The echoes in Kolkata’s Albert Hall Cafe were vibrant and gloomy.As I sat at a table and read Tagore’s “The Living and the Dead,” the indiscreet murmur of the room settled into my head rather than Tagore’s words.I folded the top corner of the leaf and closed the book.I looked around the cafe, which seemed … Read more
He directed his focus as best he could as he shook me awake from playground heroics in my sleep. “I have a surprise. Come with me.” He whispered. He smelled of a variety of fermented spirits and his bloodshot eyes wobbled loosely in his head. I never argued when he smelled like this. The floor … Read more
It was those charged five minutes between 2nd and 3rd period when the courtyard of my junior high was suddenly thronged with twelve-, thirteen- and fourteen-year-olds of all shapes and sizes, all with backpacks dangling off their shoulders. Small groups began to form, halting traffic on the two narrow cement walkways that crisscrossed between the … Read more
You’re waiting for your best friend, Pablo Perez, to call. His father’s recently put in a pool, and you’re hoping for an invite. It’s already past noon, and no call, so the Poor Man’s Jacuzzi becomes your sanctuary, your oasis, on a hot afternoon. The best way to get inside the Poor Man’s Jacuzzi, once … Read more
Mom always wished for the moon for everyone else and settled on dirt for herself. Take Dad. He was gone for months at a stretch even before he ditched us for his new family. Each time he left, he would come back about the time Mom, my little brother, Simon, and I almost forgot he … Read more
O Organ-grinders The art of organ-grinding is fast disappearing, almost as quickly as we are. There used to be an organ-grinder and his little monkey on every street corner, distracting us from our troubles. Now we have nothing to distract us and we must pay attention to each trouble, individually. They say that when the world … Read more
All I wanted that night was to get out of Kelly’s quick. Kelly’s Market kept late hours, same as me, so once a week, hard on midnight, that’s where I’d find myself. This was in Arrowhead, in the San Bernardinos. Up there, even now, nothing good ever happens ’round midnight. Especially in February. * I’d … Read more
Instead of thinking about Sonny, his traveling companion wishes she were in Spain. How far of a drive is it from Granada to Barcelona? Twenty miles south of Fresno a sign says Visalia 24 miles. Sonny pilots the car with dirty hands, a torn shirt, an unintentional beard, last … Read more
Sam sits by the window and watches the storm swirling in a white cloud of madness, like angry wasps swarming after unwilling prey. The chaos of it entrances her, the way it dances across the landscape with no sense or sequence or sanity, just the passion and purpose to paint the whole world white. The … Read more
Pork Chop stuck her stubby pink forelegs out straight and planted her rear hooves in the gravel, refusing to go up the ramp. The square bell around her neck clanged. She had not been fooled by the slight, gentle young man with the curly blond hair who spoke to her in sweet tones and made … Read more
Melting Revelations *** On cold nights the steam rises from my veins through my skin and evaporates into a purple mist. When the moonlight hits it just right it sparkles into a flash and takes my picture. How do my eyes look to the eyes of another, I wonder? Are they red and bulging out … Read more
Terrible Fear and Humming *** Beginning. *** It is of great interest to know that the refrigerators at Cabana Liquors emit a humming noise that sounds like a chorus of chilly cherubim. That is to say, the sopranos within are singing quite customarily, but their vibrato is exaggerated by quivering lower lips and chattering teeth. … Read more
Abelard and I *** So Abelard has finally captured me, keeps me chained to loop screwed into a wall in his basement, but it won’t be for long. I’ll escape, if I want to. But the question is, do I want to? Soon he’ll be here, will come creaking down the creepy stairs with that … Read more
The End of the Affair *** Community In Shock at Vicious Murder; Vigil Tonight There will be a vigil tonight beginning at 7PM at the site of the slaying of Sally Green, 111 Great Heights Place, in Echo Park. Friends and neighbors are gathering to remember Green, 35, who had only recently moved into the … Read more
Merry Christmas, Everybody *** Looking out at the empty swings and slide in her garden, Faith felt her heart sink to the floor. A morass of wet, brown leaves had gathered at the foot of the slide, and the swings hung motionless, desolate – as though they hadn’t been used in months. Transfixed, she took … Read more
Antoinetta’s Rosebush *** Antoinetta applied more than a handful of her famous resolve to stop herself from sneaking into the crematorium furnace and joining her dead husband Myrt. Molten lava had been roasting her insides ever since he had dropped dead on the Blue Bus of Santa Monica. As if that was not enough, that … Read more
West’s Pond *** In the morning, before the afternoon heat turned our town brown and breathless, we gathered behind the gym to smoke stolen Lucky Strikes and spit in the grass while Joey told us all about his sister’s slumber party and how he could have got some. I don’t think any of us knew … Read more
What the Fuck? *** He didn’t know what just happened. One second previously he’d been standing, angry, his fists balled, adrenaline surging through his veins like burning high octane fuel. He had been ready to lash out, cause someone some real pain, feel gristle crunch and see crimson blood flow. Now, he could hear laughter, … Read more
3 AM *** I have lost track of how many days have passed since the ice storm, how long it has been since my animated world was suspended, covered by glistening, unmoving sheets of frozen glass. Global warming didn’t happen the way they said it would. Far from the dustbowl Los Angeles was predicted to … Read more
Sick *** I get so restless. My mind isn’t focused on anything but flesh, pretty flesh. I get set off when I get close and I can smell soap on her, fruity soap mixed with honey. I can smell it deep, like a dog. It crosses my mind that I shouldn’t be stupid, but my … Read more
Melting Revelations *** On cold nights the steam rises from my veins through my skin and evaporates into a purple mist. When the moonlight hits it just right it sparkles into a flash and takes my picture. How do my eyes look to the eyes of another, I wonder? Are they red and bulging out … Read more
Sex in Russia *** Murdered on this very spot in St. Petersburg– can you believe it? Delia did because the guide insisted upon the fact in her Russian-accented English. Delia had never before heard “clothes” pronounced with two syllables. She was charmed, yes, not charm-ed, one syllable if you please, by the ebullient young woman’s … Read more
To listen to Howard perform No New Songs, click on the player below: If you are unable to use the player above, click HERE. *** No New Songs? *** Sitting on a bench in a brown grass park, a guitarist played a light tune. His music filled the air, but there was no one around … Read more
Parcel *** “Can you breathe?” “Yes.” “Sure?” “Yes, yes. I’m sure.” Ripping duct tape seared the air above my head; scissors snipped. “I’m taking the tape all the way round.” “Good.” “Can you still breathe?” “Yes.” I stifled a cry as my chin knocked into my knees. “Ouch, why are you shoving me?” “I’m checking … Read more
The Road Behind There’s an old expression that says there are always stars in the sky, it’s just that sometimes they aren’t visible. I want to believe this but tonight it’s especially difficult, since the sky is a murky shade of charcoal and the only things I can see when I turn my gaze towards … Read more
