UPDATE New Novel: Wildman by J.C. Geiger

Finished it. Beautiful, the ending could have gone in a few different directions, and they all would have worked. But I'm glad it ended the way it did. 

I just started reading this, and it's great. It's a "Young Adult" novel, but I personally find that term not quite accurate. S.E. Hinton's work transcends any YA category; Rumble Fish, Pony Boy, The Outsiders, etc. are not "just" for youth. Geiger's novel -- haven't finished, in fact, just started it, but it was hard to put it down. If it weren't for work the next day and having to get up at 5:30 I would have kept reading. So far, excellent. Very visual, descriptive… so visit his site, order the book. I hear he's working on another. Can't wait.

Reworked poem: Goat People

I didn't change much at all regarding the words, but did change the line structure. I like it better. Below is the reworked version; you can see the original here.

goat people

dusk, goats stuck in straw

big round bulbs of white light shine down on the little one covered

in its mother’s birth slime, the squishy pop of its arrival from

birth canal to asphalt still loud in my ears.

i am startled by the throw back dress of the goat people: suspenders

holding up pants, small smashed-on-heads-hats, shirtless, sweat,tattoos,cigarettes doing the dangle from the, yep,toothless owners

many seem to barely notice, this goat just born

while we look on, some holding up their kids to look, 

their feet kicking above the short flimsy wire fence

i move on, disgusted not by birth or slime or even dirt smugded and spitting goat people but the All-American families at this circus

this carnival, tacky venue hawked as wholesome,welcome, an economy boon, educational opportunity, fun fucking outing.

later,tigers snarl, elephants slow-motion their moves, the caged ones 

roar and trumpet behind the tents.

muck, sticky straw, stale oil, greasy lights, flaked paint once red, now brown sticks to our skin as we make our through the hot crowds on this circus night.

regan lee

reworked 6/2017

squirrel-orange

president elect

squirrel-orange is the new black

hard rain's gonna fall

regan lee

decemeber 2016

oregon

Found On My Shelf: Patti Smith's "Babel"

A good feeling, to clean out the bookshelves. Came across this paperback edition of Patti Smith's Babel. I had forgotten all about this book! So glad to have met it again.

Here's a poem from the book -- the last one:

zug island

i know
all
your secret dreams
i know where
you are
goodnight
sleep tight
sweet streams
sweet beams
god light
you from afar

                         ~ Patti Smith, Babel 1979

One word poem: Barbecue

A one word poem: the word was barbecue. The idea is to write quickly for a minute, the one word your inspiration, don't think, just write. So here it is:

Barbecue

red meaty sticky sweet black crisp it all falls off
down
around the hot, the humid, the trees waving above in the thick slow breeze
too much nerve around here, too much of a good thing 

regan lee

july 2016 

 

Dino Had a Gun

(A minor edit, but changes the visual, the overall feel. "the den" to "the back room.") july 2016


Dino Had a Gun

So, frantic call at night . . . 
Dino, downtown, in jail 
or something, mom rushing out

Where’s Felix, step-dad, Dino’s friend -- work, or lost his license, or anyway
Dino and mom return

I open the door, Dino standing there, revolver in hand, pointed 
right at me. I blanch, Jesus, I’m spooked.

Then he laughs “It’s not real kid, just a toy” mom comes up behind, oblivious

Dino spends the night,  I don’t remember where. Couch, the back room, what.

But the gun. And when I asked what happened, mom said Dino was just playing around being a joker. He wasn’t really in jail. He just needed a ride, fast.

Out of downtown.  

With his gun.

regan lee

oregon spring 2016

tiny elephants

let’s dream of tiny elephants

luminous and translucent

swimming in the palms

of our hands.

regan lee

october 20015

eugene oregon