On the 89th Day, I Quit
ON THE 89th DAY, I QUIT I do not believe in fate or destiny or God’s will or man’s good intentions. Give me the capricious gods instead, Dow Jones, Starbucks, Dick Cheney so I at least know that where I stand on this stacked deck is arbitrary. I believe I am destined for greatness, if
Party Like A Rock Star
Party Like A Rock Star He heard the music most of us tune out without realizing, marched to a beat mere mortals couldn’t comprehend. A rock star, literally, Peter of the Earth conducted life-giving electricity through those he loved and strangers alike, in random bars and nightclubs and open mics and windswept beaches in the
A Change of Direction
A Change of Direction I. North When you traded in the fading sports car for the used station wagon, there were no regrets, simply an acknowledgement of time and place shifting, a welcome change of direction. [redacted due to publication.]
Old New York Love Story
Old New York Love Story I like the vibe in this place The bartender, my mother-in-law if she were a bartender, dresses for the crowd in a shiny black bustier and tight black polyester capris long copper-dyed hair pulled back into a poofy ponytail she flirts like Pollock attacking a canvas, seemingly random until the
Flashback: Why I Slam…
[Going through the archives trying to figure out what to read tomorrow at the Nuyorican and I came across this little ditty, a typically belligerent, sophomoric effort from that crazy Summer of 1998! Backstory here.] Why I Slam… Hi my name is Guy and I’m not an alcoholic I just drink a lot. Can you
Mariah @ the Dive Bar
Mariah @ the Dive Bar When I promised tolove you foreverand ever, long timelike no one elseand assorted otherexaggerations…I lied. I was drunk. So were youof course—it’s what we do—so this should be a mootpoint but sober nowI feel the need to clarifysome things. That nightMariah playing onthe jukebox in thatdive bar we bothlove a
Truth is an Olympic Gymnast
Truth is an Olympic Gymnast “A lie told often enough becomes the truth.”Lenin I believe in truthraw, unvarnishedhurt your feelings, if necessaryTRUTH. The more I have to losethe more truthfulI tend to be. I’m self-destructive that way. So, sometimes…I lie. Little white liesLies of omissionOutright whoppers intended toburn the house down. I’m whimsical that way.
Reunion (2nd Draft)
First draft here, this is the edited version I read on the open mic last night. Felt like a total newbie — it’s not at all like riding a bike! — but it was very satisfying once I stepped off the stage. I wouldn’t call it a comeback, necessarily, but it certainly won’t be the
Reunion
BITTERSWEET REUNION An old Army buddy emailed meout of the blue a few weeks ago. Found me on the Internetamongst too many “friends” I barely knowand wouldn’t take a bullet for. Fills me inon the guys we used to run with,some in, some out,some completely off the grid,some names I recall,and some don’t ring a
Bittersweet
The following is very loosely based on an Oulipo writing exercise, via my friend Oscar, in anticipation of my hitting the Open Mic on Monday with something new for the first time in a couple years. “Very loosely” meaning I went with the general concept of the exercise he gave me and rolled with it