As boys we knew the creeks so well that once a choice was made to fish, we’d almost run each other over crossing the lots to take the best spot, downstream, maybe, from some snag, in the trash around a falling willow, or in the swirl beneath the shadow of a rock. It wasn’t that … Continue reading
Tag Archives: william jolliff
This Place I Am–William Jolliff
It’s Paxil, she says. Take it with bourbon. Better yet, find a shrink—a wise one. She wants me to swallow whatever I need to fill my hills and valleys in, and her GP’s flat happy to write paper for whatever you want to try. But I worry that pills will turn me into someplace else … Continue reading
Like that Cat in the Barn — William Jolliff
It arched its scabby back, spit a curse, and tried to look just larger than a man, a mix of malice and something worse, one part terror, two parts contempt. I hadn’t meant to trap her in the barn— she could’ve kept that loft for all I care. I’d never seen that look again until … Continue reading
What About This Weather? — William Jolliff
Demons are easy to spot: tornadoes that level wholesome Kansas towns, gales that isolate the Northwest coast, droughts that fill tent camps with refugees. But how a saint will move, a single cloud that sails above a front or flies the other way, that’s not even noticed until some nun looks up from prayer to … Continue reading
Union County Sunset — William Jolliff
I suppose we might thank Hollywood for this: you can sit on the bench at the corner of Consolidated and Corn-Town Road and watch a child with iron-pierced lips flag down a Harley and wrap tattooed arms around a born-to-be-wild wife-beater, then ride off into what used to be called a sunset—until the evenings gave … Continue reading
Artist’s Bio: the Banjo Guy on Fourth and Main — William Jolliff
It started out as shtick, a beggar’s gaff, something to set him apart from the poor who only hold out hats or wear their signs: Need Gas, Need Food, Out of Work. Continue reading
The Prophet Amos Adds a Postscript — William Jolliff
Hear this word, you cow of Bashan, who are on the mountains of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the need… As I said, the Lord called me, took me away from my flocks, told me, “Boy, give’m hell.” And it was nothing short of hell I gave them. He showed me a vision—think … Continue reading
Brother Swartzentruber’s Market and Novelty — William Jolliff
The gate is wide that leadeth to destruction…. In Elmer’s store the coolers run on kerosene, the black straw hats are apostles from China (dat’s a good buy!), and his County Seat Gazebos come assembled or as kits, delivered to your door by Elmer’s younger brother, Hershel, the wild one who left the Brethren when … Continue reading