The books have arrived! My first chapbook of selected poems (basically, all my bangers), is officially published by @flpbooks , with this gorgeous collage art cover called “Alien by @cutpasteface . DM me for a copy (only $17.99!) or come to one of the readings on the “Wreckage 2026 Tour” commencing tomorrow (3/13/26) evening in Hopewell, NJ at P&SO, hosted by @echothreadbooks .
More tour info coming soon…
🪞COVER REVEAL🪞
We are thrilled to share a first look at the cover of By the WAYE Issue 03, featuring 🕊️ “Peace Bird” 🕊️ by Puerto Rican illustrator Carlos Aponte. (@carlosvisualdiary )
When we were thinking about our featured artist, we sought someone whose work speaks as powerfully as the poetry selected to appear in this issue. Aponte’s minimalist illustrations offer an elegant and expressive distillation of his subjects, the result of disciplined observation and skill.
This issue showcases more of Aponte’s ink illustrations, which document the nuances of everyday life, from quiet, predictable moments to the weight of global atrocities. Original, witty, and at times dark, his work deeply examines the lived experience.
Carlos Aponte’s illustrations have appeared in the New York Times, Elle, and Esquire magazines. He is also the author-illustrator of the children’s books Preciosa, Across the Bay, and A Season to Bee. You can also find his artwork at El Museo de la Salsa and the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, DC.
This magazine is paid for in part by a grant from the Jersey City Arts and Culture Trust Fund @jerseycityartscouncil@jcartandculture
WAYE: A Poetry Reading Series returns on Wednesday, April 29 featuring your humble host and MC, J.T. Trigonis.
OUR FEATURE
J.T. Trigonis (he/him) is a knight errant of the written and spoken word. With the obligatory MFA in poetry from Brooklyn College and the far more obligatory Pushcart prize nomination, his work has appeared in over 60 journals that have graced the bottom shelf of book stands (and online, too) for close to 30 years. He’s headlined at over 30 venues, and he’s the author of seven self-published chapbooks. His most recent chapbook of selected poems, THROUGH THE WRECKAGE, was published in 2026 by Finishing Line Press.
Trigonis plays master of ceremonies at WAYE (We Appreciate Your Enthusiasm), the popular monthly reading series he and his partner host at their vintage shop/used bookstore in Jersey City Heights, and he’s the editorial director of By the WAYE, a magazine of poetry and visual art.
FOR THE OPEN
Sign-up for our open in in-person and begins at 7:30 PM. Each poet will have 5 minutes or 1-3 pieces of short to moderate length, including any prep, prologues, and plugs to showcase their work. IF THE LIST IS FULL, we’ll bump the cap to 20 poets or one poem per reader to ensure we are done by 10 PM.
Arrive at 7:30 PM to sign up, the list fill up quickly.
Also, this is a poetry reading series and open mic, which means spoken word, slam, performance poetry, short prose pieces, and similar forms of poetic expression are welcome. As much as we love music, musical accompaniment, and comedy, this is not the venue for these forms of expression.
SOME QUICK SHOPKEEPING
The shop is small and seating is limited. Arrive early to claim a seat; otherwise, it’s standing room only.
There’s a $5 CASH ONLY cover, 100% of which goes directly to our feature. CASH ONLY; no Venmo, Cash App, Zelle.
As always, We Appreciate Your Enthusiasm and look forward to seeing you all on the 29th!
John Trigonis! This Thursday at NJCU, reading from Through the Wreckage (& beyond)
Hosted by Dr. Jim Broderick
Thursday, 9/23 at 2:10pm
GSUB Room 129
New Jersey City University
Refreshments will be served
Books will be available for purchase & signing
John Trigonis poetry reading at NJCU! Join us on next Thursday for a reading from his new chapbook Through the Wreckage.
Thursday, 4/23 at 2:10pm
GSUB 129
Refreshments will be served
Venue is ADA accessible
John Trigonis is also this year’s judge for the Walter Glospie Academy of American Poets Prize for NJCU students. The deadline to submit three poems is 5pm on Sunday, April 26.
TOMORROW NIGHT IT’S SHOWTIME!! And you are not going to want to miss this show with KeyNote and J. T. Trigonis as the features. Plus you never know who else may show up and share some bars. Come on out and check for yourselves!!
Meet J.T. Trigonis. Poet. Sword and Stanza. Jersey City, New Jersey.
J.T. Trigonis is a knight errant of the written and spoken word. His work has appeared in 60+ print journals and online. He plays master of ceremonies at WAYE: A Poetry Reading Series and is the editorial director of By the WAYE magazine. Knight errant is his title and he earned it. Sixty journals deep and still swinging.
J.T.'s poetry is in the Miscreant Anthology. Kickstarter live April 15. Prelaunch live now!
Like. Share. Comment. Tag someone who walks into a poetry reading like they own the building. ⚔️ Follow J.T.: @Trigonis
#MiscreantAnthology #MeetTheMiscreants #Kickstarter #Poetry #IndiePublishing
Thank you to everyone who came out to read and spend the evening with us for our March session of Poets & Storytellers Open. We’ve been looking forward to having our good friend J. T. Trigonis (@trigonis ) come out for some time now, and he performed a wonderful set of poems from his new book, Through the Wreckage, and some extras. Afterwards, we sat and talked about cars and metaphor, growing as an artist through experiencing rejection, balancing a life of many roles, and our love for NJ diners.
Many thanks to all again, unending thanks to Wull & Oak for the space to hold our poetry event, and we’ll see you at the next one!
As always, make sure to out for your neighbors. Community is more than just a space, it’s action.
#EchoThreadBooks #PoetsAndStorytellersOpen #Poetry #poetryopenmic #downtownhopewell
TALK WITH CONFIDENCE!
John has been a loyal member at Andco for over a year now and we are excited to bring this event here to our community! Talk With Confidence is really about speaking with intention and confidence, no matter what room you’re in. This event is free, but spots are limited! Sign up at the link in our bio.
Talk With Confidence
Andco Grove - Thursday April 2nd
Andco North - Thursday April 9th
MARCH 19th AT DAYININ YERI 2 (NOT AT THE HUB)! Come one, come all to the next Grantwood reading featuring @trigonis on March 19 at Dayin’in Yeri 2 (634 Gorge Rd, Cliffside). Minimum purchase of appetizer required to support the venue. #poetry #poetrylovers✒️ #poetrycommunity
