LOUD VOICES

Education

  • Writing For My Life

    The following was written in response to a college assignment to read “Write Like a Motherfucker.” I don’t remember whether I read this somewhere or someone told me: Writing is writing. Period. If you’re not vomiting words onto the page… Continue reading

    Writing For My Life

  • America, My Country Too

    I was born in the United States of America and grew up here. The South Bronx.From an early age, I was taught that this nation was the greatest in the world. No doubts about it.In Catholic elementary school (1954-1962), we… Continue reading

    America, My Country Too

  • Those Illegals

    We don’t care.There is no empathy left in us.No sympathy.No care in the universe.We know who they are.Where they came fromacross an oceanEnglandPortugalSpainFranceItalyGermanySo many lands We have enough pain in our worldwe cannotwill notassume the debt of their painWe refused… Continue reading

    Those Illegals

  • Wisdom Earned

    I recently celebrated my two-year anniversary of graduating from college at the age of seventy-five, with two degrees: an A.A. in English and a B.A. in English Creative Writing. Summa Cum Laude, baby.And so I’ve been thinking a lot about… Continue reading

    Wisdom Earned

  • Instructions For Making and Using an Ax Handle

    An Ax Handle, also called a haft, has five parts: the Eye, the Shoulder, the Belly, the Throat, and the Knob. ALL we wanted was to be served lunchat the whites-only lunch counterInside a F.W. Woolworthfive-and-dime store In Jacksonville, Florida,… Continue reading

    Instructions For Making and Using an Ax Handle

  • The News Is Driving Us into A Dark Hole: A Flashback

    This was originally posted on November 8, 2021. As you can see, not much has changed since then, except that they’ve gotten worse. I have a daily ritual: I wake up and organize my day. I scan both local and… Continue reading

    The News Is Driving Us into A Dark Hole: A Flashback

  • The Great Escape

    In a god we trustWhen I was ten years old, as I was praying during Mass performing my duties as an altar boy in the basement church St. Rita of Cascia, kneeling before the raised altar, the gold cross hanging… Continue reading

    The Great Escape

  • Inspiration

    I’ve been told that inspiration for writing is everywhere. Just open your eyes.The person or object in front of you, even when it’s a computer screen or The view of the backyard through your office window. Look up at the… Continue reading

    Inspiration

  • Fear and Loathing in America

    “The moment we no longer have a free press, anything can happen. What makes it possible for a totalitarian or any other dictatorship to rule is that people are not informed; how can you have an opinion if you are… Continue reading

    Fear and Loathing in America

  • An Open Letter

    Dear Fellow Americans, what the hell were you thinking? Is this really the best we could do? You had two choices in November 2024, and this is what you chose? (Thanks for nothing). One of the candidates had been around… Continue reading

    An Open Letter