March 2009
2 posts
Pleasant Scenery Piece No. 62
The new luscious elms leaves swayed gently in the chill easterly breeze. The light of the soft orange setting sun cast pensive dappled shadows which played on the street beneath the wizened neighborhood trees. These playful fancies of leafy illumination were energetically paralleled by the joyful kinetic expressions dancing across the freckled faces of local kids. They laughed and shouted...
The Telloff Breakers
Today a professor started an argument with me in class.
The details aren’t important, but I’ll sketch the context.
I asked him to clarify an apparent inconsistency in an assignment,
and he became upset, highly defensive, and said that I was
making broad judgmental, authoritarian statements and interrupting
his lecture. He went on and on. He drew me out to say more, then
skewered my...
February 2009
1 post
Alabaster
Today I busied myself about my industry, and my mind was in it. At the end of the day, my thoughts came loose of the workaday world, and I became relaxed physically and psychically. I let my mind be pliable and released myself to be touched and tossed by the flighty phantasms and spirited momentums of my subconscious. In this state, I now open myself to the images that will visit me and I...
January 2009
7 posts
Ensconced
I entered my room and approached my desk. A book lay upon it waiting for me. I stood a moment considering the smoothness of its cover and the graceful curves of its art. Then my fingers opened the pages of the book and I went easily into the word world. When I had finished I folded a page over to promise my return to the dear story.
I approached my bed. The bedclothes were laid upon it’s...
Love and Loved
I Love:
1. How the keys of the keyboard stand in ranks as soldiers at attention. If I strike them nothing good comes of it. But if I am thoughtful and deal gently with them I may gain access to a treasure of some value. 2. The grit of paper between my fingers and the smell of books. 3. The curve of the common lightbulb. These will be gone soon to be replaced by the new spirally efficient...
Rachel Owl
Prelude: I have never liked writing by free association. It’s chaotic and nuts and I always feel like writing #&LOVE(#&#JERK@@(&*$(&*ASS&*(#@&(*@)*HI THERE(@*&() which is not amusing by the third paragraph. However, I wrote a stream of consciousness tonight. I’ll explain why at the end. This is written about the robot shown in the attached picture. Here’s the piece...
25 Things About Me
1. I like open-ended questions. 2. Brushing my teeth makes me gag. 3. Of all fruits and vegetables, I only like green apples served cold. 4. I never met a pepperoni pizza I didn’t like. 5. I’ll be lucky if I make it to 40 (see items 3 and 4). 6. I’m so nostalgic I don’t pay attention to what’s happening now. 7. I dye my hair black because the contrast makes me feel definite. 8. By definite, I mean...
Inauguration
What happened today was impossible. No one under 35 really understands how impossible it was. And that’s a good thing.
Beckon
Approach me and touch my face.
Graze my cheek with your hand, and find the sky in my eyes.
By my breath feel the soul of my affection for you.
Be healed by my warmth, which is of my will.
Be calmed by my voice, which is its purpose.
Be housed by my body.
Know peace as you know me.
Clothes
Put on the best clothes you have every day.
When you see yourself in a mirror you will think, “Wow, I am looking great today! I must be an important human. Well-liked too!” People around will see your fine clothes and indicate to each other that you are distinguished and noteworthy. They will say things to each other like, “Hey did you see that gentleman’s cap? It’s highly acceptable!” and,...
December 2008
1 post
The Christmas Lights
The nights have been getting colder, and the air was particularly insistent on that trend tonight. I was shivering as I rode the motorcycle up my street. Our street has an incline (if you’re headed up it) and a slight curve. Our house sits at the end of the bent street at the top, which causes the house to slide out from behind others, revealing its stately position as one approaches from...
November 2008
3 posts
The Strategy
If another country launched a nuclear weapon at us, that would be the end of the world, because we would fire back, and judgment day would happen. That means that ANY ONE COUNTRY with that ability could singlehandedly end the world. Right? Wrong. If I were the President of the U.S. and another country launched a nuclear weapon at a major U.S. city, I would not immediately fire back. This (lack of)...
Listening to Music
The other night Rebecca and I were listening to music. She loves music almost as much as I do. That night she had black hair with bangs that hung almost in her eyes. It seemed she was always about to have hair in her eyes, but I never saw her blink, so I don’t know if it bothered her. She was sitting on the floor against the wall with her knees pulled up against her, and her arms were around...
