We crawl from the wreck into a ditch where the moon’s all afuzz with mold. Shrapnel under my shin. The cold descending. Finally smells like wet leaves and movie popcorn, my sister says, skull open. On first whiff, I get the oiled heat, the smoke, the reeking vomit on my shirt. I don’t get my movie popcorn. My […]
The special understanding between people and the animals they love is timeless and enduring. Because of our ancient connections to the natural world, all cultures have animals they connect with on a psychic and spiritual level. Sometimes, the animals we most identify with and desire to control are the ones that move with beauty, speed,
The Saami and Their Reindeer: A Family in Motion Read More »
The Lhasa Apso is a beautiful dog with a storied history. It was originally bred by Tibetan Buddhist Monks to live in temples of nobility and sleep with its masters. Recorded history of the breed goes back to 800 B.C.E., when the Lhasa was claimed to be the sacred vessel of its master’s soul upon
The passengers deboard the late night Air China flight from Beijing onto the empty tarmac and walk languidly toward the terminal. Amidst the ant-like trail of humans, two westerners stand out: myself and a pale-skinned man in his mid-forties who towers above the Asians. With an odd familiarity, we briefly glance at each other. I
Excerpt from North Korea: A Reflection on US Read More »
Old dice rolling and tumbling as they enter a casino, the forgotten habits and gumshoe tricks come right back as social networking whores of cheap commerce, perfume, and liquor. A game is to be played. That is, a game must be played. For those antics have purpose, no trickery here. You can still beat the
The Flip of a Card Read More »
One of my geraniums tried to commit suicide today. It jumped off the windowsill to the street below. I found it lying there, gasping for life. Who knows how long? Hours? How many people walked on by and stared? The dirt was dry and one of it’s branches snapped. I thought about leaving it there.