Nine-Ball When I take my drowned brother to the pool hall, we always get a table. Nobody likes to get dripped on. Not the Thursday night frat boys, with their…
Magic Realism
The Imaginary Friends Come Home for a Funeral
The sky is too bright for late November. The glare of the sun is garish, almost enough to sear one’s skin. A dark spot moves along the ground, fast, and…
Messiah in America: Act V
The same scene. The two Messiahs are preparing for the fight. Menachem’s Messiah is saying prayers. Menachem, Flossie and Jack are gathered around him. Flossie: (Chews gum.) Jackie: Do you…
Poems from “The Shipping on the Styx”
KEEPING THE WINDOW CLOSED The last time I opened the window the moon got in, streaked through between the sill and sash and plunged into the mirror. It stuck there.…
Messiah in America: Act IV
Scene One At the side show. It’s still early, there are no spectators yet. Charlie is helping Zip into his outfit. Zip: Can it really be? Has Menachem’s gang really…