Dead Letter Radio features “hens staring upward”

I’m honored today to find another poem of mine featured on the Dead Letter Radio podcast!  Host Taize Jones offered a wonderful reading of “hens staring upward” on Episode 15 of the weekly program.  (My piece is the last that Taize interprets — it starts at the 13:00 mark in the podcast.)

You can hear the entire episode right here.  Dead Letter Radio is also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and over at Listen Notes.  It really is a terrific show; I highly recommend that you check it out.

Thanks again, Taize!



Poster for “Westworld” (1973)

MGM.

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Nobody appreciates my brilliance.

Friend: “I have vaccine envy.”

Me: “Relax. When you actually GET the vaccine, you’re immune to that sort of thing.”

Friend:

Me: “Needles to say, you should get it as soon as possible. Seriously, give it a shot.”

Friend:

Me:

Friend:

Me: “I know I have a sick sense of humor, but I got my point across.”

Cover to “House of Mystery” #178, Neal Adams, 1969

DC Comics.

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You write because it’s in your bones.

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Cover to “House of Mystery” #202, Mike Kaluta, 1972

DC Comics.

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Volume 2 of Buk 100 Features “Ode to a New Black Ball-Point Pen”

Airmail from Germany!

I am honored to see a poem and a photograph of mine published in Buk 100: Notes for a Dirty Old Birthday!  Like the first volume of Buk 100, Newington Blue Press created this second limited edition chapbook to honor what would have been legendary poet Charles Bukowski’s 100th birthday.  (You can order your copy right here.)

The short poem is entitled “Ode to a New Black Ball-Point Pen” and the photo appears just below it.  (I think my fellow Roanokers will recognize Shaffer’s Crossing Norfolk Southern Railway Bridge.)

Thanks again to Matthias Krueger for selecting my work for this superb recognition of Bukowski’s legacy!




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Public Health Ad on Dangers of the Spanish Flu Epidemic, 1918

“Coughs and Sneezes Spread Diseases – As Dangerous as Poison Gas Shells.”  Origin is possibly U.S. Public Health Service.

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“The Bold Jumping Spider” (Phidippus Audax)

How’s that for a name for a species? It sounds like either a horror story or a children’s book.

If you get a really close look at it, that spot on its back is sort of in the shape of a heart — which suggests this guy would make a pretty creative Valentine’s day present. Also — that spot ought to be orange or white, geographically speaking. The ones with yellow markings are only supposed to be found in certain parts of Florida.  Yet our friend found sunny Roanoke, VA.

Anyway … if you zoom in reaaaaaally close, you can actually see his ring of eyes.



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“Portrait de Femme de la Renaissance,” Lucien-Victor Guirand de Scévola

“Portrait of a Renaissance Woman.”

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