Dear Reader, this is stuff that’s dry and boring

If you’re searching for some deeper meaning in this poemDon’t bother, Dear Reader, everything’s right here on the surfaceLike the … More

Finding Peace

Floundering at the bottom of the darkest pitWhere he choked with every spluttered curseHis life depending now on letting anger … More

The Case of the Eternal Adolescents

The Hardy boys never had sexNever produced progeny to perpetuate the detective family dynastyNo junior detectives carrying on the family traditionFrank … More

The Weight of Words

I loaned Duke my first edition of Fitzgerald’s Collected Short Stories, but when – after what I thought was a … More

Middle Age

I’m long past middle age, but my joke has always been that no matter how old I get, I will … More

Immortal

This is good; I want to be alone.  I’m amazed I’m the only one here.  You’d think the place would be swarming … More

Growing Up Local (August 6, 2023)

“Make sure to watch the credits all the way to the end.” My friend, Bill Teter, was on his way … More

And More

My parents were good parents, allowing meTo lay the foundations of my literary fixation From an early age when they … More

Fame and Misfortune

Millions long for immortality who don’t know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon.– Susan Ertz This … More

Remember the time in the laundry room?

I sat perched atop one of the dryers in our apartment building basement, absorbing warmth, enjoying the rumbling spin of … More

The Feud

The Elgin Marbles have stood up well, true, not wasting much under the rude press of time, considering their grief … More

The Authors’ Voices

Like dog whistles we can’t be heard. If you could hear all of us, together, you’d never let us into … More

Black and White

My sister snaps the picture. She’s not a professional photographer, I muse.  And she’s using my iPhone.  What this occasion … More

The Ghosts of Irish Writers

INTERIOR, RADIO STATION STUDIO – MIDNIGHTRICHARD, the DJ, sits at a table in front of a microphone. ULYSSES, the guest … More

NaNoWriMo: More About That Later, Chapter 23, A Tale of Mad City

My first semester at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, definitely had its best of times and worst of times split … More