Oblique in an Acute New Century
No New Pictures, Please
My photogenics went to hell
in 1999. The cameras
ever since have pictured me
with too much resolution and fidelity.
My old face couldn't face
the new age with cheerful acquiescence.
Cultural Conspiracy
It is a small life, circumscribed
by debt and income, age and infirmity.
The Hidden Hand thrusts its middle finger
high. Fortuna spins her wheel and cackles.
His Allergies Are Bad Today
Variety, spice, life—
ingredients of a vast despair
if allergic.
Juggler
Fatigue already lowers the amplitude
of the five cleavers circling between
myself and the audience of bored strangers.
They remain, in hope of a little spatter
when entropy predominates
and the whole little enterprise ends
with accelerating disorder
and stillness.
Discomfiture
The places I can be and want to be
diminish. Chairs no longer fit.
The morning slash of sun
burns the retinae. Faint
and unfamiliar noises portend
calamity. It may be time to leave.
My photogenics went to hell
in 1999. The cameras
ever since have pictured me
with too much resolution and fidelity.
My old face couldn't face
the new age with cheerful acquiescence.
Cultural Conspiracy
It is a small life, circumscribed
by debt and income, age and infirmity.
The Hidden Hand thrusts its middle finger
high. Fortuna spins her wheel and cackles.
His Allergies Are Bad Today
Variety, spice, life—
ingredients of a vast despair
if allergic.
Juggler
Fatigue already lowers the amplitude
of the five cleavers circling between
myself and the audience of bored strangers.
They remain, in hope of a little spatter
when entropy predominates
and the whole little enterprise ends
with accelerating disorder
and stillness.
Discomfiture
The places I can be and want to be
diminish. Chairs no longer fit.
The morning slash of sun
burns the retinae. Faint
and unfamiliar noises portend
calamity. It may be time to leave.
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Author's Note
Little bits of fear and loathing.
Other stories by Gary Hardaway
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*
These are all great, but my bias is toward Discomffiture. "*"
*, Gary, I'm with Kyle. Discomfiture for me, too.
This is a masterful summation. At least the Fear and Loathing was not in Las Vegas.
Thank you, Amanda,
and Kyle,
and David.
Love it, Gary*
Jeez, hard to pick. But...the wheel spins...spins...Juggler! *****
Wow, these are great. "little bits of fear and loathing" indeed. I like the form, too, the subtitles and how the overarching title pulls this all together.
I'm especially taken with:" The cameras
ever since have pictured me
with too much resolution and fidelity."
How the words "resolution" and "fidelity" do double time here. Great.
*
all good, especially like cultural conspiracy and the middle finger thrusting*
What Kyle said *
Enjoyed the set - especially connect with "No New Pictures, Please.
Grateful for the reponses,
Sam,
John,
Gary,
Chris,
Kathy,
Matt,
and Jen.
* These little bits of fear and loathing make delicious snacks! I could read 'em all day long. Great stuff Gary! Hope you do more of them.
Thank you, Michael.
I like this. I would take out the individual titles and just let it all run into itself.
Thank you, Samuel.
These are oddly delightful. I guess I hope for a little spatter sometimes myself!
Thank you, Carol.