Sunday, May 31, 2009
Literate Hate
Those lifting remarks from context--
the original person, or piece, overall
really making the opposite point--
know in their rancid hearts
what they’re doing,
but can’t stop.
Those lifting remarks from context--
the original person, or piece, overall
really making the opposite point--
know in their rancid hearts
what they’re doing,
but can’t stop.
Labels: context, out of context, partisan
Saturday, May 30, 2009
The Watchdogs
-He appointed allegedly neutral committee to be watchdogs.
-I don’t like the sound of that! Who’ll watch them?
-I don’t know, but someone has to. High tastes! Their expense accounts alone...!
-That’ll be you. And you report to me whatever hour of night.
-I usually sleep then.
-You sleep and we’re ruined!
-Oh dear! And I suppose somebody’ll watch me?
-Don’t be a wiseguy! I’ll watch you. We’ll watch each other, if that makes
you happy.
-The paranoid style of American Capitalism.
-Oh I hear you at lunch. More of a half-ass Socialist!
-To a Socialist, I’m a Republican. But anyway, all hail the endless loop of distrust!
Or is that, a line, rather? To infinity? Or a Möbius strip perhaps?
-Who gives a crap? I’ll never hire another college guy!
-He appointed allegedly neutral committee to be watchdogs.
-I don’t like the sound of that! Who’ll watch them?
-I don’t know, but someone has to. High tastes! Their expense accounts alone...!
-That’ll be you. And you report to me whatever hour of night.
-I usually sleep then.
-You sleep and we’re ruined!
-Oh dear! And I suppose somebody’ll watch me?
-Don’t be a wiseguy! I’ll watch you. We’ll watch each other, if that makes
you happy.
-The paranoid style of American Capitalism.
-Oh I hear you at lunch. More of a half-ass Socialist!
-To a Socialist, I’m a Republican. But anyway, all hail the endless loop of distrust!
Or is that, a line, rather? To infinity? Or a Möbius strip perhaps?
-Who gives a crap? I’ll never hire another college guy!
Labels: watcdog
Friday, May 29, 2009
Frame of Mind
When unfortunate corruptions stand forth...
"We must have our man!"
When President appoints a benign moderate....
"We must have our fight!"
When reasons for it are murky or nonexistent...
"We must have our war!"
Labels: party politics
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Latin Life
PARTY OPERATOR
Some inevitable Hispanic bashing must come along with this
Supreme Court nominee.
LATIN LEGISLATOR
Waste! Just playing to the racist core. Will the talk radio
idiots speak in fractured accents also?
PO
And bring back Speedy Gonzales jokes? Maybe not that far.
LL
Farther. Anyway, by all means let’s alienate another group!
And peel off some more women for good measure.
PO
We can’t just roll over. Wrong in practice, wrong in principle.
LL
Tell that to Luis having his morning Cuban coffee on Calle Ocho.
PO
I know your Luis and his ilk. Loudmouth in both languages.
Even both at once! Why he’s his own inter-racial dialog!
LL
That’s a stereotype!
PO
Yeah. And Miami loaded with ‘em!–most with knives.
LL
Man! You and your Whites-Only ILK leading my Republicans to extinction.
PO
Relax. You’ll get your Spic after all the noise. But let us have
the noise. We love it! You gotta put up with the collateral damage
to your precious Latinos.
LL
It never ends. And after all the fights we fought...!
PO
Never won in total...maybe when you achieve the same
moral standards as Caucasians?
LL
Thanks for that elevating thought. I’ll explain it to Luis--
once he calms down of course.
PO
Now don’t take me too seriously. I’m mostly teasing. It’s a joke.
Everything’s a big joke. That’s what you gotta learn, black, white,
brown or whatever.
LL
Whatever.
PARTY OPERATOR
Some inevitable Hispanic bashing must come along with this
Supreme Court nominee.
LATIN LEGISLATOR
Waste! Just playing to the racist core. Will the talk radio
idiots speak in fractured accents also?
PO
And bring back Speedy Gonzales jokes? Maybe not that far.
LL
Farther. Anyway, by all means let’s alienate another group!
And peel off some more women for good measure.
PO
We can’t just roll over. Wrong in practice, wrong in principle.
LL
Tell that to Luis having his morning Cuban coffee on Calle Ocho.
PO
I know your Luis and his ilk. Loudmouth in both languages.
Even both at once! Why he’s his own inter-racial dialog!
LL
That’s a stereotype!
PO
Yeah. And Miami loaded with ‘em!–most with knives.
LL
Man! You and your Whites-Only ILK leading my Republicans to extinction.
