tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1262228960878961572024-03-08T16:48:34.304-05:00Life As An [insert label here]Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger101125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-126222896087896157.post-43405491175122902212013-12-23T17:11:00.001-05:002013-12-23T17:11:07.744-05:00Apologies<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We apologize that we have been delayed in working on the January issue, but it will be up sometime in January. We cannot guarantee response times, however.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-126222896087896157.post-9503287890434313252013-10-01T12:00:00.015-04:002013-10-03T12:49:20.457-04:00"Sonnet" October 2013 Issue Released!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I am very pleased to announce that our third quarterly issue is
officially released! <br />
There are two ways to view the content for this issue:<br />
All of the stories and poems have been published as individual entries
on this site. To view all of them,
either scroll down through our feed, follow the links on the bottom of this page, or click on the "<a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/search/label/October%202013" target="_blank">October 2013</a>" tag.<br />
If you prefer, the magazine has also been uploaded to Google Drive available to view and download. Simply follow <a href="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B18b0EfhG1QjM0R6VFdLM1prZ0k/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">this link</a>, or click the tab at the top of the screen that reads "<a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/p/october-2013.html" target="_blank">October 2013</a>." The downloadable magazine also includes a short introduction by myself.<br />
<br />
There may still be some formatting glitches to be worked out over the next
couple days. If you spot a problem, please send an email to
LifeAsAn@gmail.com including a link to the page with a problem, if
appropriate. Be sure to put "LAA" in the subject line somewhere so our
spam filters don't catch you. <br />
<br />
If you would
like to view the magazine on an e-reader, you can download it through
Google Drive entirely for free. I do not have an e-reader myself, so I'm
not sure exactly how to accomplish this. If you have any questions of
that nature, please direct them to the manufacturer of your e-reader.<br />
<br />
Below is a listing of all the pieces featured in this issue<br />
<br />
<u>Poetry:</u><br />
<a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/10/love-sonnet.html" target="_blank">Love Sonnet</a> by Sara Callor<br />
<a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/10/anti-love-sonnet.html" target="_blank">Anti-Love Sonnet</a> by Sara Callor<br />
<a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/10/they-that-have-power-to-hurt-but-will.html" target="_blank">"They that have power to hurt and will do none"</a> by Erik Noonan<br />
<a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/10/smiling-starlet-marilyn.html" target="_blank">Smiling Starlet (Marilyn)</a> by James K. Blaylock<br />
<a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/10/wild-blazing-fires-forgotten-galaxies.html" target="_blank">Wild Blazing Fires (Forgotten Galaxies)</a> by James K. Blaylock<br />
<a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/10/shudder-to-apocalypse.html" target="_blank">Shudder to Apocalypse</a> by Brett Stout<br />
<a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-gypsy-padlock-doctrine.html" target="_blank">The Gypsy Padlock Doctrine</a> by Brett Stout<br />
<a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/10/liebestod.html" target="_blank">Liebestod</a> by Robert Wexelblatt<br />
<a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/10/i-am-not-brick.html" target="_blank">I Am Not a Brick</a> by A.J. Huffman<br />
<a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/10/in-scent-of-dreams.html" target="_blank">In the Scent of Dreams</a> by A.J. Huffman<br />
<br />
<u>Prose:</u><br />
<a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/10/letter-to-mark.html" target="_blank">Letter to Mark</a> by Carol Smallwood<br />
<a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/10/weighting-game.html" target="_blank">Weighting Game</a> by Terry Barr<br />
<a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/10/an-autumn-twice-fell.html" target="_blank">An Autumn Twice Fell</a> by Jarrett Fontaine<br />
<a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-history-of-world.html" target="_blank">The History of the World</a> by Kim Farleigh<br />
<a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/10/penitent.html" target="_blank">Penitent</a> by Kelly Kraus</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-126222896087896157.post-42810663985158064232013-10-01T12:00:00.014-04:002013-10-01T12:00:04.871-04:00Penitent<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
by Kelly Kraus<br>
<br>
<br>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.49in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The desert had nearly consumed him
last night. He’d fled almost three days ago. With him he’d only
brought a half jug of water and a stale loaf of bread. Both were gone
within a day. His mouth was arid and he was becoming increasingly
weary. If he didn’t get food and water soon, he could die out here.
