Family Tree

I’m sleeping, I think; this has the vivid feeling of a dream.Before my house was rebuilt, a huge mango tree … More

How To Screw

In my younger days, it was so easy, so straightforward.Really, in my house there was only one way to do … More

All the Hours of the Day and Night

I don’t know which of the 12 hours I love more,the half that’s a.m., or the half that’s p.m.I’d always … More

No More Nice Things

Crayon and magic markers that never came off the walls;paint on the carpets and doors;knife and screwdriver carved furniture and … More

The Fruits of Love’s Labor

May I write a song for us?Maybe about our family tree?How about our hawking birds and stinging bees?The scheme of … More

Not Everything Is Broken

If I were Bob Dylan, I could tell you everything that’s broken.If you know that song, you know his list is … More

War Tale

As he sits fingering his bottle of beer,wiping the sweat down in trickles,turning it slowly in tight circles on the … More

Youth Must Be Served

I’m watering the yard, and out of the corner of my eye, I noticea branch of the plumeria tree bend; … More

Mind in the Time

Remember that, she says, as we sit sipping coffee, I was all whipped-cream nosed. It has been 40 years since … More

London Stairs for Going Down

“Mind the stairs, mate,”he shouts in a harsh tone.I look up, he down at me, his facethat of an angry … More

Self Help

As agreed, I am waiting in the Self Help section of the bookstore.I read in a randomly selected book that … More

Envy

Someone says, “Mine is better than yours.”It’s that old schoolyard boast,the anger instantaneously rumbling up,separating two children playing to fierce … More

Where There’s a Will

A pint can’t hurt.Why do I always think that?More likely a pint can’t help. This writing implement depresses me.They are … More

Episode 16 of my latest Lt. David Chan Hawaiʻi crime story is available on Kindle Vella

Scorpio Rose

The moon wasn’t in the second house, nor did Jupiter and Mars align. The planets weren’t guided by peace, and … More

Land of English Only

I was born in a land of English speakers,where parents believed speaking Englishwas the key to success. My father was … More

Growing Soft

Sorry to say, but several things about you bother me.For one, you are cleverly invisible most times.I hear your soft … More

Hold On

March, about those last three days you borrowed from April to warm you up.I can guess why you wouldn’t want … More

Unwound

My legs are tired, heavy.Each step’s more a slog.The clock slows down.Someone forgot to wind it.Used to stay on top … More

Beg Pardon

You use your arms to disguise your breasts as elbows,to stop the wind from licking at them,or cross yourself against … More