PO
Relax. You’ll get your Spic after all the noise. But let us have
the noise. We love it! You gotta put up with the collateral damage
to your precious Latinos.
LL
It never ends. And after all the fights we fought...!
PO
Never won in total...maybe when you achieve the same
moral standards as Caucasians?
LL
Thanks for that elevating thought. I’ll explain it to Luis--
once he calms down of course.
PO
Now don’t take me too seriously. I’m mostly teasing. It’s a joke.
Everything’s a big joke. That’s what you gotta learn, black, white,
brown or whatever.
LL
Whatever.
Labels: Hispanic, Supreme Court
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Contract
-But you can see that I’m white.
-I’m not a racist.
-Okay, then, the deal is I become your slave, and you take care of me.
-That’s the deal.
-Republicans would call that Socialism.
-I’m a Republican and I resent that.
-But it’s slavery.
-Of course. Respectable and honest institution when it’s done properly.
-What’s your true motive in this?
-To bring it back. Show its excellence.
-I’ll sign on. I like the protection, rather than the
Capitalistic mill that crushes you and then spits you out.
-You won’t regret it.
-I’m to say I’m a slave?
-Proudly!
Labels: Modern Slavery, Slavery
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Dept of Sore
Repubs Begging Dems
to attend their "tea
parties." Hear bashing
litanies from losers
of the Party of War
seeking a door.
Of Race, an Ace.
Of Torture
the store of
ideals they trashed.
Repubs Begging Dems
to attend their "tea
parties." Hear bashing
litanies from losers
of the Party of War
seeking a door.
Of Race, an Ace.
Of Torture
the store of
ideals they trashed.
Labels: Republican, tea parties
Monday, May 25, 2009
Memorial Day
What did they die for?
Everything
comprising us.
Patriotic ideals
& honest citizens.
Frauds & greas-
y profiteers. We
fail the fallen by
not excising
the toxic.
What did they die for?
Everything
comprising us.
Patriotic ideals
& honest citizens.
Frauds & greas-
y profiteers. We
fail the fallen by
not excising
the toxic.
Labels: Memorial Day
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Heaven Tech
GOD
A month? I haven’t got a month!
CHIEF CELESTIAL ENGINEER
No worry, O Completest and Highest Eminence, I’ll type in
the Cheat Code and make it a week or so.
GOD
I worry about the morality of all that.
CCE
You listen to an awful lot of prissy angels up here!
GOD
Well, they try to hold us to our ideals.
CCE
You know, of course, that we can’t possibly use their template for people?
GOD
I understand. Tragic flaw.
CCE
Multitudinous! Only rare ones’ll make it through without cheat codes.
GOD
A month? I haven’t got a month!
CHIEF CELESTIAL ENGINEER
No worry, O Completest and Highest Eminence, I’ll type in
the Cheat Code and make it a week or so.
GOD
I worry about the morality of all that.
CCE
You listen to an awful lot of prissy angels up here!
GOD
Well, they try to hold us to our ideals.
CCE
You know, of course, that we can’t possibly use their template for people?
GOD
I understand. Tragic flaw.
CCE
Multitudinous! Only rare ones’ll make it through without cheat codes.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
The Banker
-Hey! The Big Man himself! To what do I owe...?
-Flu. I’m filling in. Good loan, good rate. Exceptional rate, really.
Wouldn’t get that from me!
-I better sign fast then! Jesus! Look at all the tiny print. I’m being
totally screwed in there? Is that it?
-Not from this quarter. If I’m gonna fuck you, it’ll be in large block type.
-Hey! The Big Man himself! To what do I owe...?
-Flu. I’m filling in. Good loan, good rate. Exceptional rate, really.
Wouldn’t get that from me!
-I better sign fast then! Jesus! Look at all the tiny print. I’m being
totally screwed in there? Is that it?
-Not from this quarter. If I’m gonna fuck you, it’ll be in large block type.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Taxi Driver and Winner
DRIVER
Hey! You’re fuckin dude won that thing on the island with all those slutty girls and nerds and egomaniacs. What a collection of assholes!
WINNER
That was my brother.
DRIVER
Bullshit!
WINNER
Yeah. Okay.
DRIVER
Well, tell me something about it! Bad takes and all
that good shit.
WINNER
You about nailed it already.
DRIVER
No more to say?
WINNER
A mess!
DRIVER
Was it...fixed?
WINNER
Nah. That’d take competence.
Labels: reality shows
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Post Victory Conference
-Let's see now. Your shtick is The Rebel! Goes against our party for the higher etc good.
