8-word poem

I keep forgetting
To mention
My inexplicable
Something.

Recent Reading

Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth by Chris Ware

I have been long aware of Chris Ware's beautifully illustrated books, but had no idea that the story of Jimmy Corrigan was one of the most depressing - and, sadly, accurate - portrayals of a hapless nerd and three generations of his dysfunctional family. A gripping story that is, in turns, heartbreaking and hilarious, and one that does not succumb to an easy resolution. The Smartest Kid on Earth? More like the Most Miserable Fuck Ever.

If you think you grew up in a difficult household, check this out and be prepared to reassess.

iTuneage - recent baker's dozen

1. "Hey Nineteen" - Steely Dan
2. "Stonegates" - Bachman-Turner Overdrive
3. "Born To Run" (30 year anniversary remaster) - Bruce Springsteen
4. "Divertimento in G" - Michael Haydn
5. "Teenage Lament '74" - Alice Cooper
6. "Wild East" - Ian Hunter
7. "Tell Me a Story" - Iggy Pop
8. "Charley's Girl" - Lou Reed
9. "Jumping Jack Flash" - The Rolling Stones
10. "Censorshit" - The Ramones
11. "Watch That Man" - David Bowie
12. "Think" - Aretha Franklin
13. "Dance Away" - Roxy Music

8-word poem

If,
Not when,
Johnny
Strikes
Up the
Band.

8-word poem

Who can know
Which way
The wind blows?

8-word poem

What
A transparent
Day;
I
See nothing
Clearly.

8-word poem

Watching reruns
Of Rerun—
What's happening?
Not much.

8-word poem

Who the hell
Wants to go
To Crete?

Varnishing Print

Julius, Auric, Emilio, Ernst.

Being the first names of the James Bond villains: Dr. No, Goldfinger, Largo, Blofeld.

8-word poem

Holiday season:
So,
The first fight
Starts when?

8-word poem

Pilgrims with those
Big, stupid buckles—
No thanks.

8-word poem

Everybody should
Be killed—
And in
A hurry.

8-word poem

Love barometer:
I just
Sent you
Some gloss.

Varnishing Print

"I couldn't understand what the fuck the song was about, not being a New York fag."

—Ian Hunter, remarking on David Bowie's suggestion that Mott the Hoople cover Lou Reed's "Sweet Jane" for the album All the Young Dudes.

"I wasn't particularly impressed."

—Hunter re: The Velvet Underground.

8-word poem

Poems about God
Are really
Poems about death.

8-word poem

You don't know
What it's like,
This counting.

It's not easy being green.

Your results:
You are Hulk

Hulk 95% Green Lantern 70% Catwoman 65% Spider-Man 60% The Flash 60% Batman 55% Robin 55% Iron Man 50% Wonder Woman 45% Supergirl 35% Superman 25%

You are a wanderer with amazing strength.

Click here to take the "Which Superhero are you?" quiz...


Thanks to MsHellion for pointing me to this.

8-word poem

Life is beautiful
When there is
No fear.

iTuneage - recent baker's dozen

1. "The Song Remains the Same" - Led Zeppelin
2. "Nature Boy" - Johnny Hartman
3. "Burnin' for You" - Blue Öyster Cult
4. "Skin & Bone" - The Kinks
5. "In the Neighborhood" - Tom Waits
6. "Great Cop" - Fugazi
7. "Asia" - Willie Colon
8. "How 'U' Must 'B'" - Barbara George
9. "Wishing You Were Here" - Chicago
10. "I've Told Every Little Star" - Linda Scott
11. "Generation Landslide" - Alice Cooper
12. "All Night Operator" - Bryan Ferry
13. "Harborcoat" - R.E.M.

8-word poem

Doing it
Is the only
Thing
That works.

8-word poem

I had this
Whole thing
Imagined
So differently.

8-word poem

It's clear:
I should have
Voted for Pedro.

8-word poem

Take your time
Before you
Make your move.

8-word poem

When drinking
Gets sloppy,
It's time
To go.

Recent reading

Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons

I was turned onto this superb graphic novel about aging super heroes and their real-world problems by the Sarah Lawrence MFA grad that I share a cubicle with at work.

An incredible story from start to finish - one that I didn't want to end, frankly.

Highly recommended.

8-word poem

I listened
For the wind;
Heard only
Laughter.

8-word poem

Someday
This will
All be over,
You know.

8-word poem

I've cried
A thousand times;
Shed few tears.

8-word poem

So little
Depends on
Anything
Involving
A chicken.

8-word poem

When my time
Here is
Done,
Dance away.

8-word poem

There is
Never good
Reason to
Be cross.

8-word poem

Nothing left
To say—
In eight
Words, anyway.

Varnishing Print

Shemp Howard, Hank Williams: both died in the back seat of a car.

Howard was on his way back from a boxing match; Williams was en route to a concert.

8-word poem

I need...
I want...
Can you...?
So we...?

8-word poem

Guess what—
My poetry
Is becoming
Really gay.

8-word poem

Not what
You want,
But what
You deserve.

8-word poem

Have you ever
Called out,
Made a promise?

Varnishing Print

Abdullah the Butcher - pro wrestling's "madman from the Sudan" - actually hails from Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Born Larry Shreeve.

8-word poem

It's a whole
New world
Out there.

There.

Varnishing Print

Mathieu Schneider, of New York City, one of pro hockey's few Jewish players.

8-word poem

Commute—
Bobby Womack—
"Across 110th Street"—
Crossing it.

8-word poem

Why rioting?
They just
Figured out
They're French.

8-word poem

Answer:
Four minutes
Of contentment.

Question:
What's possible?

8-word poem

Concerned
When told:
"It's no longer
Your concern."

8-word poem

Mulholland Drive:
Figured it all out,
Then forgot.

Varnishing Print

Ernest "Boom" Carter played drums on the studio recording of "Born to Run," not Max Weinberg. Which explains why live versions never sound quite right. The major difference being in the kick drum.

8-word poem

Lunch break:
Watching
Two junkies
Comparing
Track marks.

8-word poem

Goldfinger:
Jewish in the novel—
Cause for concern?

8-word poem

I didn't think
This would ever
Happen again.

iTuneage - recent baker's dozen

1. "The Wheel" - Rosanne Cash
2. "Tunnel of Love" - Dire Straits
3. "Incident on 57th Street" - Bruce Springsteen
4. "Carnival is Over" - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
5. "Pop That Coochie" - 2 Live Crew
6. "Top of the World" - The Carpenters
7. "Little Bird, Little Bird" - Man of La Mancha (Original Broadway Cast)
8. "Everything Goes" - Graham Parker
9. "Freddie's Dead" - Curtis Mayfield
10. "Across 110th Street" - Bobby Womack
11. "Funky But Chic" - David Johansen Group
12. "All Over the World" - Arlo Guthrie
13. "Crackerman" - Stone Temple Pilots

8-word poem

Dawning shock as
Keyser Söze
Straightens his limp.

8-word poem

No way
James Bond
Ever
Used a condom.