http://slow.writerscafe.org/rmzed The original writings of author Rod Zinkel en-us Copyright 2026 WritersCafe.org 1776026414 WritersCafe.org RSS Generator 15 An essay on beauty. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/422575/             Let’s tell a fable. In a forest there dwelled two squirrels – Silly and Savvy. Silly Squirrel resided in a luxurious Maple Tree, beautiful to look at, and a beautiful view to look from. Savvy lived in an Oak tree, which w.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/416082/ I hear the Sirens sing a hymn to the ocean, nothing sensuous, nothing to lure, only to grieve the loss of insight of those pilgrims devout to music of the spheres, echoed on seas, conveyed in mists and salt-air, heard far off the shore where the heavy-laden refuse to go... to go wher.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/412830/ Essay on a sort of art therapy project I work on at Aurora hospital. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/353225/ Groomsmen play a round of hacky sack in a municipal parking lot, waiting for misnomered glamour shots, and the girls in matte satin dresses to settle on a look. They pass judgment like a cigarette. "I guess that's why we're dressed like waiters." "Couldn't we just put up.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/348829/ string of lights theory --the universe is a messfor God to sort out http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/343233/ Also on http://zinkelsendeavor.blogspot.com http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/342523/ From Aurora's Northern Highlights office newsletter. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/338467/ A poem from my chapbook: Dr. Herod's Spellbound Readings - The Maribel Caves. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/333520/ An essay on a new work experience. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/331157/ A romantic poem. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/321174/ I would tell you to "know thyself," but you've known yourself for years. Don't you think it's time to get to know someone else? http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/314082/ Written in 1999. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/289715/ This is an abridged version of the essay that will appear in ZED's August issue. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/288630/ This is a collection of essays, abridged, from those published in ZED's newsletter from 2005-present. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/288618/ A story with the limit of 50 words. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/282660/ A dream poem. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/275161/ lechery is for egowhat poetry is for idjust if i'dkiss youwith no reasonbesides   it's me http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/274068/ I am a student in Life's Remedial Class. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/273733/ Written for a Lotus Eater's exercise. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/273046/ Men who have classwon't say you have a big a*s. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/272185/ Written under the influence of Dorothy Parker. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/271905/ I think I shall never see ... no, that's been done.  I will never knowa poem as lovely as Stacy ...a poem as soft as her lacybra ... wait, what the hell rhymes with bra?Oh, hey!  Her breasts are without flaw.She'll love that.  I love that.  She doeshave beautiful br.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/271764/ She stands like the lily's pistil, erect ...wait, that's not right ... alert.  Her skin reflectslike glossy aspen leaves, blindingly whiteunder the bright sun ... no, more like egg whites.Her hair like milkweed ... wait, that implies clumps.She's tall like the sunflower in her pumps ... http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/271762/ There is an ancient place in a town called Maribel, hidden from passersby, hidden within a dell. Moss grows over scattered rocks, maple leaves cover the floor, the morning mists settle like a cloud on mystic moors. Beneath the layers of earth, beneath the strata of rock, a ca.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/268791/ Revision of You Can Tell a Lot About Someone, and can work as an example of how a writing exercise, (as seen in the Lotus Eater's group), can evolve into something completely different and better. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/267258/ For a creative writing exercise in the Lotus Eater's group. Based on Anglo-Saxon riddles. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/256812/ from the early seventies,before the environment ruined everything.It waited above twenty feet of water,thirty yards from shore,a deck that only the adults used,where they laid out instead of played,basking, or was it basting, in coconut oil.I remember well my twelfth yearwhen two fri.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/250448/ There’s a boywho stands knee-high to a July corn stalk.He stares one waydown the dirt roadhis mother has gone.He finds Fortunehas deserted him like the poverty-stricken, society-forbidden parent.“I can’t take care of you,” she said.I am the child who mir.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/248740/ He’s dumb as rocks, someone said.A quiet man,broad-shouldered and heavy-set,thick-necked and blue-collared,steel-tipped and reinforced,limps from the bones broken on pallets,lifts cinder blocks in hands with cracked skin and gnarled knuckles.He thinks.He thinks and doesn&rsqu.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/246997/ I once read the doctor’s notes   when he exited the room,the injured appendagewas referred to as malformed,a confirmation to my egothat taunted me since childhood,echoing my peerswho used baser terms.There was a time –there must have been a time –when .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/246858/ If I had a dreamsicleI'd taste your creamyskin and lipstick sherbert. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/244148/ On the bar sceneeveryone wears a sandwich boardselling what makes them special.A girl has diamonds on each fingerand a stripper name on her board – Sparkle.Lucy has an eye for diamonds.Another woman’s primped her hair as big as the hotel Hilton,her sign reads retroactive.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/239565/ Written for The Lotus Eater creative writing exercise. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/237745/ Nessy’s at the barsipping margaritasfor her namesake – Strawberry,to keep up the stripper’s persona.There’s a guy hanging onto keep from falling to the floor.He drops witticisms instead of dollar bills,like “I’ve got something salty for ya.”S.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/236356/ Written for the Lotus Eaters exercise: the art of science. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/231918/ “What’s the meaning of this?”my father would say to the dawn,quite dissatisfied with the sun’sinterruption of his sleep.“I’ve got to go to work in two hours.”After several years of this the sun still rose irreverently,but stopped smiling about .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/230533/ Suggested slogan for the group, Vicious Circle. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/229920/ Riding the Red Bullwhile entering datais like Stevie Wonder’s fingers crossingwhile playing Superstition,like open wheel racingat the Indy 500,like the Orient Express highballing it to Istanbul.I got an iPod in my pocketand a matrix in my mind,getting slap happy on the keyb.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/228724/ To K. Written for the Poetry is a Place contest. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/226899/ Written from The Lotus Eater's group exercise. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/226756/ A haiku. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/226540/ The giant heifers of New Holsteinare fiberglass sentinels,standing at the east and westends of Dairyland Street.At least five of the two hundred readersof the weekly New Holstein Chroniclewere up in arms—some punk stole off with an udder.The demanded he return it,and after se.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/225157/ She wants to see in an antique mirroryears she feels are missing,when she would have held romantic ideals,like the liberty of a driver’s licenseor road trips she’s only read of,like the beauty of nature in some other placeoutside their twenty-five acres,like indignation at .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/224997/ There once was a bear named Hoo,who felt jealous of the well known Pooh.In his dead oak he plotted and schemedto end his enemy's regime.With hemlock and Old Brown Gluehe filled a honey pot for Pooh.He knew the junkie couldn’t resist,and he relished the ironic twist.Wi.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/222606/ Written for a creative writing exercise in The Lotus Eaters group. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/222227/ A personal essay. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/222217/ Wading, waste high, through the Mekong, the blood is as thick as water. Keep your AK above your head like a pull-up bar, you need something for hanging your hopes on. We climb on shore on our bellies, you have to protect your gut -- it's all that you've got. Everything importan.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/221927/ Originated from magnetic poetry. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/221922/ To Emily Burns I like to see Poetry as the model and the creation, the more beautiful embodiment of my life than myself. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/rmzed/218812/