Looks like I have a poem up on American Life in Poetry this week.
What a pleasant surprise!
Thank you, Ted K.
Thursday, October 04, 2007
From the Borowitz Report
Ahmadinejad Invites U.N. Inspectors to Search for Homosexuals
Permits Use of Advanced Gaydar
Just days after asserting that there are no homosexuals in Iran, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad today invited United Nations inspectors into his country to search for homosexuals.
“We have nothing to hide,” Mr. Ahmadinejad said in a speech to the United Nations General Assembly. “You can search the entire country – even the airport bathrooms.”
While some senior U.S. diplomats expressed skepticism about the Iranian president’s offer to allow U.N. inspectors to search his country for homosexuals, Mr. Ahmadinejad attempted to silence the skeptics by permitting the use of “advanced gaydar technology” as part of the proposed inspections.
“In Iran we have the most advanced gaydar in the world and we are prepared to share it with you,” he said.
In the immediate aftermath of Mr. Ahmadinejad’s speech, it was unclear as to who would lead the U.N.’s inspection efforts, but most diplomats assumed that the task would fall to Mohamed ElBaradei, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
At a press conference at the United Nations, Mr. ElBaradei acknowledged that he had no previous experience searching for homosexuals, but said that if chosen to lead the inspection effort he would make sure that the inspections were “rigorous and thorough.”
“The possibility that Iran may possess homosexuals is a serious matter to the world community,” Mr. ElBaradei said. “There has been evidence for some time that Iran may be attempting to build a Broadway musical.”
Elsewhere, President Bush made his first official comment on the situation in Myanmar, telling reporters, “I will support whichever side is easier to pronounce.”
Permits Use of Advanced Gaydar
Just days after asserting that there are no homosexuals in Iran, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad today invited United Nations inspectors into his country to search for homosexuals.
“We have nothing to hide,” Mr. Ahmadinejad said in a speech to the United Nations General Assembly. “You can search the entire country – even the airport bathrooms.”
While some senior U.S. diplomats expressed skepticism about the Iranian president’s offer to allow U.N. inspectors to search his country for homosexuals, Mr. Ahmadinejad attempted to silence the skeptics by permitting the use of “advanced gaydar technology” as part of the proposed inspections.
“In Iran we have the most advanced gaydar in the world and we are prepared to share it with you,” he said.
In the immediate aftermath of Mr. Ahmadinejad’s speech, it was unclear as to who would lead the U.N.’s inspection efforts, but most diplomats assumed that the task would fall to Mohamed ElBaradei, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
At a press conference at the United Nations, Mr. ElBaradei acknowledged that he had no previous experience searching for homosexuals, but said that if chosen to lead the inspection effort he would make sure that the inspections were “rigorous and thorough.”
“The possibility that Iran may possess homosexuals is a serious matter to the world community,” Mr. ElBaradei said. “There has been evidence for some time that Iran may be attempting to build a Broadway musical.”
Elsewhere, President Bush made his first official comment on the situation in Myanmar, telling reporters, “I will support whichever side is easier to pronounce.”
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Take This Quiz!
Take this quiz. See which candidate you most agree with on the issues. You may be very, very surprised. My top three were Gravel, Kucinich, and Richardson.
How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg?
Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg.
-- Abraham Lincoln
*
Poetry reading: I'll be reading at the new Ballard Public Library, with Susan Rich and Jourdan Keith. 6:30 PM Thursday, October 4th. Come on down if you are in the area (or even if you are far away!)
Seattle Public Library - Ballard Branch
5614 22nd Ave NW,
Seattle, WA
Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg.
-- Abraham Lincoln
*
Poetry reading: I'll be reading at the new Ballard Public Library, with Susan Rich and Jourdan Keith. 6:30 PM Thursday, October 4th. Come on down if you are in the area (or even if you are far away!)
Seattle Public Library - Ballard Branch
5614 22nd Ave NW,
Seattle, WA
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Dylan is brilliant
This was too fun. I hope you like my little poem/movie for the president.
Q: Isn't that Allen Ginsburg and Peter Orlovsky walking off in the end?
PS: If the movie won't load, go to the link here.
Q: Isn't that Allen Ginsburg and Peter Orlovsky walking off in the end?
PS: If the movie won't load, go to the link here.
