one day

Corina and I spent over two hours, yes you heard that right, in Starbucks downtown today. There were some interesting phrases on out coffee cups, one I particularly enjoyed: "'So-called 'global warming' is just a secret ploy by wacko tree-huggers to make America energy indepedent, clean our air and water, improve the fuel efficiency of our vehicles, kick-start 21st-century industries, and make our cities safter and more liveable. Don't let them get away with it!' -Chip Giller"

poem one

The Irish lady and the Mexican owned a bar

Between the opera house and the dirtiest strip club in town

The kids played with sombreros while dad took a trip next door on his way to "the car"

Once in a while, there was a wedding; Once in a while, someone resisted arrest

The little girl in the corner with the coloring books saw it all

In the attic, walls were lined with drying tie-dyed table cloths

An old guitar promised the man asleep on the muddy brown couch his destiny

Down the rickety stairs sat the a-little-too-frequents' in the dark

A mixture of cheers and hollers echo through the heavily smoky night air

The bartender talks more than most do

Heavy interest lies in his intense eyes, sponge ears

He's recording every last word in his head; to write it down later.

This place is a little pool of Catholic forgiveness

"We don't do background checks; we can feel the honesty in people"

I return to find the place burn down to the cement.