All Over the Place: Summer and a Lawn

By Michael H. Brownstein

The wind a shovel of coal, scrubbed
land, mocking birds and a lost way,
whisk and twig, branch and bark, lance
and a book of matches within reach
on the end table. When you play

with matches, you do not always get burned.

Sometimes you are warmer because of them

and other times they mark the skin of your kora,
etch your shakaree, cut small dimples
across the band of grasses, deep and earnest,
fields and fields of buttermilk and lye.
Sit by the stream nearby and sing the grass song,
let your kora blossom into an opera of string.

Copyright © 2022 by Michael H. Brownstein Michael H. Brownstein’s volumes of poetry, A Slipknot Into Somewhere Else and How Do We Create Love?, were published by Cholla Needles Press in 2018 & 2019, respectively.

From “The Scratching Post”: Medievalism, Part 1

By Ken Marks

[Opening from the original on The Scratching Post, July 27, 2022, published here by permission of the author.]

Marjorie Taylor Greene is a polarizing, far-right politician who represents Georgia’s 14th congressional district. She peddles conspiracy theories, tosses off racist remarks, ardently opposes abortion, immigration, and gay rights, and happily serves as a Trump echo chamber. But you probably knew all that already. What you certainly don’t know is that she called me last week and asked that I interview her and publish the transcript on this blog.* I was dumbstruck.
    I stammered something incredibly insincere, like “I’m flattered that you thought of me,” and recovered with, “But our political views are poles apart. How could my name have entered your mind?” Her answer was another surprise. “I want people to know me better. And I realized that what I have to say would be much better received if it was reported by someone who, politically, has practically nothing in common with me.” Then she flattered me with, “People tell me that your commitment to fairness is as strong as anyone who writes about politics. That was all I needed to hear.” “True words,” I said, laughing, “but you should expect some hardball questions.” “Of course, Ken,” she replied.
    We met on a Saturday in my San Jose office. I was impressed that she had flown out to see me, and thanked her for it. We chatted about her flight and the miserable summer heat. When the smalltalk trailed off, I motioned at my voice recorder and asked, “Shall we?”
_______________
[Read the whole Part 1 of the interview on The Scratching Post.]

Copyright © 2022 by Ken Marks Ken Marks was a contributing editor with Paul Clark & Tom Lowe when “Moristotle” became “Moristotle & Co.” A brilliant photographer, witty conversationalist, and elegant writer, Ken contributed photographs, essays, and commentaries from mid-2008 through 2012. Late in 2013, Ken birthed the blog The Scratching Post. He also posts albums of his photos on Flickr.

Fiction: A Killing on a Bridge (47) A historical fiction

Saint Sebastian River Bridge
[Click image to call up
all published instalments]

By Roger Owens

Monday,
July 17, 1922,
concluded

“So, what do we do now?” Donnie asked. “Go on up to Senegal’s?”
    Red shook his head. “First, I need to stop by Doc Wilbur’s place. He’s got something he’s been workin’ on for Guy, that’ll help him walk. Then I need to go and talk to Miss Lottie.”

From the Alwinac: Signature Suites: My Latest Creative Obsession

[Click on image to
go directly to
the Alwinac’s home page]

[The Alwinac blog is part of the schroeder170 project, honoring the life and musical career of cellist Alwin Schroeder (1855-1928) and exploring the history of cello playing in the US.]

To those of you who know me as a sometime arranger of cello music, usually from original Bulgarian works for other instruments or orchestra, it may come as a surprise that over the last couple of months I have become slightly obsessed with composing … for piano. I have never considered myself a composer, nor am I a performing pianist, so this current creative wave of mine has come up unexpectedly. But as long as I’m on it, I plan to ride it out!
    There is a bit of a backstory here. When I returned permanently to the US after a quarter-century (OK, I rounded up from 23 years) of musical adventures in Bulgaria, I had the opportunity to work with some wonderful young people on projects geared to making musical creativity more immediately accessible to students with a very limited musical knowledge base. One of the tools we developed to facilitate this creativity was a musical notation cipher, where each letter of the alphabet is linked to a music note letter. The original idea for this type of code, arrived at quite spontaneously as I remember, came from two very dear students, cellist Tressa Hunt and violinist Ellen Hayashi. Based on a substitution principle, the code unlocks possibilities for creating a melody—a cipher in sound—from any series of words.
    For centuries, classical composers have been using similar techniques to fashion musical cryptograms. Personal mottos have formed the basis of such works as the F A E Sonata, a collaborative effort of Schumann, Brahms, and Dietrich, who took violin virtuoso Joseph Joachim’s Frei aber einsam (“free but lonely”) motto as their theme as a birthday surprise for Joachim in 1852. (Brahms’ Scherzo movement for this sonata is often played as a stand-alone piece: ) 