Monday, October 01, 2007
Lie Soap
The President Speaks Out on the Issues
It's Sunday, and the president has finished his milk.
"Let out more line!" he hollers. A screen door bangs.
It is another day, and the president has three shoes.
He thinks the closet is like his mother, hiding in plain sight.
The president feeds on charred animals, chewing their little ears.
It's Tuesday twice in a row in the unemployment line.
"I'm the president," says the president.
"I'll break every mirror in the garsh darn place."
It is a time of trials, and the president is selling soap.
Lie soap. Carefully he washes out his mouth.
"War is our only road to peace," says the president
to his necktie and gloves. The wind smells of oily birds.
"Murderers should be excruciated," he tells his dog,
Spot, "so we can sleep safely in our boats."
It is Thursday again, and the president completes his favorite
Norman Rockwell puzzle on national television.
"See what can be done if we work together," says the president,
who evaporates below the waist and discusses the beauty of stumps.
"This is a great day, eh spot?" says Spot.
"We all love you for that."
-- Christopher Howell, appeared in Gettysburg Review
It's Sunday, and the president has finished his milk.
"Let out more line!" he hollers. A screen door bangs.
It is another day, and the president has three shoes.
He thinks the closet is like his mother, hiding in plain sight.
The president feeds on charred animals, chewing their little ears.
It's Tuesday twice in a row in the unemployment line.
"I'm the president," says the president.
"I'll break every mirror in the garsh darn place."
It is a time of trials, and the president is selling soap.
Lie soap. Carefully he washes out his mouth.
"War is our only road to peace," says the president
to his necktie and gloves. The wind smells of oily birds.
"Murderers should be excruciated," he tells his dog,
Spot, "so we can sleep safely in our boats."
It is Thursday again, and the president completes his favorite
Norman Rockwell puzzle on national television.
"See what can be done if we work together," says the president,
who evaporates below the waist and discusses the beauty of stumps.
"This is a great day, eh spot?" says Spot.
"We all love you for that."
-- Christopher Howell, appeared in Gettysburg Review
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Off to work. It is my turn to cover Saturday clinic. I hope it is quiet. Oooops. I shouldn't have said that. Now we're gonna get slammed. It always works that way. ~grin~
*
Did you hear the NPR story this morning about Rudy Guliani answering his cell phone in the middle of a debate question. It was his wife. Just calling to say hi, as if she didn't know he was on national TV at that moment. Rudy taking the opportunity to say he loved her, and would call her back soon. Most people think it was a lame attempt at sincerity. Trying to show his softer side. I think it was extremely *pathetique*.
*
Did you hear the NPR story this morning about Rudy Guliani answering his cell phone in the middle of a debate question. It was his wife. Just calling to say hi, as if she didn't know he was on national TV at that moment. Rudy taking the opportunity to say he loved her, and would call her back soon. Most people think it was a lame attempt at sincerity. Trying to show his softer side. I think it was extremely *pathetique*.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Poetry in Snohomish
I am reading at Wired and Unplugged, 717 1st St, Snohomish, tonight: Thursday, September 27th at 7:30. Open mic included. Here is the website, which includes pics and directions. Come on down! (or up, as the case may be).
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
For the Little Rock Nine
Hard to believe it's been 50 years . . .
Soul Make A Path Through Shouting
for Elizabeth Eckford
Little Rock, Arkansas, 1957
Thick at the schoolgate are the ones
Rage has twisted
Into minotaurs, harpies
Relentlessly swift;
So you must walk past the pincers,
The swaying horns,
Sister, sister,
Straight through the gusts
Of fear and fury,
Straight through:
Where are you going?
I’m just going to school.
Here we go to meet
The hydra-headed day,
Here we go to meet
The maelstrom —
Can my voice be an angel-on-the-spot,
An amen corner?
Can my voice take you there,
Gallant girl with a notebook,
Up, up from the shadows of gallows trees
To the other shore:
A globe bathed in light,
A chalkboard blooming with equations —
I have never seen the likes of you,
Pioneer in dark glasses:
You won’t show the mob your eyes,
But I know your gaze,
Steady-on-the-North-Star, burning —
With their jerry-rigged faith,
Their spear on the American flag,
How could they dare to believe
You’re someone sacred?:
Nigger, burr-headed girl,
Where are you going?
I’m just going to school.