And no one would know. Or care.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Regardless
of his predicament, returning to the city was necessary. Hunger pangs
cramped his stomach. As a group of hares darted across his path, he
pondered chasing them. They’d make a modest meal. He lacked the
strength for a pursuit of the animals. Famished, he trudged on.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The
trek back to the city was punishing. Mountainous terrain provided
refuge from potential prying eyes. While there were many valleys that
made walking easier, the cliffs were steeper than the valleys were
shallow. Sharp declines scattered the area. All the ravines he came
upon were dry from the scorching heat. Water was a scarcity in this
area.</span></div>
</div><a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/10/penitent.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-126222896087896157.post-38415057710908791072013-10-01T12:00:00.013-04:002013-10-01T12:00:09.761-04:00The History of the World<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
by Kim Farleigh<br>
<br>
<br>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Suburb A’s inhabitants
considered themselves superior to suburb B’s, the A’s mockingly
imitating the B’s accents, although their accents were almost
identical. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Expletives not employed
in suburb A, except to mock the B’s, were used by the B’s,
demonstrating the latter’s “unquestionable brutality.” Waggish
A’s used these terms to belittle the B’s; better, however, to
avoid these expressions whose non-employment indicated an exquisite
sensibility beyond the reach of most B’s.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The A’s constantly
needed to prove their superiority so that when litter “polluted”
suburb A’s clean streets, Suburb A’s leading newspaper, </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The
Erudite Browser</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">,
claimed: “Dark-Age Suburb B louts committed litter heresy against
decency”, although how they knew this wasn’t explained, research
superfluous when poetic conclusions cause collective indignation, the
mellifluous cadences of articulate sniping singing with the
enrapturing vibrancy of truth. </span></span></div>
</div><a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-history-of-world.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-126222896087896157.post-41830865525752642142013-10-01T12:00:00.012-04:002013-10-01T12:00:00.683-04:00An Autumn Twice Fell<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
by Jarrett Fontaine<br>
<br>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0.51in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rain pattered against my
window. Through the stormy darkness I could hear my daughter
screaming and crying out for me again.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0.51in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Daddy, I miss you.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0.51in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A crack of thunder
quickly followed. The midnight air was electric as I rose out of bed,
being careful not to wake up my wife.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0.51in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Help me Dad!</i></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0.51in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I stumbled blindly
through the hallway, down the creaky steps. She screamed again.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0.51in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">No matter how many times
I visited her grave and begged her to stop, I could always hear her
voice.</span></span></div>
</div><a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/10/an-autumn-twice-fell.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-126222896087896157.post-18176681653473481432013-10-01T12:00:00.011-04:002013-10-01T12:00:08.149-04:00Weighting Game<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
by Terry Barr<br>
<br>
<br>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">You’ve
lost too much weight! You look…GAUNT!”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The
anxiety in my mother’s voice shakes my confidence. It’s amazing
the power she exerts over me. How can one remark reduce me to that
emotionally stunted boy I thought I had shed years ago? </span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
walk away from her, retreating to my bedroom bath. I shut the door
and breathe deeply. Then I face myself in the mirror, seeking the
new me, the slimmer me. The me that I like. But what I see instead
is a wasted face with hollow cheeks. </span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Is
there more wrong with me than I know? Despite the disease that I
have, that she knows I have, is it my weight that my mother is most
focused on? I turn away from the mirror, unable to resolve the
discrepancy of our perceived images.</span></div>
</div><a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/10/weighting-game.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-126222896087896157.post-76780372770923462922013-10-01T12:00:00.010-04:002013-10-01T12:00:03.183-04:00Letter to Mark<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
by Carol Smallwood<br>
<br>
<div style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Excerpt
from </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Lily's
Odyssey</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">
(print novel 2010) published with permission by All Things That
Matter Press. Its first chapter was a finalist for the Eric Hoffer
Award in Best New Writing. </span></span></span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><u>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lilys-Odyssey-Carol-Smallwood/dp/0984098453" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/Lilys-Odyssey-Carol-Smallwood/dp/0984098453</a> </u></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in; text-align: left;">
<br></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in; text-align: left;">
<br></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.48in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Dear Mark,</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.48in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I thought today was Friday but M*A*S*H
wasn’t on at 6 so it must be Saturday. </span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.48in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I got a call from State asking me if I
could come for an interview! Can’t believe it! I took the earliest
interview time slot and made reservation for flying out Monday. They
are paying for my ticket. They have tuition remission there.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.48in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I shouldn’t tell you but I went
through a yellow light in a haze of thinking what to pack and got a
$50 ticket. Jenny’s taking me to the airport so she can have the
car. Return 8:03 a.m. on the 6</span><sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">th</span></sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">—have
layovers both ways unfortunately in Chicago’s O’Hare. </span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.48in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Congratulations on being elected to
the Student Government Association! That’s really good news and
will look good on your resumes. I was very glad to hear you think
your government teacher’s “one cool dude.” Are Ollie North
haircuts popular on campus?</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.48in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I liked your comment about Charlie
