War Isn’t Over
Dear Laura Last night I was reading Frances Fitzgerald’s Fire in the Lake: The Vietnamese and the Americans in Vietnam This afternoon I listened to a playlist I made Of songs from the Vietnam War…
Author: Mark J. Chmiel
Harvey Silverman’s on Edge
Perry I figured you’d understand the following— You know, I’m very sad That Dylan accepted that medal from Obama (I’ve been in a trance alternating Listening to “Masters of War” And then rereading Robert Fisk’s…
Scribbled in a Cherry Red Moleskine
28 March 2013; 8:14 p.m. I want to sit on the front porch with Srimatiji Tell her that wherever she goes in life Our connection will deepen in time Because namaste is forever
`Īsā (The Muslim Jesus)
1. A man came to Jesus and said, “Teacher of goodness, teach me something that you know and I do not, that benefits me and does you no harm.” Jesus asked, “What would that be?”…
Same, Same But Different
Same, same but different Cami tells me this is a Laotian saying* Same, same but different Since Trump was elected Same, same but different The fragile tenderness of my heart Same, same but different Another…
Can’t Wait for the USPS by Rob Trousdale (The Joy is Reciprocal)
A Response to a Letter from 4514 Chouteau Avenue How many times can one read the same 4 sentences? 14 and counting, I guess Your lines on Chomsky’s fire for linguistics Him, just diggin’ it…
Accompaniment
Al-Hujwiri, the 11th Century Sufi Master, writes in his Kashf al-Mahjub: When Moses conversed with God, he asked, “Lord, where shall I seek You?” God answered, “Among the brokenhearted.” Moses continued, “But, Lord, no heart…
From a Brand New Notebook by Katie Consamus
The magnificent Katie Consamus sent me this a while back, and I am happy to share it here. January 12, 2011 at 10:43pm From page one of a brand new notebook. Written first with a…
You’ve Been Warned
With her, you don’t get a stream of consciousness. You get a flash flood of consciousness. –from novel-in-progress, Our Heroic and Ceaseless 24/7 Struggle against Tsuris
For a Grad Student in Doubt (“What Am I Doing Here?!”)
Declare Wednesdays as the weekly liberated time zone of not once having to justify being in school to yourself or to anyone Leave guilt at the door of the library, then stride in with gusto,…