-That's me! Rows against the tide. With dazzle!
-Well, on voting, we’ll give you flashy ten percent. Other ninety, however dull, with us.
-That is unreasonable! My reputation!
-You would never have been elected without our money.
One tight district!
-And I’m grateful but...
-Saying you're grateful is not the same as showing you’re grateful.
-I just don’t want people laughing at me.
-You're a politician! Who the hell cares what people do?
Labels: party politics, political rebels
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Pit of Writhing Monsters
Projections from Right-Wing Radio
in Central Florida like something
out of Dante. Dreadest ogre presently,
a Pelosi. A woman, thus funny anyway
in the lexicon, and one who reaches;
therefore, must be shattered.
Ah for the 50s joyful ditz
who scrubbed the toilets
with insane vigor
and was shielded
from the failure of adding
a column of single figures!
Labels: Central Florida, Pelosi, right-wing radio
Monday, May 18, 2009
Righties Say Abortion Murder
Blasting Ragtops to Allah, not.
Ah, but we’re talking INNOCENT
LIFE they trump. Darkly Arab &
Afghan youngsters, so splotched
in soul as to be inexplicable
by such DECENCY.
Blasting Ragtops to Allah, not.
Ah, but we’re talking INNOCENT
LIFE they trump. Darkly Arab &
Afghan youngsters, so splotched
in soul as to be inexplicable
by such DECENCY.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Getting Heads Together
Two palms, fore and aft
of my apartment have
been severely pruned.
Banded doves usually nest
there. Couples meet at these
rueful places, but so peace-
ably, it's difficult to see
anything settled.
Two palms, fore and aft
of my apartment have
been severely pruned.
Banded doves usually nest
there. Couples meet at these
rueful places, but so peace-
ably, it's difficult to see
anything settled.
Labels: banded doves, discussion
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Backstage
When the circus comes to New Haven’s
Arena, I get a high & oddly-angled seat
affording backstage views. Horses prove
bitten, their riding girls have costumes
often patched, panty hems digging
mottled flesh. Human Cannonball
climbs my stairs, glittering. Curtain swept
aside & there’s the gun! & he’s fired! Wow!
Actually a big spring performs the labor.
Gunpowder, stinks, smoke & concus-
sion for effect. Ah well, all backstages
everywhere, seedy, suspect, torn. So
what? For up front, under true &
proper lights, the whole show fuels
the necessary dreams of hicks.
When the circus comes to New Haven’s
Arena, I get a high & oddly-angled seat
affording backstage views. Horses prove
bitten, their riding girls have costumes
often patched, panty hems digging
mottled flesh. Human Cannonball
climbs my stairs, glittering. Curtain swept
aside & there’s the gun! & he’s fired! Wow!
Actually a big spring performs the labor.
Gunpowder, stinks, smoke & concus-
sion for effect. Ah well, all backstages
everywhere, seedy, suspect, torn. So
what? For up front, under true &
proper lights, the whole show fuels
the necessary dreams of hicks.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Short Essay on AIG
Now run by government trustees, allegedly. Since we own
about eighty percent. But they still have a board and CEO
in place busily fucking everybody as always.
Labels: AIG, AIG Trustees
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Florida County Wants To Add In God We Trust To Seal
Uh uh. Off the reservation.
Those closest must invoke
only. A hierarchy thing. Thus
in Washington DC, air is thick
with this specific reference.
Professors call it all The Great
Chain of Beans.
Uh uh. Off the reservation.
Those closest must invoke
only. A hierarchy thing. Thus
in Washington DC, air is thick
with this specific reference.
Professors call it all The Great
Chain of Beans.
Labels: hierarchy
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Rocco and Troubled Jerry
ROCCO
Well your parents are nuts.
TJ
Hey! A relative term here.
ROCCO
You may have absorbed some weird or immature patterns.
TJ
Yeah but I'm finished blaming them. It got tired.
ROCCO
My cue to say a golden phrase to put you instantly on rail.
TJ
What rail? It's 30th Street Station!
ROCCO
Where you’ll grab the R5 someday to
Ardmore and your new, plump wife!
TJ
Hold that thought! Not only is it positive, it's pretty.
Rocco dispenses quick advice in South Philadelphia.
Labels: Rocco, South Philadelphia
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Evening Radio in Central Florida
Right-wing cesspool.
Hated their ilk for so
long some have died off, even.
Choking on “patriotic” gore,
one assumes.
When I lived out in the country,
a guy scrawled protest over
one wall of his house. Parish?
Nation? Cosmos? was against?