having a car in the demolition derby “sounded like small town
America—fixing something up and paying to smash it.” </span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.48in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Must dye Jenny’s slakes as she must
wear them for work but will have to put bleach in the washer to get
all the color out first. Sorry to hear you had pink shorts after I
did the washing. Jenny’s red shirt must have run. She wanted to see
my wedding ring and is wearing it for some reason. </span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.48in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I painted the utility room wall while
listening for the mailperson. Maize watched me working with plants
and jumped high when I surprised her coming around the corner of the
house. It was very humid and it was hard sleeping last night with all
the thunder. Maize hide last night and then woke me up by sniffing my
nose. She keeps walking in and out or pushing pens off the table like
she knows something’s up.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.48in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Not that surprised that you’re
learning more about Nicolet City than when you were here. I’m glad
the police came quickly when you had to call about the patient
freaking out. </span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.48in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I’m looking forward to having you
come home for Fay’s wedding and will try my new sourdough bread
recipe out when you’re home.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.48in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Jenny I know misses you. I noticed
that she really followed you around when you were home last time. She
helped me with my book after prying her out of bed before 10 (after
chasing Charlie home 1:30 last night). She does good work and am
paying her. She went to see Betsy and probably Charlie will come over
tonight. Trying to get another Wisconsin reference book going but is
hard because it would mean limited sales so may end up doing a social
resources one. </span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.48in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I saw a great big Allied Moving van
pull up across the way and it was so long it had a hard time turning
the corner. I so wanted it to be mine. The best thing in the mail
today was there weren’t any rejects on article or job inquiries.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.48in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Be sure and do the best you can
because your grades will follow you around no matter where you go.</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.48in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Love, Mom</span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.48in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></div>
</div><a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/10/letter-to-mark.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-126222896087896157.post-58578991994722441502013-10-01T12:00:00.009-04:002013-10-01T12:00:06.660-04:00In the Scent of Dreams<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
by A.J. Huffman<br>
<br>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
dance on tireless toes, spinning, </span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">a
ballerina of wind and ghostly touch.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
am air, light</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">and
[on] point(e).</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
am princess of the pink chasm</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">of
inebriated thought. I know nothing</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">and
everything. I see what I feel, what</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
inhale. I exhale doubt. I watch it</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">float
to the ceiling dissolve into fog</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">and
shadows. I blink at them with my third</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">eye,
fan them away with invisible butterfly wings.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></div>
</div><a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/10/in-scent-of-dreams.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-126222896087896157.post-57575378939249398812013-10-01T12:00:00.008-04:002013-10-01T12:00:00.125-04:00I Am Not a Brick<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
by A.J. Huffman<br>
<br>
<br>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">house,
but mortar definitely runs</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">through
my veins, much needed</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">reinforcement
against invisible wolves</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">who
blow me down to foundation. </span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">They
are confused by my solid</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">determination
to rebuild</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">myself
in a slightly harder shape.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Resigned
to this repetition, </span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
peer through shadowed</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">fingers
of fate, waiting to see</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">if
this time I am enough,</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">if
this time I will hold.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></div>
</div><a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/10/i-am-not-brick.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-126222896087896157.post-79305501938887162842013-10-01T12:00:00.007-04:002013-10-01T12:00:10.048-04:00Liebestod<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
by Robert Wexelblatt<br>
<br>
<br>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The
still bedroom was dimmed by blue drapes. </span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Though
they were outside time it mattered</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">it
should be a November afternoon</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">when
exertion brought its own reward.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">He
was an expiring salmon expending the </span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">last
erg of energy in the sweet water</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">of
his birth; wave on wave buoyed him</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">then
dropped until he plumbed the</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">matrix
of all metaphor, perishing</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">with
limbs of lead into the dusky void— </span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">only
to renew the compulsive cycle </span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">of
recurrence heralded by Nietzsche, </span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">framed
by Klimt, explicated by Freud. </span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Was
it the love of death, </span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">the
death of love, or merely one</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">soul
lost in the release of spirit,</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">the
love that feels like death?</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Memory
shuffles delight up with regret.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">When
