A Simple Time, Somewhere Else An intimidating fatherA crack addict auntA photograph of a woman holding roses lit on fire, smoke watering her eyesA vein that pulsates out of my neck when I’m under stress An evil twitter followerA contract with a security firmA heartbroken half sisterA tair in the crotch that shows my testicle … Continue reading “A SIMPLE TIME, SOMEWHERE ELSE” – “ASTRAL NIGHTMARE” – “FREEDOM”
ANNOUNCING: SUMMER OF THE SHARK
Up ahead, the shores of summer--but beyond that, in the shimmering sea, a dark fin surfaces: SUMMER OF THE SHARK, the latest special edition of APOCALYPSE CONFIDENTIAL. SHARKS--perhaps the most ubiquitous and feared entities on Earth. They have been on this planet longer than we have, and have casted a long shadow over arts, mythology, … Continue reading ANNOUNCING: SUMMER OF THE SHARK
HADRIAN’S GARDEN
I visited Hadrian’s estate years ago, for the invitation came suddenly to visit his home in Venice. The man, William Hartford Hadrian, was a specimen alone. He was impossibly tall, making his limbs look spindly in proportion. As well, he constantly bore a jovial smile beneath his gray walrus mustache and a glimmer in his … Continue reading HADRIAN’S GARDEN
“IT’S SO SILENT”
Тихо, тихо. Без тебя так тихо.Шорох, истончающийся в нить.Всё на свете состоит из жмыха,Стоит лишь сильнее надавить. Грустно, грустно. Без тебя так грустно.Полоумья круглая печать."Ты и я" отныне бессоюзно,Будет по раздельности звучать. Помню. Помню всё. Тебя не помню.Фотоплёнкой таешь на свету…Сердцем угодив в каменоломню,Мерю сигаретой пустоту. Тихо, тихо. Без тебя так тихо… It’s so silent. … Continue reading “IT’S SO SILENT”
“AGENCY”
No—I don't want to ownmy Agency any longer. I wantto short the neon sign aboveits door, flickering: Choose! Now!Here! You can even leaveyour shoes on inside, forget Chinesenorms. No—I refuse those normsand these ones too. One can't pleaseanyone by pondering and pondering orbs.Or plucking futures like apples, heavywith promise (love? no—worms). Ugh. I said ugh. … Continue reading “AGENCY”
BAR STORIES, PART III
To All the Sloshed Sad Bois Booze can be a panacea, but it can also be the thing that kills you. It is a slow-acting poison, although the morning after often feels like the late stages of something inoperable. The conundrum of the amber bottle, at least for me, is the fact that I use … Continue reading BAR STORIES, PART III
WITNESS
"Way Lost" by Kim Dorland The only memory I trust is that of the sunset. The other things, they’re fragmented into a million broken pieces, all of them too sharp and deadly-bright to fit back together again. She had a pink balloon tied around her wrist. I remember what she sounded like when she screamed … Continue reading WITNESS
“SPINNERET” – “FAIR GAME, FORREST” – “LIVING PROOF” – “COULD AND WOULD”
Spinneret Behind the wisdom that, when chasedby a bear, one need not runfastest of all the prey but rather fasterthan the one who limps, say, or the one who loseswind mere steps into the chase, we meanto assume something of the bear:its speed or its unwavering will to eat.For you, every moment anticipates a catch,and … Continue reading “SPINNERET” – “FAIR GAME, FORREST” – “LIVING PROOF” – “COULD AND WOULD”
THE SLUG EATS GARBAGE
Every night after the kitchen closes, I drain the deep fryers into a fifty-liter stockpot, all dented and dull. I fill it to the brim and let it cool, then heft it out back and across the parking lot, straining to make it to the rusted grease trap by the fence. I stand on a … Continue reading THE SLUG EATS GARBAGE
THE REAL ONES
Once a week I go to this fancy sandwich shop across the street from the courthouse. Lawyers and courthouse staff eat there. I was standing in line to order my chipotle steak sandwich. The sandwich makers know I always order the chipotle steak sandwich so they start making it as soon as I walk in. … Continue reading THE REAL ONES
APOCALYPSE CONFIDENTIAL 