Yanstebangus: Originations 13 – 15
Apr 28th
The first few Popumentaries shows went well. These first 4 shows focused on biographies of and performances by each of the stars. Each artist was a professional, and had been through television appearances before. Stefano, of course, was a natural TV studio denizen. He conferred with the director and the lighting [...]
Unrequited
Apr 26th
You are Maud Gonne
to my William Butler Yeats
a cold, impassive Jekyll
to my frantic, desperate Hyde
the proverbial thorn
embedded in my side
an avalanche that sits
and waits.
You are the hung jury
to my repeat offender
you are my iron lung
a phrase on the tip of my tongue
a song the words to which
I can’t remember.
My Scylla and Charibdis
a name to which [...]
Leroy
Apr 25th
It had been a long summer.
I was scrounging about — looking for money as usual. We needed it. Somehow, three part-time jobs never quite add up to a full job. Go figure. Days clung like the last drop of mayo in the round plastic serated crevice of an industrial sized can. Just like that barely [...]
Yanstebangus: Ongoings 10 – 12
Apr 21st
by John Gifford
10
Stefano dialed Jack Matsumoto.
“Hello?”
“Konnichiwa, Matsumoto-san!” said Stefano.
“Stefano! Hola! Que paso?” replied Jack.
“Hey, I wanted to let you know, The Network is really interested.” Stefano removed his gaucho hat and shifted the cell phone to his other ear. He fished the printout out of the paper tray on the [...]
Resurgence
Apr 21st
After Dianne Sawyer’s heartfelt Earth Day special, the United States really stepped up to the plate. With Disney on the bandwagon, the cause just couldn’t fail. Mickey Mouse ditched his tired red polyester daisy dukes for a pair of hemptastic knickers. Pluto switched from bargain biscuits to Greenies. The ABC anchors moved from rain forest [...]
Shhh
Apr 17th
Son snurgles steadily on my chest
Engine roars next door
And wide blue eyes appear
Clank, slam; tires squeal
It happens this way in the night
Hush, I say
Smelling, snuggling closer
His azure eyes glaze over
Beautiful lips lay open
On cherub rosy cheeks relaxed
Steady, he’ll sleep on through
As long as we’re near
And I think
I’m alright too
Cover
Apr 15th
I had to get the shot. It had been weeks and still nothing—the cover… a magazine with no cover. I needed something startling, beautiful, understated.
I scratched my head, staring at the computer screen, and then out the window. What a beautiful day. The two o’clock light would not last much longer.
Needing a beacon from above, [...]
Outer Wear
Apr 12th
The cold metal signs weighed 50 lbs a piece. It was the mad scramble to get them out in perfectly measured insane increments that put us in a pinch. We needed to get inside before they showed up to disrobe. Sally and Jed Winger’s space was not close enough to leave their fur coats [...]
Hush
Apr 8th
Kale and George grew up together. Neighbors, they ran down the street to catch the ice cream truck; flew kites on windy days; took swimming lessons at the Y. They both knew that girls would always be yucky. There wouldn’t come a time when they asked them to dance — not without some prodding, teasing…swirlies.
A [...]
Procession
Apr 4th
I stood alone in front of the ivory casket. Red, white, and blue streamers expansed most of its blinding outer whiteness. She was propped high — too high for my taste — out of the cavernous, hollow mouth of it. She was fresh… as though her last breath had just billowed and if it [...]
The Sky is Fearful
Apr 2nd
“Nothing’s there,” said Booger, “you might as well give up looking.” I made splash sounds with the small bones of my wrist. A map sat in my lap. It had led us here, out into the water where X certainly did not mark the spot. Maybe there was something worthwhile at [...]
