Memoir
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golden tequila hangovers
The following poem was originally written in 1994, when Tequila was my poison of choice. I have been sober for fifteen years this coming September 11. wake up/if you canrolling over/from one deadday/into the nextyour moutha dirt filled trench/shoveled with/bad… Continue reading
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An Interesting Life
I’ve often said that at seventy-seven, I’ve lived an interesting life.An understatement. It’s times like now when you look back at your life. Celebrate the victories. Learn from the failures. I often think about where I was born and raised.… Continue reading
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Life Expectancy
It’s official. I’ve got 10.6 years left of this most interesting life. At least, that’s what the U.S. Social Security Administration says. Of course, I’m saying all this while ignoring the fine print, the part about my current health, lifestyle,… Continue reading
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Cool Driving
When you live in the megalopolis called Los Angeles, driving is more than a means of transportation. It is a connection to a network of cultures fueled by people seeking their best lives. The cities, towns, and neighborhoods are portals… Continue reading
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The Temporary Tenant
When my life convertsFrom matter into energy E = mc2The tombstone will pronounceHere lies The Temporary Tenant I have been a tenant of so many Dreams NightmaresIn so many Cities Towns NeighborhoodsPins on a map Of the U N I… Continue reading
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B l a n k
Dedicated to all those who suffer from memory loss. Memories holding on Without them I am Blank They keep me Alive Joy Anger Without them I am Blank Memories They keep me from going mad I am nothing without them… Continue reading
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41. A Love Story.
January 1, 2026, Sumire Gant and Antonio Pedro Ruiz celebrate forty-one years of sharing their lives. The romantic in me searches for words to speak to youfor feelings to feelto share with you January 1, 1985when I crawled down the… Continue reading
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Da Bronx: The Nostalgia of Memory
This past summer, I spent seven days in Da Bronx, where I was born. These are the memories the visit revealed. The little red car I received on my fifth birthday —the first memory my brain will acknowledge. 314 East… Continue reading
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Resolutions
I’ve made my one resolution for 2026. I will have no resolutions What’s the point? I’m just going to break them in one week or one month or somewhere around May when it begins to get L.A. weather lovely, and… Continue reading
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i dent i ty
The following was inspired by the book The Other Latin@: Writing Against a Singular Identity, edited by Blas Falconer and Lorraine M. Lopez. who am i there are so many names according to themthose people who build the labelswrite the… Continue reading
