A Short List

A short list of people who were never born, not conceived, not dreamed up, not a gleam in someone’s eye. Romulus Baird Laurel Frankenstar Bertram Bacardus Willy Simgrip Ivor Pollingham Missy Darman Hans Harlow Renee Tussore Tuzla Niderstill Rosa Effel They will...

Mother Lode

July 5, 1955 11:30 p.m. The house was hot. I couldn’t sleep. I got out of bed. My father was in his study with the fan on. My mother was nowhere to be found. She was sitting on the steps of our front porch. I came out and sat down. No clouds. No moon. A blazing...

Loving Cat

The cat was loved. She did not know the verb love. Nor the 4 letters including ‘v’ & ‘l’. She was unfamiliar with the concept of affection. As a concept. Tactility was her medium of exchange. A touch. A tone. Food in her bowl. She rubbed against my...

Truth be Told

You’re not going to believe a word of this, not a word, although it’s true, sort of. I was told this by a man who sometimes lies. We all lie a little, sometimes. We say what’s true is false. We say what’s false is true. Not always. Sometimes. What I’m telling you is...

In Praise of Nouns

All the verbs in the world could not eliminate the need for nouns. Nouns sit, stubborn in their meanings, bricked up against the winds of change. They are not what they are but the names of what they are not. They are words. Not cars. Not bowling balls. Always, Nouns...