the INLAID EAR

Here's some nice news: Wild Age Press gave me an honorable mention in their "Anything Goes" poem contest. They put up a photo and bio of me (which, perhaps, you were looking at just before clicking over here to read my honorably mentioned poems).  Editor Kelly Lynn Thomas says these poems earned the mention "for their innovative form, strong imagery, and fascinating subject matter." They are queron, a 17-line poetry form of my own devising. I hope you will enjoy. Smiley face.   * * * "Serious Ink" “Pinstriped skin? You want pinstriped skin?” So, needlessly, you repeat it. “Okay, okay. The Pinstripe Kid.” He’s old. He fetches his needles and a jar of powdered black ink. “Take a couple months. At least weeks, you know.” Yes, you know. The man slakes the ink from a cracking teapot. Though chilly, you take off your slacks. “So what’s up?” he asks. “You pissed off at your mo...

Let your mind slip and slide down the linguistic pathways it loves. Let it fall into new alcoves to discover ghost harpists igniting juniper knishes. Get distracted, found, lost. Get silly. PLAY CATEGORIES  This is a word game where you think of words that fit in certain categories and start with certain letters. Here is How to play. Draw your grid, four cells by four cells. Your categories across the tops of your four columns are: Words related                  Embellishments                Synonyms              Made-up words to show biz                      (up to you to define)         for "fix" ...

I got time A gospel call and response [A lead singer leads the song and the chorus responds with echo or exclamation. After the third verse, different singers improvise the lead vocal, and when everybody has had a turn and the assembly is satisfied, the first two verses are repeated with a long ritardando at the end. Chords are major I-IV-V-ii in familiar gospel style, played by everybody who has an instrument. Dancing is encouraged.] Oh, I got time.   (I got the time.) Yes, I got time. (I got the time.) Now, I got time (I got the time.) To do what I love, (Do what you love!) Do what I want, (What you want!) Do what I need. (What you need!) Yes, I got time. (I got the time.) I got time. (Hallelu!) There was a time (Once was a time) I didn’t see (Lord have mercy!) That I had time (Yes, yes!) Thought time had me . (Mm-mm!) But gradually (Praise the Lord!) I found I’m free, (Hallelujah!) And I got time. (I g...

PS: My first gif!

Beezo says, "Relax!" De Jackson, RJ Clarken and Phil Fleischmann all took prizes in rannygazoo round #2. The gem that really stuck with me was RJ's R-entry for "obscure words." Spending the weekend in Vegas with friends from college, I had many opportunities to use the word rannygazoo , though nobody knew what I was talking about.   If you'd like to join me in reviving the old rannygazoo , it means about the same as shenanigans .   What? You want another round? Of course you do! I do, too! ROUND THREE! (Here's how to play ). For round three the categories are: 1. Someone you would like to hug 2. Objects smaller than a kernel of corn 3. Synonyms for "sexy" 4. A complete sentence beginning with the cue letter wherein that letter is used more often than any other single letter. The 4-letter word: MELD Points will be awarded capriciously and arbitrarily based on (or in spite of) these rules: 1 point per cell fille...

North American Time by Adrienne Rich Recorded for Oaktown Indie Mayhem event (which I could not attend in person).

It's Beezo, the Categories Game Rabbit! Congratulations to Pamela (PCS) and Patricia who both took prizes in round one. The prize, a signed copy of "Monster Poems" by Daniel Ari, illustrated by Lauren Ari. Now, let's start round 2!If you don't know how to play, here are the simple directions . The categories are: 1. Fictional places 2. Two names of cities 3. Synonyms of "sound" 4. Obscure words The 4-letter word: HORN Points will be awarded as capriciously and arbitrarily as before according to (or in spite of) these rules: 1 point per cell filled + 1 point for each pair of cities in category 2 that are connected by roads (i.e., you can drive from one to the other). + 5 points for the single pair of cities among all entries that have the greatest driving distance between them. + 1 point for each obscure word in category 4 that includes a definition + 1-3 bonus points for LOLs + 10 bonus points if you also submit a poem or flash fic...