-- by Cyrus Cassells
from Soul Make A Path Through Shouting by Cyrus Cassells, published by Copper Canyon Press. Copyright © 1994
Off the Grid
Had a wonderful time at Point No Point on Vancouver Island. A gorgeous little cabin on the ocean, with a hot tub and a fireplace. We were totally off the grid for three and a half days: no TV, no phone, no cell phone, no computer, no internet. It was wonderful and relaxing to be so disconnected. Our own little "Into the Wild."
I read most of the novel "The Echo Maker." It is pretty amazing. Also did a little writing. But mostly did a lot of nothing. Some pics:
our cabin, "Eagle"
B, K, D, & P
preening ourselves on the beach
On the way to Mystic Beach, the hugest tree-stair in the world
it must have been 100 feet long!
Dean in the cabin
View from the cabin
Sunset
I read most of the novel "The Echo Maker." It is pretty amazing. Also did a little writing. But mostly did a lot of nothing. Some pics:
our cabin, "Eagle"
B, K, D, & P
preening ourselves on the beach
On the way to Mystic Beach, the hugest tree-stair in the world
it must have been 100 feet long!
Dean in the cabin
View from the cabin
Sunset
Friday, September 21, 2007
Fall
It hit home when I was picking pears yesterday morning. The light is different. The sky has a certain slate cast to it. The vine maples are turning crimson and bronze. Dean's purple asters are in full glorious bloom. The chrysanthemums are just beginning to bud. The squirrels are digging little holes in the garden for their cache of sunflower seeds. I used to hate the fall. But I've grown to love it. It feels right.
*
Worked on the new short story and several poem revisions yesterday.
Thn met with MJK at the Frye. I am being commissioned to write some poems in response to some art there. We'll see how it goes. I think it's gona be a lot of fun. More on that later.
*
Off for a long weekend with friends at Point No Point on Vancouver Island. It's cabin weather. Time for log fires and hot tubs and red wine and reading by the water.
*
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Two Stories from Our Lovely Morning Paper
SLUT -- Streetcar's unfortunate acronym seems here to stay
There's a story going around South Lake Union, but a spokeswoman for Vulcan, Paul Allen's development company, says it's just an urban legend.
That aside, the story that the neighborhood's streetcar line now under construction was called the South Lake Union Trolley until the powers that be realized the unfortunate acronym -- SLUT -- seems here to stay.
full story here.
*
Things you can do to help the president
(from letters to the editor)
I saw President Bush's speech Thursday night. It's time for patriotic Americans to stand by their president. Now, you ask yourself, I'm just an average American; what can I possibly do? I've got four suggestions to help you get started.
1) If you have a teenager, advise him or her to join the Army or the Marines. For a fallback, the National Guard.
2) If you're a senior citizen, when you get that monthly Social Security check, write on the envelope "Return To Sender. Maybe this money will help win the war."
3) Since we're borrowing the money from China to pay for this war, please buy all Chinese products from now on. I myself am using an ancient Chinese lead-based deodorant.
4) Finally, write your senator to have them eliminate the presidential term limit. It appears that George W. Bush will need at least another eight years to fulfill his Messianic fantasy.
Aaron Litwak
Seattle
There's a story going around South Lake Union, but a spokeswoman for Vulcan, Paul Allen's development company, says it's just an urban legend.
That aside, the story that the neighborhood's streetcar line now under construction was called the South Lake Union Trolley until the powers that be realized the unfortunate acronym -- SLUT -- seems here to stay.
full story here.
*
Things you can do to help the president
(from letters to the editor)
I saw President Bush's speech Thursday night. It's time for patriotic Americans to stand by their president. Now, you ask yourself, I'm just an average American; what can I possibly do? I've got four suggestions to help you get started.
1) If you have a teenager, advise him or her to join the Army or the Marines. For a fallback, the National Guard.
2) If you're a senior citizen, when you get that monthly Social Security check, write on the envelope "Return To Sender. Maybe this money will help win the war."
3) Since we're borrowing the money from China to pay for this war, please buy all Chinese products from now on. I myself am using an ancient Chinese lead-based deodorant.
4) Finally, write your senator to have them eliminate the presidential term limit. It appears that George W. Bush will need at least another eight years to fulfill his Messianic fantasy.
Aaron Litwak
Seattle
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