June 18, 2018
The moon, full fat, begins its sky climb by sliding up from behind the abandoned lighthouse. You survey the beach and the gentle churning of the surf. Not a living creature do you see. Are you really and truly finally safe? You take two deep breaths and step out into the open. You freeze and listen. Measured rustle of spilling waves and nothing other. Intensely aware, you cross the sand and, with no delay, plow straight into the water. Confidence expands. You are in your element. Down you plunge to snake powerfully forward. Thrust and surge, you glide in joy. Until. Your ankle. Something has grasped your ankle. You are pulled backwards and up. You are hauled from the sea to dangle, hanging upside down, thrashing. A boat. Ah. You see her. There she is. You die.
June 17, 2018
Loon: For the 3 Question Interview, the Lords of the 4th Dimension have produced for our encouragement today a famous stage performing singer I have never heard of, Ethel Merman. Welcome, shouldn’t your name be Ethel Mermaid instead of Merman?
Merman’s ghost: Is that supposed to be funny? And it’s Zimmerman to you, pal.
Loon: Ah. I hear by the pain in my ear that you probably can sing loud. Did you sing loud?
Merman’s ghost: Loud. Soft. Whatever you need, I got it.
Loon: Finally, do you have any advice for young performers?
Merman’s ghost: Yeah. Get up there and do it. Don’t mess around. Is that it? (leaves swiftly)
Loon: Join me next week for another fascinating in depth probe of ghostly wisdom. (puffs up, impressed with self)
June 16, 2018
Here’s to –
Nora the barnacle goose –
Skin-the-Goat –
the giggle fit of bronze by gold –
the blind stripling piano tuner tap tap tapping along –
the dog’s rag of wolf’s tongue redpanting from his jaws-
Stephen deep in thought strolling on Sandymount Strand –
socks with skyblue clocks, jaunty –
Plumtree’s Potted Meats, which can make of each home an abode of bliss –
Rose of Castille and rows of cast steel –
met him pike hoses –
Come forth, Lazarus! And he came fifth and lost the job –
On his wise shoulders through the checkerwork of leaves the sun flung spangles, dancing coins –
Private Carr and his escalating oath –
lame Gerty limping, a dreamer –
those lovely seaside girls –
the heaventree of stars hung with humid nightblue fruit –
Could a swim duck? Says I –
yes
June 15, 2018
She batted her eyelids, and the gullible tourists lined up to buy sand.
June 14, 2018
When she was this young, Fay:
a. designed, built, and fired a torpedo.
b. never ever screamed, not even once.
c. sold buckets of beach sand to gullible tourists.
d. scaled the Matterhorn dressed as an owl.
June 12, 2018
How To Manipulate A Buffoon by Kim Jong Un
June 11, 2018
Uriah Heep and Little Bo Peep
The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Auntie Mame
Hester Prynne and Huckleberry Finn
June 9, 2018
The green imp, hidden away in a cave behind the crash of waterfall plunging over the highest cliff on Jagged Mountain, sat gazing at his treasure, a magic pool of broken blue green jade. The imp’s bushy eyebrows, snow white, quivered with pleasure. Otherwise, for the time being, he posed motionless.
Down the mountain through impenetrable forests and across rich farmlands, dawn found the castle and all but one of its inhabitants sleeping soundly. In the castle’s kitchen, the scullery maid sang to herself as she hurried about readying all items needed for the cook to prepare and serve to the cruel king his breakfast of meat slabs and cheese between two torn hunks of bread. The scullery maid had no name, but secretly she called herself Anne Marie.
The green imp nodded his head in company with a thought. Yes, it shall be so. Anne Marie shall rule. The imp reached a green hand out over the pool of broken blue green jade. The pool rippled a sigh.
Down the mountain through impenetrable forests and across rich farmlands, the cook descended to the dungeon and shoved a platter of rind scrapings through the bars at the cruel king. In the Great Hall above, Queen Anne Marie hosted the villagers and proclaimed universal happiness for all save one, the cruel king.
