things that are dotted
a line a scarf, gauzy, draped casually across my shoulders the wind, with pollen a rash on a babies back the soles of my shoes the floor beneath the coffeemaker allergen testing on skin the divots of plants in a mass planting blackheads across a teenage boy’s nose a peg board for tools a lite-brite … Read morethings that are dotted
ugly/beauty
#1 the girl in front of me at the Shopper’s Drug Mart has a spine that curves into a comma. she’s a hip hitcher. #2 the woman in front of me in the Starbuck’s line’s lower face has contracted into her neck, evidence of old burns. once red, now white. she wears a single, worn, … Read moreugly/beauty
radio call-in
#1 the first record i ever owned i won by being the 7th caller into Big R Radio, Freeze Frame by J. Geils Band. this was 1980. the record cover had a punch at the top and was clearly an extra promo album, but the Dj threw in a fluorescent T-shirt as a consolation prize. … Read moreradio call-in
contest
dear imaginary readers of this blog, okay, so i won a writing contest, the Little Bird Writing Contest offered through Sarah Selecky’s Writing Program. it feels great to finish a piece and also be acknowledged for the work. writing in a vacuum is hard, you know? rea PS here’s a little press for a little … Read morecontest
files
the boys files are thick with reports and diagrams, notes and questions. there are many medical words in the files, blunt words like infection and gangrene, necrosis and debridement. but there is a strange beauty for each file contains sketches of the boys, with a fading purple or blue background. there is the sketch of … Read morefiles
jeff
“do it,” said jeff. “i want to know what it feels like.” i’m holding an empty shotgun aimed at his chest. he’s daring me, he’s been daring me for the past half hour. the party is raging. his folks are out of the country at their vacation home in Sayulita. i consider him. a shock … Read morejeff
top 10 books of 2018
it’s always hard to pick the best books you’ve read until it isn’t. they jump out at you. 2018 was a difficult year for obvious and less obvious reasons: the news cycle continued anxiety-provoking, and there were personal losses in my life that i won’t go into because they’re difficult–death and loss and the inevitable … Read moretop 10 books of 2018