Saturday, August 30, 2008

Q: Which book should I get?


Q: Which book should I get?
A: The one that tells the truth.

I used to write a poem . . .

I used to write a poem,
everyday.
I'd get up early
and look out at an oak tree
that wouldn't
give up its leaves.

The tree was waiting for spring,
like a woman hanging
onto a boyfriend or husband
until a better catch
came along.

Each day these leaves
would say something to me.
Each day, that is,
until I took a poetry
workshop with a famous poet.

I discovered that
cliches should not be
used, and each line
should end in an . . .
important word,
and (for G_d's sake)
certain subject matter,
like leaves, are passé.

I stopped writing poems,
right then, thinking that
there was only one
way to do it, and if
I wasn't obeying
the rules, I might
as well draw pictures . . .

Friday, August 29, 2008

Thursday, August 28, 2008

5 minutes, she said.



Q: So how long will he be worshiped after he's elected?
A: 5 minutes, she said.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Who's in the world?

Xiushan said, "What can you do about the world?" Dizang said, "What do you call the world?"