Author Archives
Writings. Often within the intersection between fiction and non-fiction.
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So He’s Dead
So he’s dead. A life well lived, Lived well. So they said. Died yesterday. Born eighty years ago, Died in a coma – 104 days from diagnosis. A man we thought would Live forever. Twenty-three years my senior, Who admonished… Read More ›
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Mites and Hummingbirds
It turns out there is one species of mites that lives in the beaks of hummingbirds. As you no doubt remember from biology, the mite is the size of a little black spec, smaller even! When a hummingbird flits on… Read More ›
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The Lobster Lady of the Meyersdale Fair
The Firemen’s Carnival at Colt Park was one of the highlights of growing up in Gettysburg, but, in looking back, nothing compares to my first visit to the Meyersdale Fair in Somerset County. Meyersdale is tucked away in a deep river… Read More ›
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I Can’t Sing or Play an Instrument
I can’t sing or play an instrument. In tenth grade the music teacher, Mr. Parcells, kicked me out of chorus and band within a week of each other. I can’t remember why in chorus, but it would be fair to say… Read More ›
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Notes from the Field: Concert at La Selva
It’s five AM, and I am writing from the La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica. I am listening to a howler monkey outside in the forest letting everyone know he is awake and hungry. His bark is long and low and… Read More ›
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Reflections on Palo Verde and Nicaragua
It was one of those old timey airports that you used to see in the Martin and Lewis or Tony Curtis movies, where the stewardesses were all young and busty with tight uniforms and little caps and the idea of… Read More ›
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Winter
It’s cancerous! Snow-like, drifting through our lives. Silence, long and sad. Friends emerging, suffering, Madness, sweeping through our lives. It’s freezing! Wake up! Your touch so cold. ****
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Catching a Train
I have this old, cardboard Suitcase, black, rusty-claps shut, More like a trunk really, Hidden with years and curiosities. This old, cardboard – Suitcase, stuffed-full, packed – Away, nearly-forgotten. My trunk. More like a suitcase, really, That tramps would use… Read More ›
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The Road West was Invigorating
The road west was invigorating. I felt like a 21st century Daniel Boone. How nice, for once, to be heading west away from Interstate 95, away from the suffocating traffic and the grinding slowdowns, away from the endless progression of mega-cities, formidable in… Read More ›
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Waimea Bay
She crosses the sand aloof The cool loner on a retreat, No one owns her but the sea and the beach. She chooses her spot Unties the mid-drift knot Of her unbuttoned shirt. Casually she steps out of her… Read More ›
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Pecos
I know How a run-over Road runner Feels. A crushed Red carcass Under Texan wheels.
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Life, the Paradox, the Puzzle
LIfe: Smashing Mashing Mud The Paradox: Exciting Flashing Neoplastic Orgy of action Lashing Bashing Arcade crazed Pinball crashing The Puzzle: If everything Fit together I would tear it apart How else does one Reach that paradox That paradise… Read More ›
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Vision
I once Believed I held A vision, But it Was all in — My head. Everything I say Says Nothing, And nothing — Needs said. Where have I gone To come To this? I wish I —
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In the Ocean Fog Is a Specter
In the ocean fog Behind the shadows — of swirling mist, Stalks a specter With a seducer’s kiss. Across the marshes In the seeping sigh — of his gray cloak cover, Creeping softly forward The specter seeks a lover…. Read More ›
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The Spider’s Widow
I stood on stairs. Shadow in night. My parents’ bed, wretched sight: Spider’s limbs relaxed, coarse hairs lying back. Mother’s fingers, diamond-studded, reaching over – liar, strokes a silvery web so soon, so soon after. Daddy, oh Daddy stung dead. ****
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Kittens, Rabbits, and other Soft Things
Your eyes are alive As a smiling moon Whispers in the night. Beautiful Did I mention to say? Alive Alive Happy and alive I soar Miles beyond my stride.
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Cat Night
This night is cool, Not like some nights When it slaps and jostles you, Like a cat swatting A cockroach between its paws, Until you escape inside, Only to be tormented With its maddening meows To come out and wrestle…. Read More ›
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You Aren’t What You Say Poem
You aren’t what you say, Better off that way; You are what you said, Alive or dead.