did the Lovedeath turn to the death of </span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">love,
the death of love to the love of death?</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Was
it in the middle of a sentence </span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">or
in the silence between breath and breath?</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="en" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></div>
</div><a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/10/liebestod.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-126222896087896157.post-10191405232174614222013-10-01T12:00:00.006-04:002013-10-01T12:00:03.860-04:00The Gypsy Padlock Doctrine<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
by Brett Stout<br>
<br>
<br>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
received a message at 8:43 p.m. Eastern Standard Time,</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">she
says hi</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">three
minutes later she asks me what I’m doing</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">there
is no answer on the other end,</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
received a message at 9:12 p.m. Eastern Standard Time,</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">she
asks me why I’m avoiding her</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">she
asks me if we’re still friends</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">there
is no answer on the other end,</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
received a message at 9:44 p.m. Eastern Standard Time,</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">she
asks me what’s wrong</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">she
once again asks me why I’m avoiding her</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">she
asks what she did wrong</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">there
is no answer on the other end,</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
received a message at 10:17 p.m. Eastern Standard Time,</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">she
calls me a fucking asshole</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">she
says that she regrets ever having sex with me</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">she
says it ruined our friendship</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">there
is no answer on the other end,</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
was taking a nap and didn’t wake up until 11:28 Eastern Standard
Time,</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
took a sip of coffee and scratched my back</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
lit a light flavored cigarette</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
saw her messages</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">even
though she was acting a little psychotic I say hi</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">there
was no answer on the other end.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: #ffffff;"></span></span></span></span></div>
</div><a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-gypsy-padlock-doctrine.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-126222896087896157.post-90985753543130196792013-10-01T12:00:00.005-04:002013-10-01T12:00:06.191-04:00Shudder to Apocalypse<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
by Brett Stout<br>
<br>
<br>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">concrete,</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">
</span><br>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">leads
the way to a bleak landscape</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">greed
and gluttony oh my capitalist beast,</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">corporate
isolation,</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">
</span><br>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">surrounding
me </span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">covering
me</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">smothering
me </span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">with
their trademarked logos</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">of
hate and oppression,</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">atom
bombs,</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">are
released in euphoria</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">as
the suburbs of utopia lay in rubble</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">once
pale men turn to charcoal colored dust,</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">the
lab rats,</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">are
released from their captivity</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">they
sit on my couch and watch cable TV</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">growing
disillusioned and obese </span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">they
truly are Americans now</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">value
sized and cheap.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in;">
<br></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></div>
</div><a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/10/shudder-to-apocalypse.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-126222896087896157.post-64348902881729478682013-10-01T12:00:00.004-04:002013-10-01T12:00:05.173-04:00Wild Blazing Fires (Forgotten Galaxies)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
by James K. Blaylock<br>
<br>
<br>
<div style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">a
lightning bolt ferociously bit into the clock-tower;</span></span></span></div>
<div style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">therefore
transforming the whole city, brightly blue</span></span></span></div>
<div style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br>
</div>
<div style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">but
all the simple folk calmly wandered, as they'd always done,</span></span></span></div>
<div style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">no
panic grasped their lazy throats, nor ripped their easy eyes...</span></span></span></div>
<div style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br>
</div>
<div style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">instead
they walked aimlessly, and with their blinders strongly in place,</span></span></span></div>
<div style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">as
nothing was to hinder their luxuries of time wasting and pretending</span></span></span></div>
<div style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br>
</div>
<div style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">but
nevertheless, the stench of wild blazing fires would soon saturate
everything -</span></span></span></div>
<div style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">becoming
more than some dimples, upon the smiling faces of forgotten galaxies</span></span></span></div>
<div style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></div>
</div><a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/10/wild-blazing-fires-forgotten-galaxies.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-126222896087896157.post-22285620425267253512013-10-01T12:00:00.003-04:002013-10-01T12:00:07.409-04:00Smiling Starlet (Marilyn)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
by James K. Blaylock<br>
<br>
<br>
<div style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">captured
in black and white,</span></span></span></div>
<div style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">you
