URGE A Parochial School Revenge Tale Six year-old Simon had peed himself, soaking the heavy, salt-and-pepper corduroy pants that, along with a crisp white shirt and green woolen sweater, were part of the school uniform he was required to wear. Urine filled his tiny wooden chair and ran down its legs into a puddle … [read more]
Urge
Marlboro Dharma
My Korean friend, Mr. Kim, who lives in HoChiMinh City, excused himself from the dozen-person dinner to sit on the bench outside the restaurant and smoke, following a fine meal. Kim had placed third as a body-builder in the Mr. Korea competition when he was 25, and significantly beefier. These days, Kim is built more … [read more]
The People
Gary Snyder’s conclusion of “For The Children” is a complete prescription for humanity:“Stay together, learn the flowers, go light.” Nothing is left out. I see us, through the restaurant window, together and not, going here and there, going on. There are no other politics. The People Rain slick streets of Shanghai lie worn but resolute … [read more]
The Ten Thousand Guys
The Ten Thousand Guys (From Six Mile Creek Report, 2004) One of these days, if I practice real hard, I may have the heuvos to do what these boys above are doing, to set up on a street corner or walk into a stanky bar or a hushed coffee shop and sing and play songs … [read more]
Settling For A Less Risky Mid-Life Fantasy
Settling For A Less Risky Mid-Life Fantasy (From Front Range news, 2006) Oh says Red Molly to James “That’s a fine motorbike. A girl could feel special on any such like” Says James to Red Molly “My hat’s off to you It’s a Vincent Black Lightning, 1952. And I’ve seen you at the corners and … [read more]
The Ship Graveyards of Chittagong
The Ship Graveyards of Chittagong We flew from Shanghai to Bangkok then on to Dhaka, Bangladesh’s capital city. The airport was alarmingly small and shabby for a city of nearly seven million. I wondered if we were in the right place. Armed military were ever-present and customs barely moved, in step with the sweltering heat … [read more]