I’m watching this cop drama about a serial killer.It’s made in the UK and takes place in Belfast.In it, there is a tertiary character named NedWho seems to exist only to dredge ponds for evidenceOr provide the female lead with a crowbar when she asks,Calling her Ma’amAnd looking so efficient in his smart uniform. He goes where he’s told, spending hours in the fog and the … Continue reading Ned by John Tustin
Lisbon, Portugal They say that the most beautiful women in the world are from Venezuela, from Latin America; according to Miss Universe. Throughout my life, I came to the realization that Mexicans are not seen as beautiful, since I am a Mexican. Mexicans did not do the thing that beautiful people (white middle class people) do. By the way, what makes a woman beautiful? The … Continue reading On falling in love with right-wing Latinx butterflies by Francisco Orozco
The English make a hard job of being happy, a lot of the time it just seems it’s too much hard work – they find it easier to be mawkish and miserable. Regardless of the pain we still have the necessity to celebrate this messy thing we call life: this is the essence of living. I have this sense of having pushed this abstract experiment … Continue reading The English Make A Hard Job Of Being Happy by Nick Ingram
Elizabeth Wurtzel was all too aware of the scandal and outrage she was about to wreak with the release of the then most “self-indulgent” (read: privileged white girl) novel–nay, memoir–of all-time (put out on the heels of other “whiny” Gen Xer fare, including Douglas Coupland’s 1991 book, Generation X, and Susanna Kaysen’s [though not a Gen Xer herself] 1993 Girl, Interrupted). And even if she … Continue reading Now That She’s Dead, The Thank Yous Come In For Elizabeth Wurtzel Paving a Certain Long and Whining Road for Many Subsequent Female Writers
Annie told me just one thing,When I bought a knapsack:Not to fill it over-full‘fore I put it on my back It seemed like advice I’d keepWhen she said it, in that moment.Since then life’s made demands from me;Since then I’ve over filled it I’d like to say I’ve helped my Bag with its longevity.But what choice had I, when I’veHad burdens, but make it heavy. Continue reading My Sack by Zeke Greenwald
As the first decade of the 2020s gets underway, it seems all too timely that F. Scott Fitzgerald’s most major work, The Great Gatsby, will at last enter the public domain on January 1, 2021. As one of the most quintessential novels not only of the flapper decade, but the twentieth century itself, its foray into the free-for-all realm in “the new 20s” has more … Continue reading The Timeliness of The Great Gatsby Going Into the Public Domain in the 20s
I heard the clocks Chime in A new year, As candles Burning bright Faded out past Sights. I felt my body Shake, as Memories came Back,And bones standing Still Held tight,At the new dawn’s Foreshadowing light. While warm embracesOf past kisses Bathed away bygone Loves, and miseries: And I like Wendy Danced in My mind’s eye – With Happy,DwindlingFairy dust, There rising, Flying, To new Neverlands, New homes, New birthsNew unruly Seas, Of what is yet –To be. Melting away Sad thoughts As Peter Pan Flew with me, And I heard theDear young soul Cry … Continue reading Loud Fading Clocks by O’ar Pali
Outin theaftermath, dawn’shereafter; outof theashes a coda,light. Continue reading Coda by Rufo Quintavalle
Christmas morning, 2001. I woke up before dawn, too excited about the presents. It’s barely 5 a.m. and, of course, pitch black outside. To pass the time, I figured I should do what I like best: read a book. I’m reading in my bed, using a torchlight for fear my parents should see I’m awake if I used the big light, when I hear a … Continue reading Books and Barbies: A Christmas Memory by Camille Adnot
He kicked the catout the windowCarved her goldfishup like sushiDinner wasn’t ready on time He wanted it nowAnd I do mean NOW ! Ordered her uppink as rare beef—one tender homemakersimmered in silenceSwallowed her wholeone day at a time The day he beat herbeyond definitionshe navigated commandsin her state-of-the-art kitchenin her gingham apronher cellophane smile She had binge-cleaned and purgedthe entire apartment–worshipping at the altarin bulimic … Continue reading Domestic Goddess by Antonia Alexandra Klimenko