were, your days, beauty;</span></span></span></div>
<div style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br>
</div>
<div style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">being
sexy, and silly, and worldly,</span></span></span></div>
<div style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">you
had everyone's total attention</span></span></span></div>
<div style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br>
</div>
<div style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">but
somehow you needed so much more;</span></span></span></div>
<div style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">so
it's safe to say, madness conquered...</span></span></span></div>
<div style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br>
</div>
<div style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">though
your legacy is forever churning;</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hollywood
framed you, smiling starlet</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></div>
</div><a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/10/smiling-starlet-marilyn.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-126222896087896157.post-14350983839714158592013-10-01T12:00:00.002-04:002013-10-03T12:49:39.397-04:00"They that have power to hurt and will do none"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">by Erik Noonan</span></span><br>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br></span></span>
<br>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">where
“world” means “people” life sometimes feels</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">like
an absurd conceit reified</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">in
brittle trinkets that not only don’t</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">correlate
too objectively with an emotion </span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">one
can recognize as real</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">but
also seem designed to flaunt self-love</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">before
all save those few who are <i>in</i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">meantime
Thomas Jefferson’s natural aristocracy</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(enlightenment
wet dream if ever there was one)</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">carries
the burden of defense today</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">as
in Shakespeare’s times nature or God</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">lent
out sums of excellence at interest</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">on
one hand and immolated Cook on the other</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">coldly pure rank non-artistic
lilywhite</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in;">
<br></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in;">
</div>
</div><a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/10/they-that-have-power-to-hurt-but-will.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-126222896087896157.post-1145567519947664842013-10-01T12:00:00.001-04:002013-10-01T12:00:03.561-04:00Anti-Love Sonnet<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">by Sara Callor</span></span><br>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br></span></span>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What
is love but that irksome envelope,</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">enclosing
hormones in clandestine ink,</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">a
threnody of lamentation, hope</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">a
hostage to the hoopla and the stink</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">of
pink and purple histrionic act.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Begin
with chardonnay and glittered jewels,</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">end
up with writhing white wedding dress pact.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">‘Cause
even vows become temporal rules</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">and
love becomes a taxidermy pale.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Like
Sisyphus, the stone still rolls them back—</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">tomorrow’s
only sweet in fairy tale—</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">but
lachrymose a more likely track.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If
love is really what you’re after, then</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">reality
has one less denizen.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"></span></div>
</div><a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/10/anti-love-sonnet.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-126222896087896157.post-40276834707040953032013-10-01T12:00:00.000-04:002013-10-01T12:00:00.302-04:00Love Sonnet<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">by Sara Callor</span></span><br>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br></span></span>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A
loving heart transforms; ebullient,</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">it
overflows with succulent delight.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Eventually,
it wanes emollient</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">and
satiates an ardent appetite</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">with
tender poems, pleasant song and verse.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Encompassing
the fluid rhyme of mind,</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">the
ones in love will happily immerse</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">themselves
in joy until they are entwined.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Transcending
all humanity’s vague musk,</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">they
bend precipitously in the lull</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">between
the concentrated crush of dusk</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>
and sunset, where delinquent dreams
can mull.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Then,
out of protested dim yesterdays,</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Adonis,
Aphrodite wax, ablaze.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"></span></div>
</div><a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/10/love-sonnet.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-126222896087896157.post-28934106683867873952013-07-01T00:00:00.015-04:002013-07-01T00:00:01.619-04:00July 2013 Released!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I am very pleased to announce that our second quarterly issue is
officially released! <br />
There are two ways to view the content for this issue:<br />
All of the stories and poems have been published as individual entries
on this site. To view all of them,
either scroll down through our feed, follow the links on the bottom of this page, or click on the "<a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/search/label/July%202013" target="_blank">July 2013</a>" tag.<br />
If you prefer, the magazine has also been uploaded to Google Drive available to view and download. Simply follow <a href="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B18b0EfhG1QjRmhNbU1ibDZhcG8/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">this link</a>, or click the tab at the top of the screen that reads "<a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/p/july-2013.html" target="_blank">July 2013</a>." The downloadable magazine also includes a short introduction by myself.<br />
