2/19/2022 blog

On a newspaper article and two original poems

From The Washington Post recently:

“While traveling through parts of North Africa and the Middle East 20-plus years ago, I experienced a moment of dread well known to travelers through the ages: Just a few weeks into the trip, which would last nearly seven months, I finished the two books I had brought with me.

At the time, I was taking Arabic classes and renting a room from a man in Giza, Egypt. Perusing his sparsely stocked bookshelf, I noticed an old hard-bound edition of T.E. Lawrence’s Seven Pillars of Wisdom, ‘Take it, take it,’ he insisted. A foreign friend had left it behind, he said, and it was of no use to him; although he spoke English fluently, he couldn’t read it at all.”

I travelled a lot when younger and was almost always alone, so books were a consolation, kind of like worry beads on trains, planes, or ferries. My new novel is going to involve long-distance travel and may include the main character reading while in transit.

“Hug” by yours truly

“Methinks you doth hug me too tight!”

“Well I may. Well I might.”

“More gentle would be nice.”

“Could we French kiss? It might add spice.”

“No, sir. Just on the lips will suffice.”

“Next” by yours truly

The next time you see me I shall be wearing a mask.

Might be better than chugging a flask.

You may not recognize me or who I am ask.

Life has become quite a hard task.