And he says, “In this line, what does ‘it’ refer to?” I stare at the line then close my eyes … More
Category: On Writing
Word Picture
The urge of whirling stars told me sleepingI should write about you today but I only seeA coursing down of … More
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
Identity
“Is that true?” they ask, when they want to knowAbout poems I’ve dreamt off somewhere to catchWords snatched at “a … More
Transportation Inspiration
Planes are for writing poetryThink turbulence encounteringPerhaps Death’s come a’knockingHis scythe gleaming keenlyBringing instant panic with stomach acrobatics An inspirational moment … More
Madness
When B.H. told me he was madI wasn’t sure what he meantSo I asked if he referred toAngry or crazyHe … More
3,650 rough drafts, 10 years later
On this date in 2014, I challenged myself to post a rough draft a day. It’s been a good 10 … More
Say Hello
I will remember little to finally nothing of this poem in timeWriting is the act of pushing words like these … More
Off the Ground
Charles Dickens whispered, “On the ground”Meaning and significance? Mr. HartSits back and thinks in terms of legal precedenceThe message in … More
Look Up
“Hey, Lanning, you look younger every time I see you.” I look up and see an older gentleman smiling down … More
Write Like H E Double Hockey Sticks
If you want to tell today’s plain factYou’d best record it right awayBefore it’s blinded and bewildered by timeTurns into … More
Not Yet
That first time, more than 40 years nowHow many clock ticks like soft background musicFor the streaming rush of words … More
Some of It’s My Story
So, Chris, I’ve been thinking about the story you told me yesterday. I hope das good news. Oh, of course … More
It’s Not My Story
“So, me and Hector was eating at Charles Wong’s Ice Cream and Saimin Shop.” That’s Hector and I. And it’s were … More
Love Luck
The day is young and I am notSo slowly walk this beaten pathMy daily pondering strollScanning the surroundingsSearching for 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
Every Attention
David Ayabe sat down at his desk. When he was much younger, he’d had the intention to do something. Writing … More
A Portrait of the Norwegian Historian as an Old Man
His ancestors were not just marauding, blood-thirsty, war-mongering, pillaging, rapists, and slave traders. Vikings were extraordinary explorers, experts at navigation, … More
Books Write You Write Books
You think of your life as a library. It’s a big one, maybe not the size of the warehouse in Raiders … More
When What’s Not Isn’t Missing
Something you should knowIs sometimes not’s not missing Not isAs in the space between two words on a pageOr the … More
Lanning Lee 