<br />
There may still be some formatting glitches to be worked out over the next
couple days. If you spot a problem, please send an email to
LifeAsAn@gmail.com including a link to the page with a problem, if
appropriate. Be sure to put "LAA" in the subject line somewhere so our
spam filters don't catch you. <br />
<br />
If you would
like to view the magazine on an e-reader, you can download it through
Google Drive entirely for free. I do not have an e-reader myself, so I'm
not sure exactly how to accomplish this. If you have any questions of
that nature, please direct them to the manufacturer of your e-reader.<br />
<br />
Below is a listing of all the pieces featured in this issue<br />
<br />
<u>Poetry:</u><br />
<a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/07/down-and-out.html" target="_blank">Down and Out</a> by Maggie Grinnell <br />
<a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/07/telling-my-friends-of-storm.html" target="_blank">Telling My Friends of the Storm</a> by John Grey<br />
<a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/07/whose-ownership.html" target="_blank">Whose Ownership?</a> by John Grey<br />
<a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/07/stasis.html" target="_blank">Stasis</a> by Lauren Sukin<br />
<a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/07/ItsThisThinEnvelope.html" target="_blank">* ("It's this thin envelope")</a> by Simon Perchik<br />
<a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/07/ExceptfortheNewSuit.html" target="_blank">* (Except for the new suit")</a> by Simon Perchik<br />
<a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/07/death-of-mouse.html" target="_blank">Death of a Mouse</a> by Bruce McRae<br />
<a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/07/light-flower.html" target="_blank">Light Flower</a> by Melindy Wynn-Bourne<br />
<a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/07/stoneworkers.html" target="_blank">Stoneworkers</a> by Barry Spacks<br />
<a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/07/poison.html" target="_blank">Poison</a> by Brittany Nelson<br />
<br />
<u>Prose:</u><br />
<a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/07/assertiveness-training-for-mummies.html" target="_blank">Assertiveness Training for Mummies</a> by David Vardeman<br />
<a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/07/gone.html" target="_blank">Gone</a> by Xanthe Elliott<br />
<a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/07/strike-not.html" target="_blank">Strike Not</a> by Scott Archer Jones<br />
<a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/07/aunt-hester.html" target="_blank">Aunt Hester</a> by Carol Smallwood<br />
<a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/07/trials.html" target="_blank">Trials</a> by Ronald Paxton</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-126222896087896157.post-74162133635455711372013-07-01T00:00:00.014-04:002013-07-01T00:00:09.160-04:00*<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
by Simon Perchik<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Except
for the new suit</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">the
boy in the photograph</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">is
starting to wave again</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in;">
<br></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">though
you dust its frame</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">half
sweetened wood, half</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">no
longer exhausted</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in;">
<br></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">drawing
sap and the rag damp</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">from
brooding –you spray</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">then
wipe, ready this wall</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in;">
<br></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">the
way each small stone</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">is
rinsed side to side as the river</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">that
carries off one shore</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in;">
<br></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">the
other each year heavier</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">holding
you from behind</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">screeching
across, wet with saliva</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in;">
<br></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">with
nothing in writing</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">or
a button you can open</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">for
its scent and mist.</span></div>
</div><a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/07/ExceptfortheNewSuit.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-126222896087896157.post-83887109236727165322013-07-01T00:00:00.013-04:002013-07-01T00:00:01.345-04:00*<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">by Simon Perchik</span></span><br>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br></span></span>
<br>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It’s
this thin envelope, empty, closed</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">gasping
for air though your knuckles</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">are
still flickering –what you hold</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">was
never mailed, lets you rest</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">read the
address over and over</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">just to
move it further off</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">away
from this boiling mountainside</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">ripping
apart, flowing down your arm</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">with
nothing left and cools –these days</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">you
don’t lick the glue –in all directions</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">your
mouth is her name, alone</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">coming
back as ashes and snow.</span></span></div>
</div><a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/07/ItsThisThinEnvelope.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-126222896087896157.post-39535868964457130332013-07-01T00:00:00.012-04:002013-07-01T00:00:00.033-04:00Death of a Mouse<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
by Bruce McRae<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Which is
no great thing,</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">coming
in from the frost-bitten fields,</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">meeting
its mousey maker,</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">eternity’s
agent the simple housecat,</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">a fat
and playful angel of death.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The
mouse, its life poured out</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">on a mat
by a door,</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">the
watch of its heart stopped,</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">the
wheel in its head no longer turning.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">As must
we all lie down,</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">a little
dirt-nap for the fallen just,</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">an old
wind aching in the yellowing glade,</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">fields