Over a century earlier, Johann Sebastian Bach had introduced his…
_______________
Read on….

Copyright © 2022 by Geoffrey Dean

Highways and Byways: War Correspondent

By Maik Strosahl

I’ve used David Hartley’s photography before in this column, when he was in Colorado (See “Char #5” from November 25, 2020). Since then he has relocated his talent to the northwest.
    He recently posted a dramatic photo of Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach, Oregon, that got my attention. I love how his photography has an element of that news reporter just presenting the facts, going into the battle to capture the moment for those back home, watching Cronkite and Chancellor from the safety of their living rooms.

Fiction: A Killing on a Bridge (46) A historical fiction

Saint Sebastian River Bridge
[Click image to call up
all published instalments]

By Roger Owens

Monday,
July 17, 1922,
continued

Lola looked from Red to Donnie, the worry inscribed upon her lovely face tearing at Red’s heart.

​Planning on dying? [9 Years Ago Today]

Face the question and move on

[Published originally on July 25, 2013, 9 years more timely now than it was then.]

By Moristotle

My wife and I are [were] planning to go on a big trip with a friend next year and, because I genuinely don’t think I will ever want to do it again, I remarked, “It will be our last such trip.”

Over the Place: Summer, Ha Noi

By Michael H. Brownstein

July opened into my life
sweat stained,
the low slanged sky
full of curse words and abominations,
the heart of a beaver,
and then:
a swamp of sun after a shade of breath,
the shelf of wind in disarray behind bolted doors
and when the rains came,
it was almost human outside

Copyright © 2022 by Michael H. Brownstein Michael H. Brownstein’s volumes of poetry, A Slipknot Into Somewhere Else and How Do We Create Love?, were published by Cholla Needles Press in 2018 & 2019, respectively.

Acting Citizen: A Magic Kingdom

By James Knudsen

Andra and I returned from a three-day trip to Disneyland on Thursday. When we married in 2019, I was not completely aware of the importance the Magic Kingdom played in her life, and the lives of her extended family. I understand now. My feet understand even better. In deference to my late father, I must first go through the litany of faults and issues one may find and have with The Happiest Place on Earth.

Fiction: A Killing on a Bridge (45) A historical fiction

Saint Sebastian River Bridge
[Click image to call up
all published instalments]

By Roger Owens

Monday,
July 17, 1922,
continued

It was less than a quarter-mile to 20^th Avenue, and a good part of the way was enclosed by low brushy woods on either side. 20^th was a well-kept shell and marl road that ran perhaps a mile, from a few hundred yards north of 20^th Street and some rich men’s homes, south to where it petered out into one of the Indian River Company’s endless citrus groves.

Story Challenge #3

Featuring
a character named Bob Altemyer

By Moristotle

Your challenge is to continue the narrative begun below, developing the character of Bob Altemyer in an engaging way and coming to a satisfying – and hopefully a surprising – ending, yet one that a careful reader might have foreseen. Go wherever your story (and your muse) may lead you.

Highways and Byways: The Boss Retires (Part 2 of 2)

By Maik Strosahl

[Part 1 appeared on June 1. Sorry for the long wait for Part 2.]

My overactive imagination has a tendency to read more into what is right before me as I play out the many possibilities of everyday situations. Amazing things can happen, great moments can be made, even if you only dream them up. But often I discover the simple things become my favorite memories.