Who could tell? That's America!
you maintain. Uh huh. Well we can all
despise effectively with half the fury.
Right-wing cesspool.
Hated their ilk for so
long some have died off, even.
Choking on “patriotic” gore,
one assumes.
When I lived out in the country,
a guy scrawled protest over
one wall of his house. Parish?
Nation? Cosmos? was against?
Who could tell? That's America!
you maintain. Uh huh. Well we can all
despise effectively with half the fury.
Labels: Central Florida, right-wing radio
Monday, May 11, 2009
Question of Business
How do you know your newest
business acquaintance might
not puke on your shoes?
Or grow all clammy and
convulse? Or even
stiffen of limb and neck
and have a real woozer of
a heart attack? In the ambulance
you'll protest your plight
of just meeting the Dude,
or Duchess as the case may be.
How do you know your newest
business acquaintance might
not puke on your shoes?
Or grow all clammy and
convulse? Or even
stiffen of limb and neck
and have a real woozer of
a heart attack? In the ambulance
you'll protest your plight
of just meeting the Dude,
or Duchess as the case may be.
Labels: business
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Function of the Seedy
You always need the music hall,
the burlesque & the girls &
the baggy pants comedian with
an erection machine which he
springs with the entrance of
Madame La Voom or similar.
We have Vegas & porno cable
& dvds now. Some raunchy internet.
How all this protects your
dewy daughters I'm not quite sure,
but I guess it might in part.
You always need the music hall,
the burlesque & the girls &
the baggy pants comedian with
an erection machine which he
springs with the entrance of
Madame La Voom or similar.
We have Vegas & porno cable
& dvds now. Some raunchy internet.
How all this protects your
dewy daughters I'm not quite sure,
but I guess it might in part.
Labels: burlesque, pornography, Vegas
Saturday, May 09, 2009
Finns Tango
Good for a yak on
order of
Garrison Keillor’s
White-on-White Minnesota,
jokes starting: Two Norwegian farmers etc.
But Finns have tangoed a good long while.
Since 30s. Yearly convention draws 100,000.
More of a step
dragging
fire from ice.
Good for a yak on
order of
Garrison Keillor’s
White-on-White Minnesota,
jokes starting: Two Norwegian farmers etc.
But Finns have tangoed a good long while.
Since 30s. Yearly convention draws 100,000.
More of a step
dragging
fire from ice.
Friday, May 08, 2009
You lost! Get off the field!
I scream at former Senator Coleman, his buddies.
Other repubs huddle in the Southern End, their
yaps and whines resonating in the empty stadium.
Most pitiful one wanders still, uniform in tatters.
“Kennedy and his father stole Illinois with
the collusion of Mayor Dailey,” he mutters.
“Oh yeah? How about Bush v Gore?" I challenge.
"A day that will live in infamy even among all
the other Supreme Court fascist disgraces!”
“You lost! Get off the field!” someone shrieks. “Best
irony is you’ll be killed when the Blackies take over!”
I scream at former Senator Coleman, his buddies.
Other repubs huddle in the Southern End, their
yaps and whines resonating in the empty stadium.
Most pitiful one wanders still, uniform in tatters.
“Kennedy and his father stole Illinois with
the collusion of Mayor Dailey,” he mutters.
“Oh yeah? How about Bush v Gore?" I challenge.
"A day that will live in infamy even among all
the other Supreme Court fascist disgraces!”
“You lost! Get off the field!” someone shrieks. “Best
irony is you’ll be killed when the Blackies take over!”
Labels: Lost Cause, Republican
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Mailman Leaves Plastic Bag
For cans etc for poor. I buy 3
large, top-dollar, aggressive-
ly healthful soups. Then
later think how I loved Chef
Boyardee Ravioli as a kid
when my own parents
were just scraping by.
Only in America, one can
Nutrition-Noblesse-Oblige it
from cramped apartments.
For cans etc for poor. I buy 3
large, top-dollar, aggressive-
ly healthful soups. Then
later think how I loved Chef
Boyardee Ravioli as a kid
when my own parents
were just scraping by.
Only in America, one can
Nutrition-Noblesse-Oblige it
from cramped apartments.
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Rocco and Master Plumber Louie
LOUIE
Be okay now. Don't shift around on the toilet. In these old houses
a jar of pickled eggs'll fall in the basement.
ROCCO
Whatever. Is this your bill? Jesus! You make more than a proctologist!
LOUIE
He just stares into rectums. I'm aftermarket.
ROCCO
What's the latest trend there?
LOUIE
Double sinks in bathroom. His 'n hers.
ROCCO
Trophy wife insists?
