LOUD VOICES

Creative Writing

  • Old(er): An Epic Journey

    Part Two “Eat Life like you’re starving. You may feel full at the end of the day, but damn, it tasted good.” antonio pedro ruiz I remember the moment I touched down at LAX Los Angeles Airport like it was… Continue reading

    Old(er): An Epic Journey

  • America is Broken

    Video evidence is everywhere. Facebook. X. Especially X. Instagram. TikTok. I’ve even seen evidence on Truth Social, a Trumpian fountain of irreconcilable conflict between reality and fantasy. You know things are horrible when the liars are lying about lying.The videos… Continue reading

    America is Broken

  • 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

  • I Ain’t No Superman

    Man, I can’t catch a break. Hard living. First, my knee replacements. Both knees. Then, my recent brush with life-changing trauma, a stroke. It reminded me of my last body-slamming event: a blocked heart and the pacemaker implanted in my… Continue reading

    I Ain’t No Superman

  • The Cult of Hate

    “When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.“—Sinclair Lewis It is a faint memory, but it’s there. At some point in my childhood, I was taught to beware of Russian people, because… Continue reading

    The Cult of Hate

  • space is the place/an ode to Sun Ra

    Just past midnight on New Year’s Day in 1980, I witnessed a performance by the late jazz composer, bandleader, pianist, synthesizer player, and poet Sun Ra at D.C. Space in Washington, D.C, under the influence of acid. This is a tribute… Continue reading

    space is the place/an ode to Sun Ra

  • 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

  • Inside My Brain, Through My Heart

    A Memory of Joy There are those days when it all seemed rightWhen no storms were overheadThe breeze of a lazy August day enveloped youand You wanted to lie down in Lincoln Park and Hug the person beside you.That summer… Continue reading

    Inside My Brain, Through My Heart

  • 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