Mount Corcoran -Albert Bierstadt, 1877 The black bear waits ____________to kiss the water's edge Under fallen trees ____________the trout nap together and the waterfall ____________hums almost unnoticed. Just a "mountain lake" ______before the water dried: From a hidden source ______the artificial light shines on the sides of white-capped triangles. Under the clouds, poor Al renamed... Continue Reading →
The Next Day
This is an old poem I wrote about fathers and sons, relationships, love and being an immigrant. I think I wrote it a half dozen or so years after my father passed and maybe a year or two after I broke up with a woman who I thought I was going to marry. I think... Continue Reading →
Welcome to Great Falls – A Serial Novel – Part 26
November 10, 2014, Monday By Monday morning, the sports blogs and radio shows had picked up the story of Saan's accident. Some bystander photographed the overturned SUV and Saan lying unconsciously on the sidewalk. Other photos showed broken bottles of champagne and Jack Daniel's. The phone calls started early in the morning and Kao... Continue Reading →
Welcome to Great Falls – A Serial Novel – Part 25
November 9, 2014, Sunday During times of solitude Kao had the hardest time figuring out his thoughts. It was why he kept himself active and why he kept people around. He knew his thoughts strayed to the darker parts of his mind whenever he was left alone. He stared at his coffee mug before sliding... Continue Reading →
Elegy on an Asian American Wok
Have the chef bring me something not on the menu. I tire of General Tso's or Tao's or Tsao's chicken; why cubed white meat, when I like sinew? I don't want my sauces blander, thicker nor sweeter. I want the Szechuan chicken (no carrots nor bell peppers) and extra white rice. No, no. I'm not... Continue Reading →
Mister Saechao’s Gambling Advice
Money always makes me happy, especially money that I win. And I’ll bet on just about anything. How many seconds until the light turns green? Give me an over/under. Six seconds? I’ll take the over. How many ladies will give me the red light tonight? I’ll take the over at 3.5. How many super nice... Continue Reading →
Wanderers
Looking for a place to settle my Father walked me ___between the tracks leading to the next town, our town with a different name, familiar enough. Trains push air under dust, it is so dry, our breathing, like eating dirt from the earth. It’s a drought, he says, not looking at me. Our destination ___is... Continue Reading →
Welcome to Great Falls – A Serial Novel – Part 24
November 8, 2014, Saturday Kao pulled the tray of bacon out of the oven and set the strips on a paper towel. He breathed deep and slow to calm his still-pounding heart. Ten minutes went by fast on the treadmill when it wasn’t part of a required regimen. He actually stayed on for a couple... Continue Reading →
Fortune Cookies
My father speaks before the family at the dinner table. __[My mother provides the translations.] Upon birth I cried, coming out headfirst. “Happy days are just over the mountaintop. ____The struggle has ended.” She brings countless plates; __frisbees with food for my American friends. He eyes them and grins. (Chew. Don’t choke. ____Moderation is key.)... Continue Reading →
Welcome to Great Falls – A Serial Novel – Part 23
November 7, 2014, Friday Brandon felt the wetness of drool between his cheek and pillow. He wiped his face with the back of his hand and rolled over to face the ceiling. The fan spun even though it was off. So did the room. He didn't remember crawling up to stairs from the living room... Continue Reading →
