"Mesmerizing...the audience was rapt and transported.
I absolutely loved it."

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CAROL HOCKETT,
​CORNELL UNIVERSITY

"Jay’s beautifully told tales 
​transport us to other worlds, even as they take us ​deeper into our own."
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JONATHAN MILLER,
​STORY HOUSE ITHACA

​"Thank you for a truly ​amazing performance!"


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​LISA BERTUZZI,
​AUDIENCE MEMBER
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Jay Leeming is a performance storyteller adept at bringing ancient myths and stories alive through the power of the spoken word. 

A regular performer in theaters, schools, festivals and National Parks, he is the creator of the Crane Bag Storytelling Podcast, the author of three books of poetry and the recipient of a fellowship from the National Endowment for the arts. 

the crane bag
podcast 

Discover the stories of the world through my podcast, a free resource of over 120 episodes devoted to the myths, epics, and wonder tales of many cultures.

LISTEN NOW

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mythopoetic
field guide

Sign up below to receive monthly writings on story, poetry and more through my ongoing 
​Mythopoetic Field Guide. You can also explore recent posts here.

the mahabharata

Twelve online sessions to be held Wednesdays from 5-6 PM EST and beginning January 15th

Join me for an in-depth experience of the Mahabharata epic involving storytelling, visualization, and discussion. Recordings of these sessions will be available on a weekly basis to all participants.  

Register for these sessions by becoming a member of my Patreon community in any amount here.

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poetry

My third book is an exploration of both poetry and story, a wide-ranging collection of epic and intimate poems pushing the limits of what poetry is able to conjure in language. 

"One of the most original poetic voices of his generation."  —Robert Bly
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"To a God of Dribble Glasses and Loneliness
awakens us to the strangeness and mystery of the world...these poems are cornucopias spilling over with images of unforgettable beauty."
                          —Ann Fisher-Wirth, author of The Bones of Winter Birds

events

I perform regularly in theaters, schools, and online, bringing the many stories of the world alive through music and the power of the spoken word.       

UPCOMING EVENTS

​Still photos, top and center: Sara Tro Photography/saratrophoto.com