the Nixionary

Hooray for Borders Bookstore opening at the deteriorating but full-of-potential corner of Louisiana and St. Charles. I have heard a couple of gripes about it being too corporate for a Mom and Pop city like New Orleans, but for the most part, people are psyched. The excitement is two-pronged: this means, first of [...]

There are too many kids on the corner to count—
I watch their mothers before the block is awake.
Drug deals play out their beat:
the reticent shuffling song of my street.
A thinskin
sunken cheek creature
preludes her
emaciated mate.
Sometimes the container is a Lean Cuisine box.
Sometimes a too transparent bag.
One woman whistles.
The other’s feet meet her,
like a drumroll, hurtling slowly,
in [...]

we had a water-logged dog
and six chickens
on the road to
burly country men, button-downed,
who bought us shots in Nashville.
we laughed, the levees held,
the morning felt like an index finger
tapping on the wet window
and then the whole wall
was in my mouth.
I don’t really remember
the popped tire,
just the trail of the boat in rearview,
swerving like it would have [...]

Jerry and his temporary owner expressed disapproval at the poor light in which I placed him and his ailing dogbody. The conversation which ensued has, I believe, some profundity/truth that I would like to share.
Kate/Jerry: We’re kind of offended that you portrayed Jerry so negatively in your blog.
Meg: But it fit. The [...]

So dirty.
Sludge on every rim like chocolate frosting.
It’s not my fault there is an unwrapped condom on the bench next to me.
No one comes near.
They all make eye contact.
One woman says, sneering, “Are you serious?”
I eat salty chips out of a bag.
I’m not serious or kidding.
I didn’t put it there.
I feel guilty
for being able to [...]