Aroma of Coffee
The irony of it all — the very first short story I got published isn’t much like the body of my work. It is a piece of “mundane” fiction; not speculative fiction.
-
-
Momentary Freedom from Gravity
The following is a snippet from my writing journal. I wrote it while walking home from class one day when I was attending University of Maryland College Park. “I want to be a bird!” she cried. “A seabird! A seagull!” She stretched her arms out and ran. She ran with abandon, down the field, in…
-
Release
This poem, an English class assignment when I was a Junior in High School, was eventually published, at the cost of $35, in the American Poetry Anthology 1986 — my first published poem. It was written in 1983. A tear is a bird set free from its cage of sorrow. The wolf’s lonely cry in…
-
Now I Know Why
This poem, published at poetry.com, was written in 1992 after finding out a friend of mine got together with someone I had had a crush on for a long time. I was O.K. with it but it still hurt. This poem was part of my healing process. Now I know why the wolf howls at…
-
Love Blooms Slowly
This poem, published at poetry.com, was written in 1992 in response to someone I was gradually falling in love with. We had had a discussion about “love at first site” and this poem was the result. Love that comes quickly fades as fast Lasting love blooms slowly culminating in a rose before you knew there…
-
The Death of a Loved One
This poem comes from my writing journal. It is more a random thought than a poem, but is poetic in nature so I share it here. The death of a loved one lingers at my side like the specter of memories not to be. It’s not that I wish to forget them, but if I…
-
A Bird in the Hand
I had the most amazing experience today. I’ve been feeding the birds on my patio for a few weeks now. Today, one flew into the window, knocking the wind out of its sails. I found it lying on its back breathing heavily. I went outside and picked it up. It just sat there in the…
-
Yo!
On Fridays I go to see the acupuncturist. He’s been helping me, in conjunction with the chiropractor, heal from sciatica. This past Friday, he was removing the needles when my shoulder started tickling. So I rubbed it with my hand and felt something dripping. “Something’s dripping?” I said. “Oh. It’s just blood. Let me wipe…
-
Nairobi Meyers
I wrote a snippet once that had this character in it. The snippet was powerful enough that the character has been bouncing around my head trying to get a story out. I still don’t know her story yet, but I do have an idea what she is like. When I find it, I’ll post the…
-
Sidewalk
Written in 1983. I stretch for endless miles. My brethren stretch out beside me. I have many visitors. Yet I am always alone. Bubble gum and cigarette butts on my belly, Dirt on my back, I lie and watch the creatures who forever traverse my stomach. The old lady who pushes a cart Cares about…