Fiction: A Killing on a Bridge (44) A historical fiction

Saint Sebastian River Bridge
[Click image to call up
all published instalments]

By Roger Owens

Monday,
July 17, 1922,
continued

Lilly Owens drew back as from a rattlesnake, her face a mask of real fear. She whispered “dios mio” and dropped the pitcher of tea on the floor. It shattered with a sound like a pistol shot, splashing Red’s boots, and several customers just coming in the door stopped and stared. To their common knowledge Lilly Owens had never dropped a damn thing to do with food or cooking in her life. It didn’t happen.

Goines On: Who’s minding?

Click image for more vignettes

[An adaptation, with updated ending, of “Thor's Day: Wrong number,” July 18, 2013]

The Goineses were at their dining table when Mrs. Goines’ phone rang. She answered it. Whoever it was, she didn’t recognize them. “You have the wrong number ... That’s okay. No problem.”
    Her phone rang again within seconds. Goines waited to see what Mrs. Goines would do.
    Without speaking, she hung up.

All Over the Place: Sheets of Rain Yelling Over the Thunderous Music

By Michael H. Brownstein

An anger within a calm
thunder clouds against the sidewall
and when the rain came

a frenzy of hyenas
a lightning strike of jackals
the race of gazelles

Story Challenge #2

Featuring
an unnamed character in first person

By Moristotle

Thanks to Contributing Editor Paul Clark (aka motomynd) for today’s challenging beginning.

Fiction: A Killing on a Bridge (43) A historical fiction

Saint Sebastian River Bridge
[Click image to call up
all published instalments]

By Roger Owens

Monday,
July 17, 1922,
9:00 AM

The first one to show up was the Sheriff. Red and the Judge had taken breakfast at the Flamingo Café, finishing up by about 8:15 AM, and strolled to Stikelether’s office at the back of a nice building on the south side of 20^th Street. When they turned onto the sidewalk along the east side of the building a tiny park on their left shaded them from the raging sun, the juvenile oaks dense enough to cut the heat and glare to a pleasant dappled coolness.

“Goines On” Now Available in Audio

An SLNC
Talking Book

By Moristotle

Back on May 5, I reported to you that my “‘Goines On’ Goes On to Win” the State Library of North Carolina 2021 Writing Contest.
    Well, yesterday I had some exciting news: I learned from Clint Exum, the Library’s Outreach Specialist, that “Goines On” has now been made into a talking book and added to their collection. And Mr. Exum provided a link where I could go and listen to the recording, which is narrated exceedingly well by Florence Nash. I agree with Mr. Exum that Ms. Nash did a “fantastic job” – and one that far surpasses what I might have done.

Story Challenge: Our new column

“Betty beckoned Ray to....”

By Moristotle

Inspired by my fictional character Goines’ idea yesterday, I am today launching our new column, “Story Challenge.” Our plan is to provide a 100- to 200-word beginning for a story, and the challenge is for writers to continue the narrative, developing the characters and the happenings to...wherever the story (and each writer’s muse) leads them.

Goines On: Challenging story

Click image for more vignettes

Passing a certain house on his daily walk, Goines was pleasantly surprised when the couple who lived there waved and shouted “Hi!” from their front porch. Ordinarily, Goines would have to shout first, and it was rare for both of them to be there. Drinking their coffee together, he guessed.
    Continuing on, Goines couldn’t help wondering for the umpteenth time at what someone had whispered to Mrs. Goines about the couple’s having gotten together as the result of a “spouse exchange” among the members of a sports club in town.

Fiction: A Killing on a Bridge (42) A historical fiction

Saint Sebastian River Bridge
[Click image to call up
all published instalments]

By Roger Owens

Sunday,
July 16, 1922,
5:30 AM

Red was in Jimmie’s Flamingo nervously drinking coffee and eating his grits with sunny-side-up egg yolks sloppily mixed in when the newspaper truck slowed momentarily, and a half-grown boy heaved a bundle of papers onto the front porch. He’d slept, badly, at Senegal’s, and been up even before that most early of risers was out of bed to force breakfast on him.

