Republican Jesus got measlesHe didn’t know what He should doHe was fishin’ and loafin’ in TexasWhen Epstein’s leaked guest lists came through It needed a lot of forgivingBut that’s just what prosperity doesFirst Jesus blessed Donald, then DonaldBlessed no one who wasn’t his cuz You gotta know which boots to suckleYou gotta learn which rings … [more]
Note to Zar-zar
Some things l’d like to tell my granddaughter in a few years, but probably won’t remember by tomorrow… Find your strength. People without power can’t generate compassion, only cooperation. Find your drive. The only prayer ever answered is effort. Every other invocation amounts to throwing pennies in a well. Find your allies. You’ll need more … [more]
Happy Memorial Day
I’m not going this year. Down in the valley, valley so low, hang your head over and hear the wind blow across Tahoma, the nearest national cemetery where a friend I failed to meet lies under the green, green grass near home, no longer waiting for anyone. His family will go there today, regardless of … [more]
Painting by the numbers
“__________ is just a number.” Is it, really? Only that? When you’re painting by the numbers, the colors aren’t your own. The amount of weight you lifted ten years ago (or last week): that’s just a number. It means nothing to you now. The amount you lift today is a piece of your life as it … [more]
Scuffs and Patches
Smalldaughter’s tone was polite but imperative. It was the second sentence that moved me into a sprint that made my back quit hurting. I heard her voice echo down the hall. “Jack, I need you. “Ruby got hit by a car.” The girls’ trust is touching. I wasn’t as calm as they are when I … [more]
Boxing Day
It’s not much of a present: kind of a lumpy little box, knocked up from plywood with brad-pinned butt joints. Its four stubby legs are sawn sections of thick oaken doweling, and the vaguely shoe-shaped carrying handle doubles as a foot rest for a man receiving a shine. Shoe shine boxes were a classic shop … [more]
ROK ‘n’ roll
Once upon a time back in the misty past of the early 1980s, a geeky 19-y.o. pushed BCGs up his nose, hoisted a green duffel over his green polyester leisure suit with its one lonely ribbon, and got onto Flight 007 to head for the Republic of Korea via Japan. We didn’t yet know how … [more]
A terse reminder
Dear fellow American, I’d like to pass along this brief reminder, for purposes of clarification. Despite what others may say, you’re not part of the problem if you: believe your President heralds the coming of the Antichrist call your military servicemembers “sadists” and “mass murderers” insist on social control of vaginas, but are afraid to … [more]