http://www.wordchasm.com Flash Fiction & Poetry Thu, 28 Aug 2008 03:26:05 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Father Kaveatz stood at the window of his rectory bedroom, staring out across the yard through his weathered Galilean binoculars. He smiled knowingly at the cloud of dirt far in the distance. “They’ll be men yet,” he sighed, elbowing me in the ribs. I shook my head, but couldn’t hold back ... http://www.wordchasm.com/2008/08/27/rehearsal-there-will-be-mud/ Cast iron confident little soldiers in white polo shirts and grey slacks stomped across a grassy pasture. The football marched back and forth in a cloud of mud and soot. Traffic sped by the chicken wire fence. Honks and screeching brakes nullified the shouts out far beyond the bounds of ... http://www.wordchasm.com/2008/08/21/currency/ I'm from The Valley, By the light of the moon. I am from the Chair of Knight, and a mostly Mozart morning, And a Rugrats tent—the scene of the crime. I'm from hemadsorption and tiny bubbles, And wanting to know the first question, right here, right now. I am from Olka and Joanna. I'm from Ty in ... http://www.wordchasm.com/2008/08/19/on-the-origin-of-bee/ Here we are, Gryffyndor or Slytherin, yet so wrapped up in the things we're wrapped in. Friday makes philosophy, of the kind alkaline beverages elicit, deep water fording, or just sophomoric horse-shit. What can you make of this, A pterodactyl or a brooch? What can we glean from this, sickness or reproach? OK, shutting up now; happy weekend, you mass-- (or ... http://www.wordchasm.com/2008/08/17/isnt-it-strange/ So much to do So need to focus So need a plan So much furniture to move So many walls to wash So many knick knacks to dust So much to sweep So much to toss So much to lay order upon So many boxes and bags So much to budget So many leases to sign So many books to buy So much ... http://www.wordchasm.com/2008/08/01/bloomingtown-august/ Some of the things we did when I was little would probably horrify Child Protective Services Car wheels on a gravel road, I remember vividly being four years old sitting on the arm rest of a 69 Plymouth whose floorboards had rusted away, no seat belt, let alone a car seat, going for a ride ... http://www.wordchasm.com/2008/07/31/lament-for-mamaw/ or, Sum Up Summertime, Poetically Licensed Sing-Song Meter Edit Just because it's summer, there's not always a last rose Baseballs fly into bats, and bats fill up on mosquitoes Camping corpses marinate in DEET, but still they are a-slappin' Pedro's fire works, as does yours, and explosions are happ'nin' Mother nature's boiling vengeance, roiling from ... http://www.wordchasm.com/2008/07/13/just-because/ Pardon my blasphemy.-- JG Hi. No, you're not disturbing me at all. I always have time for you. In fact, I'm glad to hear from you... it seems to be kind of rare these days. I know you're busy. I keep pretty busy myself, as you might guess. ... http://www.wordchasm.com/2008/07/04/talk-to-jesus/ "Now, I believe that Jesus Christ is my personal God and Savior, but there's something strange going on with the weather." He stood against the brick, outer wall of the walk-in clinic, wearing fake Oakley sunglasses and a sporty polo shirt tucked into bright red basketball shorts. The accompanying red and ... http://www.wordchasm.com/2008/06/12/rising-waters/ When did being a white man become a crime against humanity? I sifted through the remains of the decimated Sunday paper.  The headlines were mostly negative, as expected.  There seemed to be a common theme uniting them, though:  Man-hating was hot.  For some reason, pundits couldn't understand that I find Hillary ... http://www.wordchasm.com/2008/06/11/not-the-man/ "John McCain is a piece of shit." Bill nodded his head slowly, looking down with solemn concentration. Blue and red chips were spread across his Disabled Veteran's Lodge Super Bingo Board. He laid down a red piece and turned his eyes to Darryl. "I used to sit around after school and watch ... http://www.wordchasm.com/2008/05/27/bingo/ How can people be so different? Look at nature: there are no contentious factions in an ant colony or segregated groups of salmon.  Ever met a racist leopard? Diversity is cause for celebration, not fuel for divisive conflict. How can people contend with an uncertain future when they are so firmly rooted in ... http://www.wordchasm.com/2008/05/23/what/ I run Striving to reach an unseen finish line. Drenched with effort, drained, aching, I race ahead, the beat of my heart reassuring me I am almost there- I will be happy soon. Running, I am full of cold, consuming hatred, Bleeding sweat and bitter tears of impotent rage, Knowing I am disappearing, paying the highest price For ... http://www.wordchasm.com/2008/05/20/something-missing/ What good does my hatred do Except render me powerless with unspent range, Unable to shed the blood I would risk all to see run? Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord. Oh yeah? So DO something, damn it- Or let my own hand deal the destructive blow, Let me feel in my blood the unchained rush ... http://www.wordchasm.com/2008/05/20/cage/ All right. I took a nap again, because I was tired, okay? I fell asleep, and it happened to be in a bed... so it was a nap. I didn't even plan on it this time. And then I dreamed. I was walking through the hallway at Giuseppe High (a Red-Ribbon School ... http://www.wordchasm.com/2008/05/17/lions-tigers-and-tentacles/