All Over the Place: Measurements and a Meaning to Life

By Michael H. Brownstein

I open the hood of my ancient truck,

pull out the broken tongue to check the transmission,

notice a pink violet glow at its end,
wipe it clean,

then replace it to see if the leak is still there.

Of course, it has to be.
Machinery does not often fix itself.
Today a soft glow is at its end,
like a shine of saliva.

Goines On: Notes on random cards

Click image for more vignettes

Thinking about Bob Boldt’s recent memoir, Goines shuddered at the unavoidable comparison: Boldt was drawing his life on a cinema screen; Goines was scribbling notes on cards cut from vendors’ boxes and dropping them along the road or about the house. Whatever drawing of Goines might emerge or be assembled was but a shimmering mirage. Goines understood as little of who he was as he understood of his muse, of whom he had asked:
    Who are you?

Copyright © 2022 by Moristotle

Fiction: A Killing on a Bridge (41) A historical fiction

Saint Sebastian River Bridge
[Click image to call up
all published instalments]

By Roger Owens

Friday,
July 9, 1915,
concluded

The gang converged on the bank at what they thought would be near the end of the business day. They didn’t know about the workers coming in from Fort Basinger and Belle Glade, and as they wheeled into the crushed shell parking lot, the tangle of trucks and cars came as a surprise.

Things Can Always Get Worse: A Memoir

Part 3 of 3

By Bob Boldt

Just as we reached the end of the hall, a door slid open. “Welcome to my study.” Frederic nodded to each of us respectfully, formally. Frederic de Arechaga was born in the Basque region riding the land between Spain and the sea. Fiercely independent, theirs is a history of struggles up to and including the present. Like Kim, whose history turned out a bit dodgy, some of Frederic’s history may be better left to speculation as well.

Devolution (lyrics for a song)

With apologies
to the Beatles^*

By Paul Clark (aka motomynd)

You say you want devolution
Well, you know
Everybody seems to want to ruin the world
You tell me that it’s devolution
Well, you know
Everybody seems to want to ruin the world

Fiction: A Killing on a Bridge (40) A historical fiction

Saint Sebastian River Bridge
[Click image to call up
all published instalments]

By Roger Owens

Friday,
July 9, 1915,
4:45 PM

The Bank of Okeechobee sat on the west side of Hooker Highway, that ran through the town north to south, down to the Big Lake. Bank President D.E. Austin had prepared his staff for the Friday rush of cattlemen and citrus workers, fishermen and boat builders, waitresses and office workers who would flood the lobby to cash or deposit their pay.

Things Can Always Get Worse: A Memoir

Part 2 of 3

By Bob Boldt

Kim On Wong said he was born in China and was from a monastery where they practiced dance. He claimed no memory of his parents. He jumped ship, so to speak, when his troupe was on tour in Manhattan. Thanks to the sophisticated outlook of the Buddhist priests, he was taught rudimentary English and even Science, along with his dance instruction.

All Over the Place: The Very Last Day of School

From My Teaching Book

By Michael H. Brownstein

The last day of school. My students were here for one hour—9 to 10 mostly just to get their report cards. I finished all of my records yesterday and only had a few things to straighten out: putting their new room numbers on all of their records, reviewing report cards one more time, and dividing the piles of records into three groups—two groups move to 8th grade and one child is going on to high school.

Things Can Always Get Worse: A Memoir

Part 1 of 3

By Bob Boldt

No matter how good or bad things got, Mother could never shake her unspoken belief that things could always get worse. I had my own version, which was, things could suddenly go bad in a nano-second, or be rescued in the next.

Fiction: A Killing on a Bridge (39) A historical fiction

Saint Sebastian River Bridge
[Click image to call up
all published instalments]

By Roger Owens

Monday,
June 14, 1915

Harry Lee had to holler at John to wake him up: it was seven in the morning and breakfast was a’comin’.
    John was surprised at how well he slept in jail; he rarely slept till dawn. A young man in a bad suit, a dusty blue camel-striped jacket with a vest that matched and a tie that didn’t, came along with Harry when he brought the tray from what John had learned was Schmid’s Restaurant, just down 12^th Street.