I swat at gnats busily buzzing by noiseless pestering my aura I bat my middlin’ strike out as one succumbs another lazes by endless parade relentless I swat at gnats universally insignificant why me who sics them on me what … Continue reading

George Michael’s lyrics to “Secret Love” come to mind as I watched the ballot bedlam after the closing of a Fullerton precinct June 5th. As a volunteer poll observer for Election Integrity Project California (EIPCa), I stayed after the polls … Continue reading

Give me your huddled masses, carefully screened. Give me your fingerprints, your photo IDs. Rid us of the wretched immigration policy so poor that imports terror onto our shore… Michael Ramirez, Los Angeles Times, November 1, 2001. Now the Los … Continue reading

When was the last time you were kissed by a frog? Lips meeting: at whose level? What were your emotions? Taste, did it taste? Were you pleasured, a tingle up and down your spine? Did you close your eyes, holding … Continue reading When was the last time…

Old bad Bascomb come ridin’ into town lookin’ for Wild Willie, gunfighter renown. He pokes his head in the old saloon, says, “Wild Willie. meet me at noon for a shootout, if you do so dare— the fastest gun’ll live, … Continue reading End of Gunfightin’       by Hank Smith

My first book is a re-creation of Don Quixote as if he was living in Los Angeles in the 1970’s. I had written the chapters in a writing group in Irvine—and then, in my seventies, I joined the Oscher Lifetime … Continue reading Chapter 10. Two Books Published at Eighty-Four

I the world muffled light leaks through the cracks in grays slowly brightening morning mists touched by the sun evaporate dreams, hard fought battles chase and catch evaporate what was caught up in chaos and lost a mystery played out … Continue reading director

He stared at his closet floor—littered with left shoes: work boots, cowboy boots, slippers and flippers, Nikes and a shiny shoe for a tux. He wore the tux once but then that is another story. There was that dress shoe … Continue reading His Closet

My camera straps have wound around my mouthpiece pulling it down and away from my mouth. The camera lens pressed against my forehead and the camera case had just whizzed by my ear. I couldn’t be heard yelling “uncle” if … Continue reading Decathalon

(To promote Earth Day April 22, 2018: Saint Francis, our Polar Bear, if he could pray, hoping for sustainability between man and bear) Listen Blue of the sky, blue of the sea Rainbow of land and lakes Cool white of … Continue reading Prayer for Brothers