It will not rot. It will not wither. It will not die, like I will. The years will not diminish it.
I put my Jack O’Lantern in the freezer. The Thing, I gave it life, and the life will remain, frozen, until I call forth again with fire,
My Jack, sleeps until tomorrow.
And they will trick-or-treat next to it. Trick-or-treat past it. They will never know the Truth.
This lantern is truly...
October 2008
11 posts
Man: I'm going to the tool store to get some tools. Do you want anything while I'm there?
Woman: The tool store? Okay. Get some nuts.
Man: One roll of duct tape. One burlap sack. Check.
Woman: Didn't you wear that shirt yesterday?
Man: And these pants too. So what? It's Saturday.
Woman: You can't just wear the same clothes again.
Man: Why?
Woman: It's not a clean thing to do.
Man: You're not a clean thing to do, but that doesn't stop me.
Woman: Sometimes I wish it would.
Man: Hey, before I go let's eat. Where's the breakfast?
Woman: There's probably some in the cereal box and some in the milk carton. I think I saw some in the bread bag.
Man: That's funny. You're a very funny person. But you should really make me some breakfast before I go out into the world. You're supposed to feed me.
Woman: I'll feed you my fist.
Man: I must say, there are some times when your feistiness is not ladylike. Meanwhile, I starve.
Woman: Are you saying I'm not a lady?
Man: I don't know. Do ladies usually have to flush twice?
Woman: ........you know, I just don't know what to say to that. I'm pretty sure I can't feed you in good conscience now.
Man: Why not?
Woman: I won't take the blame for perpetuating you.
Man: How about this? You make me some delicious breakfast, and I'll bring you some delicious makeup.
Woman: I don't eat it, I paint my face with it.
Man: You make me food, and I'll get you, like, 15 pounds of face paint.
Woman: I'm a real woman, and therefore I love makeup and will make you, my man, a delicious breakfast.
Man: Ok. Whatever. Cheerios and pizza it is. Lemonade too. Whip it up baby!
Woman: I'll make you that, except that you ate all the cheerios and pizza last night, so I can't make you that. And we never had lemonade.
Man: That's it. I'm going to go out and have an emotional affair.
Woman: I'm already having one with your brother.
Man: I'm already having one with your mother.
Woman: Oh yeah? You're turning me gay. I can feel it happening one day at a time.
Man: I suppose sexual orientation is academic when a person has a headache every night of the damn week, eh Frosty?
Woman: Have you ever seen the movie "Misery"? Watch your step. I get a migraine on your birthday and I never hear the end of it!
Man: Look, anyone would agree that this little exchange has been hilarious and irreverant, but I gotta go.
Woman: Yes thank you good bye.
Title
A broken car isn’t a messed up “working car”. It’s a working “messed up car”.
The Bridge Builder
A bridge maker gazed upon his span
Taking in his finished plan
His deck arch bridge was finally done
Its lengthy history just begun
He laughed out loud when overhead
He saw the bridge’s first traveler tread
The crosser stopped about midspan
And from that vantage surveyed the land
And then the builder lost his breath
When off the bridge the young man leapt
He struck the strait beneath him...
The Dream
Today I woke up my coffee and I got drunk. Good morning said my brother to me. Then the tv watched while my homework did me. My Chuck Taylors wore me at first, but then they said I was too flimsy and kicked me out. The huge boots that live in my closet tied me up and the door walked through me. My motorcycle sat on me while I glared at the sun, and then soon enough, a couple old ladies...
Ann 1
Eight twenty-two A.M. The alarm clock had been going off for 22 minutes with no effect. Ann was entirely underneath the bedspread. She reached slowly out from beneath the covers, and pulled the noisy object under them with her. In the dim light she tried briefly to focus her eyes on the face of the clock. The bright red digital lines hurt her eyes. She closed them and continued to lay still,...
Running
I’m running.
I’m running so fast.
I’m running so fast people are stopping to watch.
I’m running so fast the air burns my face.
I’m running so fast my feet barely touch the ground.
I’m running so fast people cover their ears as I go by.
I’m running so fast windows break across the street.
I’m running so fast the trees fall down behind me.
...
Roots
Light a candle and look at the fire. Winter is coming, and this power is the difference between life and death. Open your hand and look at it. This machine cradles the baby and throws the spear. Touch your mouth with your hand. It tears the flesh and tells the stories of our history.
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