June, 2017, by NightBallet Press out of Cleveland, Ohio.
Here is a poem from this chapbook:
My Life and Your Life
My life almost feels
like your life.
Your life might be
someplace nearby.
I turn over your life
like a ceiling fan:
on/off off/on
fast/ medium fast/
really fast.
In winter I turn
the other way.
Or is it your life
turning over mine?
Staley, a native of Montgomery, Alabama, has a master of fine arts in poetry from New Mexico State University. He has taught at Oñate High School and as an adjunct instructor at NMSU. He started a KTAL radio open mic event. He sponsored the state “Poetry Out Loud” contest for eight years, and his students have gone on to national competition in Washington, D.C. He founded Grandma Moses Press in 1992 and currently serves as publisher. He is the author of “Lost On My Own Street” and “The Most Honest Syllable Is Shhh.”
Night Ballet Press, out of Cleveland, will release Tim Staley’s next poetry chapbook entitled: The Most Honest Syllable is Shhh.
It will be available for purchase by early 2017.
If you need Tim Staley poetry immediately, please visit the Grandma Moses Press Gift Shop.
Tim Staley was born in the shadow of a strip mall in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1975.
He founded Grandma Moses Press in 1992.
He completed a Poetry MFA from New Mexico State University in 2004. He studied under Connie Voisine and the late Kathleene West.
His awards include The 2004 Peter Harris-Kunz Endowed Award in Poetry, and The 2012 Luminaire Award for Best in Poetry.
He was a finalist in the 2013 Imaginary Friend Press’ Full Length Book Contest.
He was a finalist in the 2014 42 Miles Press Poetry Award Full Length Book Contest.
He was a finalist in the 2015 Inlandia Institute’s Hillary Gravendyk Prize Full Length Book Contest.
His chapbook Mr. Staley Always Lets Us is in the Archives and Special Collections at New Mexico State University.
His hobbies include waiting, taquitos, and thinking. Actually, just taquitos.
He lives with his wife and daughter in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Journal Publications: The Beatlick News, Bluegrass Accolades, Border Senses, Brickplight, burntdistrict, Cacti Fur, Canary, Chaffey Review, Chiron Review, Circumference, Coe Review, Crab Fat, The FUN Journal, The Ink Spot, Lummox Journal, Lunarosity, Malpais Review, Magnapoets, North of Center, Owl Eye Review, Poesies, the Rag, Red Fez, RHINO: The Poetry Forum, Sin Fronteras, Spilt Ink and Zen Baby.
Tim Staley, poet 