Every seven years Cells turn over And a newer me emerges Reborn Reincarnated Recycled Scars persist Like a darned sock The stitching smooths And blends A remnant No escaping the mileage Erosion Can carve canyons Memories fade So slowly The glacier is long forgotten Only the effects remain Am I still me When all the … Read moreLost and Found
From the “Common American Phrasebook for Intelligencer Personnel,” issued to Soviet agents targeting U.S. citizens, recovered when the drunken girlfriend of a low-ranking Soviet Embassy diplomat dropped a diplomatic satchel on the airport tarmac and high winds scattered the documents, later recovered by the FBI. [*translated from Russian] “Americans speak in confusing phrases they call … Read moreThe Never Lost in Translation Department
Julius Caesar decided A year should be twelve months Instead of ten So added November and December Daylight Saving Time Let’s us reclaim or lose an hour Allowing time travel Twice a year Clocks give shape to time But if time flies when you’re having fun And clocks can’t keep up What are they counting?
Death is a cat Creeping on silent fur paws Death is a dog Gouging the floor with its claws Death is a calm day Dappled light in the glare Death is a hurricane When cars take to the air Death is a bicycle Gliding silently through Death is a dump truck Speed bump hopping near … Read moreDeath is Death
The pressure to speak With nothing to say Low hanging fruit For thought leaders And game changers Hoping to move the needle and Break down the silos of Baked in growth hacks. Nonsense, of course, But is it so wrong To remain vague With blue sky thinking And nebulous stretch goals To retain the upper … Read moreInside The Loop
Liar, criminal, computer hacker Con man, manipulator, bully, truant The scourge of Chicago Flouting the law With a smug smile Dragging along his fellows For a dine and dash A frightening joy ride A reckless parade float crash Thrilled by the risk of capture And near misses Convinced his wit and charm Will rescue him … Read moreOn The Path of Ruin
The end of December brings my birthday and the annual notable deaths wrap-up of expired celebrities, scientists, politicians, and famous ne’er-do-wells. I usually forgot most were still alive. I check the ages, and most are reassuringly far from mine. But some are much too close. Will my life merit a notable death? Do I have … Read moreAnother Annual Review
Call me Ishmael, or Ishy for short. Winter is tough for me. I always feel a little down, which aggravates my acid reflux. I’d like to get away somewhere with a sunny beach, but I’m between gigs and unemployment won’t fund a vacation. I saw ads for work on a fishing boat, which sounds perfect. … Read more[email protected]
What’s your favorite color? My environmental receptors Perceive energy at all wavelengths Some of which humans have Divided Into seven adorable categories radio microwave infrared optical ultraviolet x-ray and gamma ray. What humans call Color Occurs in the so-called optical range A grossly unscientific name Since many animals perceive far beyond it. Energy is a … Read moreThe (AI) Critic
Every driver eyes The Vietnam vet Riding his scooter Bouncing along the sidewalk Top heavy Taking curb cuts without Slowing Tilting Into traffic and Teetering On the brink of ruin But just as quickly Righted Even though every pebble makes it Shimmy And Shudder He rolls onward The tiny American flag fully erect From the … Read moreApace