Ode to Schoolgirls
Living in a culture that fetishizes schoolgirls on many levels, I wanted to re-imagine them as if I were their parent.
Old Is The New Young
Meet jaded youth in Canada or hipster seniors in Japan and you’ll see where ths came from.
When The Aliens Come Knocking
I was re-reading Asimov’s early work and the joy and promise of science and sci fi was so beautiful. I do hope we don’t dead end it as a species here, but I won’t be around long enough to see it anyway.
History of Poetry
Read some old canonical poetry and be astounded at how much people knew. Any time I see erudite or well-read, Google or WIkipedia are probably not far away.
Hard Time Friends
I am working on a script about St. John’s in the 80s and 90s. Here’s to you Woolridge, wherever you may be…
Ode To The Bad Salaryman
Although I know a few exemplary specimens, the average salaryman shocks me with his un-Japanese rudeness and neglect of those around him.
For Love Of Palestine
A co-worker from Palestine impressed me with his stories of working for a Japanese NGO helping Palestinians. Not so much a poem as a re-ordering of his words.
Wirebirds
Just imagine what kind of an ordered society the birds that share the wire covering by my home must have. They put the orderly Japanese to shame.
Imperial Park Cherry Trees
Although I enjoyed watching the petals fall in Kyoto, the people of Tohoku were not far from my mind. I gave as much as I could, but still wish I could have done more.
The Tomb Robbers
I can easily imagine some post-apocalyptic tomb raiders breaking into reactors that have melted down, ignoring the curse of invisible death that lies there to get to the rods of power that lie there. It is like an old D&D module. The concrete covering of Chernobyl is even called the sarcophagus.
The Mosquito and The Silver Bullet
Read about how malaria is coming back thanks to complacency and arrogance in western aid programs for fighting disease. It is like shooting silver bullets at the pests while sitting in a perforated net…
Spring Face
That first real day of spring puts on a smile and a spring in my step that lasts for a while. Just wanted to pass it along.
Mr Sato
Although the government and banks are bending backward to accommodate the victims of the tsunami, I can easily imagine the red tape tripping them up some time in the near future.
Kyoto Traffic
‘Ted, will you drive me to my exam in Kyoto?’
‘Is that a good idea today, on a sunny Sunday?’
‘What could happen?’
This.
The Ring
Both my marriage and how people need to support each other in times of calamity.
Tora Tora
The story happened as written. Never turn your back on a tiger.
The Wife’s Boxed Lunch
I should put radioactive warning labels on my huge lunch container, it looks that ominous. But it keeps everything warm and tasty that Tomiko makes.
Campus Lives
Admittedly, university as an institution is out of step with the times and needs to change. Still, it is a beautiful fairy world at times.
Guns
Too much power in any man’s hands, especially since most men are fools.
Google You
Try it.
Ordinary Workplace
Just wanted to turn this idea upside down. If you ever felt overwhelmed or a pariah at an office, you might get this. If you have excluded people, this is what kind of monster you look like to them.
Sex in Space
I had an exhausting week, poems weren’t coming that night, so I reached deep inside and this is what came out. Pretty impressive for a dirty limerick methinks…
The Tyranny of Things
Too much of this type of shit going on.
Five Stars
Being invited over to the house for a meal is even more special in Japan because it is so rare.
Spring Thoughts
It is that season where spring comes and goes, but you feel relieved every time it pops in. Expect one or two more of these spring-themed odes.
Meeting The Baby
Met Tomi’s newest nephew, Light, on the weekend. Babies are a pretty interesting symbol of where we are going and where we come from.