of gold calling us home,</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">the
grains of harvest piled high.</span></div>
</div><a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/07/death-of-mouse.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-126222896087896157.post-75351302094950059232013-07-01T00:00:00.011-04:002013-07-01T00:00:11.938-04:00Gone<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">by Xanthe Elliott</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">They
told her to turn him off – let him go –he’s really already
gone. Standing over his hospital bed, her denials were fierce,
immediate. “He is my husband; I will bring him back.” And she
did, though he’d been beaten to the very edge of eternity. Later
she would watch him as his brow furrowed in concentration, his
fingers twisting and twining until at last a bright smile lit up his
face. He tugged excitedly on her sleeve. “Hey lady, look! I tied my
shoes…” She cried.</span></div>
</div><a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/07/gone.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-126222896087896157.post-37500668481986620292013-07-01T00:00:00.010-04:002013-07-01T00:00:00.714-04:00Whose Ownership?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">by John Grey</span></span><br>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br></span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The
child is not privately owned</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">so
he can grasp it when the mood takes him.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Some
day, it will claim itself for itself</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">but,
for now, it goes along with</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">being
picked up from the floor, pressed to his chest.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The
threat of rain goes public also.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Even
when the clouds finally burst,</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">drops
down window-panes are available to all.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">He
spends money on the apples</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">but
there's no extra cost for the taste.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Church
bells rings out. Robins whistle.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">He
hears them all for free.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The
house is full of giveaways.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Outdoors
is wrapped in ribbons for him no matter the weather.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">He
plays Mahler on the stereo and no one hands him a bill.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sure
the child starts crying but crisp as a hundred dollar note.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">With
nothing to owe, he grows wealthier by the minute.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">He
rocks the child back to sleep. Gratis.</span></span></div>
</div><a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/07/whose-ownership.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-126222896087896157.post-81708664268068604042013-07-01T00:00:00.009-04:002013-07-01T00:00:10.843-04:00Telling My Friends of the Storm<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">by John Grey</span></span><br>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br></span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I
should have been explaining the dream.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Instead,
I gave them the weather report.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There
was that long gray time</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">when
I could almost hear the sky deliberating;</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">the
flash of fireworks in the distance,</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">thunder's
distant rumble, that rehearsal</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">for
the most overhead of claps.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There
were short sharp bursts of hard rain,</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">there
were long periods of mellow drizzle.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It
was loud and fierce.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It
was almost graceful</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">in
the rhythms of its drear.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There
was a perfect arrogance to the way</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">it
took over the world,</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">upset
its clear and calm conceits.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I
understood the storm more</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">by
observing the trees flapping back and forth</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">in
sudden bursts of wind,</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">the
cat diving for shelter,</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">my
neighbors out in the worst of it,</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">gathering
children's toys from their flooded lawns.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But
that's not how dreams are</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">and
that's not how storms are.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I
fell asleep at the window</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">and
I was back in my childhood</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">dancing
in the puddles,</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">cheering
on the war gods,</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">celebrating
the cool of the wet on my skin.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You
missed a great storm,</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I
was telling my friends.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You
should have known me then,</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I
longed to say.</span></span></div>
</div><a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/07/telling-my-friends-of-storm.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-126222896087896157.post-10184178503909761922013-07-01T00:00:00.008-04:002013-07-01T00:00:02.924-04:00Stasis<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
by Lauren Sukin<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">This
is the domino theory: that we will fall</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">like
small Asian countries (against the Berlin wall)</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">awestruck
at finding solace</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">in
the great democratic fingertips.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">With
your arms a cradle into evening,</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">We
will crest and wane and linger into the dark,</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">ever
peering around the red corner.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
pray that nothing changes,</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">pray
thanks and hope that at sunrise</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">the
morning will undress me,</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.01in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">and
naked I may tumble into stasis. </span></div>
</div><a href="http://lifeasan.blogspot.com/2013/07/stasis.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0