LOUIE
Nah. She has separate bathroom–five shelf feet for hair crap alone.
It's the power couples. Both getting ready in the morning and
leaving in different Mercedes.
ROCCO
Sounds like the political ones. One hand washes the other.
LOUIE
They wash each other's hands.
ROCCO
Thus, the Senator drops our cash in wifey's purse.
LOUIE
Or vice versa.
Rocco leads discussions in South Philadelphia.
LOUIE
Be okay now. Don't shift around on the toilet. In these old houses
a jar of pickled eggs'll fall in the basement.
ROCCO
Whatever. Is this your bill? Jesus! You make more than a proctologist!
LOUIE
He just stares into rectums. I'm aftermarket.
ROCCO
What's the latest trend there?
LOUIE
Double sinks in bathroom. His 'n hers.
ROCCO
Trophy wife insists?
LOUIE
Nah. She has separate bathroom–five shelf feet for hair crap alone.
It's the power couples. Both getting ready in the morning and
leaving in different Mercedes.
ROCCO
Sounds like the political ones. One hand washes the other.
LOUIE
They wash each other's hands.
ROCCO
Thus, the Senator drops our cash in wifey's purse.
LOUIE
Or vice versa.
Rocco leads discussions in South Philadelphia.
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Pitching
Republican Populism throws
high hard ones that Rich
knock out of the park.
Democratic Populism throws
curves that Rich spray
down the lines. They
prefer home runs
but hardly suffer with
singles & doubles,
& stolen bases, or
Small Ball as it's styled.
Just stay in the game
no matter what.
Actually, they are
the game, controlling
fans & players &, es-
pecially, concessions.
Republican Populism throws
high hard ones that Rich
knock out of the park.
Democratic Populism throws
curves that Rich spray
down the lines. They
prefer home runs
but hardly suffer with
singles & doubles,
& stolen bases, or
Small Ball as it's styled.
Just stay in the game
no matter what.
Actually, they are
the game, controlling
fans & players &, es-
pecially, concessions.
Monday, May 04, 2009
A Short Story
As a young woman, followed
her husband around Sears.
Now he follows, when
not wandering off.
Alzheimers.
As a young woman, followed
her husband around Sears.
Now he follows, when
not wandering off.
Alzheimers.
Labels: Alzheimer's
Sunday, May 03, 2009
Extract
Hearing strangers sleep in
a one-star motel defines
a particular kind
of loneliness.
Hearing strangers sleep in
a one-star motel defines
a particular kind
of loneliness.
Labels: motel
Saturday, May 02, 2009
Teen Couple, Merritt Square Mall, Their Friends Late
HE
(mute)
SHE
This is, like, waiting!
HE
(mute)
SHE
This is, like, waiting!
Labels: Teens
Friday, May 01, 2009
Love Among the Ruins
HS coach praises toughness, his Tiger
among interior linemen, laughs
at your 150 weight. Gives you bulk-
up “program.” Players label it juicing.
Sophomore, 180. Junior, you start games now at 200.
Senior, 240.
Colleges write you and you pick the largest,
where pro scouts will come shopping.
Freshman, 250,
Sophomore 280, Junior 310 as you start again.
Never under 340 in pros.
You marry 3 cheerleaders and have 5 knee operations.
Play 6 years and make 1 Pro Bowl. Must finally retire
when you can hardly walk.
Presently live in a cottage on a lake, and walk and bike moderately.
Joke in the bar at the inn about your divorces and horror of a body you carry around, barely.
From the steroids, mostly, you shake your grizzled head.
Denise owns the inn and one thing leads, etc. You marry and help her run it.
She also has a track record of marriages. You call the coupling, Love Among the Ruins.
HS coach praises toughness, his Tiger
among interior linemen, laughs
at your 150 weight. Gives you bulk-
up “program.” Players label it juicing.
Sophomore, 180. Junior, you start games now at 200.
Senior, 240.
Colleges write you and you pick the largest,
where pro scouts will come shopping.
Freshman, 250,
Sophomore 280, Junior 310 as you start again.
Never under 340 in pros.
You marry 3 cheerleaders and have 5 knee operations.
Play 6 years and make 1 Pro Bowl. Must finally retire
when you can hardly walk.
Presently live in a cottage on a lake, and walk and bike moderately.
Joke in the bar at the inn about your divorces and horror of a body you carry around, barely.
From the steroids, mostly, you shake your grizzled head.
Denise owns the inn and one thing leads, etc. You marry and help her run it.
She also has a track record of marriages. You call the coupling, Love Among the Ruins.