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My Old Man
My old man I saw him last night. He was standing there in slippers, Pajamas, Bathrobe tied tight. He said — He had trouble with his hearing, He had trouble with his sight, But, he said, Don’t worry, Jonathan, It’s… Read More ›
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Monstrosities
I saw a girl today wearing the mask of a retard. Her arms were screwed on backwards. I gritted my teeth in the cold and turned away, thinking about rape – And women, and a boy who says a- super… Read More ›
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Promises Promises
She slept with a frog She thought him a prince I slept with a dog Haven’t seen her since
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Waking up Sunday
Coarse-haired Pigs. Grunting in our pens, on our sides, Covered in pig shit, So content to lie lazy And fill out fat For the farmer’s butcher. I am the cold bacon Beside your tasteless eggs On the breakfast… Read More ›
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Drowning Poem
I found myself drowning In a sea of love And like the Nautilus I couldn’t get help from above But unlike the Nautilus It wasn’t a major expedition I went to a fishing hole I was only fishing.
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Epilogue
My father Sinking in After all these years Him again.
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Lynn and Hun’s Porch
I. In the city of white, The streets are wide White and low, And the sky Hangs wide White and low. And Lynn waters his flowers: They grow, Like wild jungle creepers To mumble of the show, As cars rumble… Read More ›
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Sidewalk
Slick Black Shoes Chat Click Clack Click Clack
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I Feel Like Hanging Myself
I feel like hanging myself In a closet. Maybe behind the door, On a strong steel hook, Dangling off the floor, Or drawn through A wooden hanger, So I wouldn’t crease, Drooping, limber, lifeless, Till all movements cease, Till like… Read More ›
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Julius Swope’s Station
Who asked for the maddening dance of Swirling summer leaves And huge pre-storm rain droplets Bashing against a dizzying jumble of Dented cars and old farm trucks. Hovering under a tormented awning, I am captured by the abrupt swell, A surprised spectator,… Read More ›
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Patty Hearst
I imagine you sitting shoeless On the weathered steps Of a sparse plank porch, Lost in a spider’s web Of bad, back county roads Where water pumps And outhouses Are just another slice Of homemade bread. Only in my mind… Read More ›
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Pamela Poem
I love you/ I hate you I’m inconsistent that way; I’m a merry-go-round Up and down each day. I ignore you/ I adore you I can’t keep it straight; You’re a bowl of mixed vegetables Carrots awful, peas great.
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The Lion and the Porcupine
Opps! Look at me — As I turned to trot, Tail swishing sly, That horn-rimmed, steel quilled Porcupine Pricked My Impregnable hide, Opening me wide, And A pretentious roar Turned cold And An adolescent Coughed.
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Illusions
I saw myself a tiger, You said, lamb, instead; I saw myself a dagger, Butter knife, you said.
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Attraction/Repulsion
I was always kind of negative (Just another peculiarity of life) And at the slightest friction I would become heated And explode And bite. You were always kind of positive (A delicate if not remarkable host) When you were… Read More ›
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On what the blind hear and the deaf see
When you looked over — as if to talk, I stared at the coffee table, Hiding behind the chocolate Splattered glasses, Creeping over the spaghetti Crusted plates, Sneaking in amongst the torn Pages of a People Magazine. Sometimes Like the… Read More ›
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The Explanation
He shovels his walk Like an old man, Pleased at having Something to do with His hands and mind, Grateful for the excuse To stand in the winter sun And peer at salt-crusted cars.
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Lover
She sticks out through the sores, Though the room is full of blisters. She seeps through the stench Of the pus-people, Removing the filth bandage, Reviving the gangrene limbs, Restoring two hundred pounds To a bed-ridden invalid.
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Fishies
I swim in her lips I swim along She swallows my movement She swallows my song
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The Bar/The Dance
She wags her ass In front of his nose Like some bitch in heat Shimmering Shimmering Until his wild eyes cloud And his nostrils flair Swimming Swimming Until he lurches forward In his crude doggy paddle Humping straddle Humping straddle… Read More ›
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Early Spring
Window watching Whisper white snow Blowing — In whirls and twirls Onto a slick, wet road, Flowing — Mush, waiting, Dripping drops of slush Down a drain pipe grating. Window watching Whisper white snow Flying — Through the tangled,… Read More ›
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Inadequacy
Why do I do the things I do? Like see- ing you and me pass through the sum- mer to- gether as two. Risking jail to send won- ders through the mail to you and flow- ers too. Calling up… Read More ›
jonathan giles 