truth be told part of me has lived in this box of disquiet for years and years let’s see one still summer’s day two of my teeth came out baby teeth plop plop ripe pears falling from my mouth I gasped and flushed and poked my finger in the wet gum and knew I wanted … Continue reading
Occasionally, on hot, humid days like today, except, not today, I feel like I have a rubber cork lodged in the opening of my lungs, which is ironic because lungs do resemble wine bottles, only slimy and squishy. You think it would hut too, but no. It’s more like a feather tickling the throat, but … Continue reading
Helge Meeuw at the 2008 German Swimming Championships in Berlin made a new European record in the 100 meter backstroke. At the men’s relay in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing he placed last in a race. The commentators said of his bearded face: Commentator 1: Why wouldn’t he shave that? Commentator 2: Why risk it? … Continue reading
Chet’s on Ativan for everyday he knows today could be the one, tonight right after Letterman, beer number seven. It’s not so good to mix elixirs — lager and lorazepam, then both hands always full or always empty’s not good either. as he slowly gets the feeling back in his toes, jumps up off the … Continue reading
Repeat after me: I do not want to remain a child forever. Today is the day I become an adult. I understand once I graduate I will no longer receive Special Education services for my Behavior and/or Emotional Disorder. I promise to act like an adult in Mr. Staley’s class. Mr. Staley … Continue reading
The unemployment office in Happy Valley Mills fronts an abandoned Colonial cemetery. Before 8 A.M. on their check day, lank and plump bodies wait hooked over the cemetery’s iron fence. Behind them, some of the ancient willows, half-hollow themselves, have uprooted Baptist obelisks. Some of their fallen limbs have shivered grave-slabs. At … Continue reading
The Yankees who came through the 76 Truckstop when Tessie worked there often shared the same racist views as their Southern cousins. They descended across the Mason-Dixon line, eating their way south on cornbread and fried chicken, on barbecue and collards, pecan pie and shortbread. They rose in the morning and continued south, refueling their … Continue reading
“S”, conceived by J.J. Abrams and Doug Dorst (but only written by the latter) contains a “fake” book, titled Ship of Theseus, written by fake author, V. M. Straka. Two college students, Jen and Eric, have written notes and theories about the enigmatic Straka in the margins. Postcards, maps, photos, letters, and other related materials … Continue reading
Before I left my employment with The Sacramento Zoo, I took the Bengal tiger cub with me. This might sound like a questionable thing for an assistant zookeeper to do, but at the time, I didn’t care: the zoo itself had many questionable policies and procedures, not to mention management of the worst sort. Anyway, … Continue reading
After the storm we stood to our ankles in muddy water, and I thought there were fish mouthing at the skin stretched over the bones of my ankles, but they were just dead leaves floating past, tickling my feet like the minnows in Lake Michigan. After the storm my feet sank in the mud, and … Continue reading
Coe Review 