Sadness

water stops
now and then
to collect thoughts
and things
dropped in passing

Breathe

a lost watch
keeps time still
even as
creation
consumes
its creator

Dawn Beckons

the query
captured from rooftop
slowly unfurls
to fall freely
and gather
rearranged

When

It is now two and a half years since I left the United States. I write stories when I have time, grow older because there is nothing better to do, and spend the rest of my time reading or thinking or doing those bothersome chores which I try desperately to avoid. In two days I will be twenty six and this means nothing to me. I would not call myself an optimist, but I never would have anyway. The dreamer is dead, and that leaves only a pragmatist, and no one really cares what he thinks. In the back of my mind I still wonder, but I no longer allow that part to dream. What sense is there in forsaking what my mind knows for what my heart feels?

A few things for those who would like to know:

• I submitted a few stories to two online magazines and await their reply. It's the first time, hopefully not the last.

• The novel is moving along, though still slowly.

• I'm considering extending a short story about an old man into a novella.

• My newest short story in development is about zoos and animals, and people tend to like these things.

Straight Talking

I'm gonna be honest with you, there's a lot to do here and we've gotta figure out exactly what's worth doing, and what's not. Now I don't want to take you by surprise on this, and I hope you'll forgive me for being a little direct, but where I come from we don't waste time by tip-toeing around the issue, otherwise nothing would ever get done. That's the problem nowadays, people want to just mozy on about their business without ever touching on the real problem - I guess they fear it would be a bit uncomfortable. Maybe that's why people find me such a difficult person to talk with, I don't operate like that. If I see something I don't like, I'm gonna pounce upon it and get right down to it. There ain't much sense wasting time otherwise.

Does he always talk like this?

Only when he's drunk or self-righteous.