Notes Upon Viewing The still-frame, captured eye, I do not ask permission to see. When I enter the theater, I simply view. The camera takes me where I want to go, high in the air where I have never been. Up and down the side of a skyscraper. Into the mouth of a problem. Image, sound, life, deformed, resembled, […]
Read more
HOW TO BREAK SNOW – By John Grey Something foreign helps, armored vehicles adorned with unfamiliar grim-faced eagles rolling down white slopes, and explosions in the distance, close at hand – loud red, even louder black, instant thaw. No tool more expedient than soldiers pounding on a door, the path more hob-nailed print than even sheen, roof and eaves cascading […]
Read more
A grey, blustery day And the sun breaks through More of a wink than a smile Reminding me To savor such moments For much is fleeting And often passes Unnoticed In the busy-ness of days Where we are pushed ever forward But when the wind has changed And the clouds linger It is the memory of such times That […]
Read more
Insignificance Late in life I struggle against my insignificance When I should enjoy the freedom from performance before an audience. Applause is happiness but if they withhold applause, embarrassment. When Da Liu put me to work crunching hexagrams and spreadsheet numerology Instead of ghost writing his books about T’ai Chi for longevity I was humiliated but freed. No need to […]
Read more
Cremation I’ve always believed in cremation; Flames bleach the world, unclutter living things. Let scum survivors, grasshoppers Leave cemeteries a mess Of living impulses dismembered. Not knowing fire’s totality But sickly honouring it stunting In tortured carbon stench. I’ve always believed in cremation Ever since I read of great skull mountains; Those potash handfuls are so clean […]
Read more
AT A DISTANCE Gently rolling, runneled hills, Colored like a daffodil. Rivulets to ocean spill Under cloudy skies. Atmosphere of shrouding haze Rising from the surface waves, Where beneath lie ancient caves Never brought to light. Yet this sky’s a different hue From what we’re accustomed to B Yellow, not a trace of blue, Dares to […]
Read more
Prophylactic Measures Like any doctor versed in patient care, the campus carry, gun rights advocate had listened to the PhD’s despair. For students now bear guns, while poised to get an education in philosophy. She heard with empathy the gal’s concern that arguing could spell catastrophe, should prickly issues make the passions churn in those who have another point of […]
Read more
Rhoda, I can’t say why Amanda was picked and not Tiffany for anchor of our Nightly News. I interviewed both because Mr. Smith wanted a woman’s opinion. I honestly don’t know. I made a recommendation and sent it to Mr. Jones who sent it to Mr. Smith who made the final decision. I found little difference between the two. A day […]
Read more
Stone Slate – By Melissa R. Mendelson They tell me that I am alive. If that were so, shouldn’t I breathe? Listen to your heart, and I’m stupid for listening once more. I don’t hear anything. Check your pulse. “I am checking,” I scream. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. How could they tell me what they tell me, and how could I […]
Read more
FRANKFURT PIG (By Joseph Cavera) There once was a pig from Frankfurt, Who found he had grime on his shirt, He believed neither eye As he sullied a silk tie After spending a day, or two, in the dirt Now our dear friend had a quandry “How could such pure muck come upon me?” I can’t go wrong […]
Read more