For W. (obvious and otherwise), with valor

This was supposed to be about the dirt that flies up in puffs between bare feet when the bees are buzzing all a-thrill, their noses deep and delighted in flat Cokes that sit out for too long while kids splash in the creek, their browned legs stemming out from cut off shorts and browned arms hallooing, ( Read more... )

last night it stormed something mighty here. the rain came all at once followed by a cannonade of thunder and light. it was dvorak over and over again in the clouds' exchange of static charge and heat. i have spent the better part of this evening swooning to rostropovich's man-of-war cello. it is cello so true that it makes everything in me shake ( Read more... )

I used to be a reckless traveler. Like in Prague three years ago, when Liz and I careened through the streets with our jackets unzipped, blissfully sleet-soaked; or when we tapped our feet on the tram without even once fumbling for the map we had bought but would promptly lose in a mossy cathedral one hour later. Even though I missed everything ( Read more... )

i'm moved from that diamond shaped city to one that unfolds between fields of corn. the corn goes forever here and it glows against the blue, blue sky. though i like this place i feel unsteady. even with my lace curtains filtering out the falling sun, my ball ideal canning jars capturing light on the window sill, my basil plant furling towards the ( Read more... )

The other day a friend and I were talking about this moment we had driving home through the canyon. It was after that glorious night at the cabin where everyone was laughing and loving life, just at the very start of the making of New Summer Friends. It was me and two friends with dawn breaking over the mountains and such clarity surrounded us. ( Read more... )

when he put his arm around me last night everything just felt wrong. then he fumbled for my hand, which didn't make things any better, but i still managed to lay my head on his shoulder and to snuggle into his sweater because well, you know how it goes. he was there and he was there and there. bodies get familiar with bodies. we crave warmth. i don ( Read more... )

last night my friend got trapped in my parking lot. something to do with ice, bald tires, a slight upward slant, and a violet mustang convertible. it's the same violet mustang convertible we rode around in before i left for england, before she moved out, and everyone grew up and out of this familiar grid of seven blocks, kitschy porches, and ( Read more... )

and just like that, everything was back to normal. today it was so cold that i actually bought an overcoat that looks like it would fit perfectly in 1968. black cordorouy with three buttons and a scoop neck with a floppy collar. it's that kind of weather where the only clothes i want to wear are sweaters and leggings. no matter how eighties that ( Read more... )

There will be miserable nights when your body gets hijacked by your head. It misses that point where sleep is still a possibility and forges on to pass the night insomnia-struck. But then there will also be sleepless nights when sleep doesn’t come simply because you will it away. You will want to watch nostalgic movies that make you cry and dab ( Read more... )

This is what I want to say to you. I want to be blithe and carefree, leaning forwards on my elbows with an eager look on my face asking “Well what do you like best about her?” I want to be a good sport, an unjealous person, a forgiving person. Of myself, really. Forgiving of you, too, in that you haven’t done anything wrong and probably won’t ( Read more... )