http://slow.writerscafe.org/flounderinga The original writings of author Floundering About en-us Copyright 2026 WritersCafe.org 1776043707 WritersCafe.org RSS Generator 15 p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px 'Times New Roman'}p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 11.0px}span.s1 {letter-spacing: 0.0px}span.Apple-tab-span {white-space:pre}Yon the righttrees goY Y Y Ywires dipp.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/636166/ p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'}p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 15.0px}One might every moment knowone will die, butone gets bored.Might two forget?Knowing and Forgettingare not .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/632859/ his cookinga last ditch eroticsmachinegunning away“retreat” on the trenchtelephone (that’s me,the voice of reason,he calls me resentfully)no matter how many tartshe bakes, even if he wins,only a lifetimeof cookingawaits http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/622738/ his cookinga last ditch eroticismmachinegunning away“retreat” commandsthe trench radio (that’s me,the voice of reasonhe calls me, resentful)no matter how many tartshe bakeswe’ll still loseeventually http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/622498/ Nobody is listeningYou knowThey’ve got their monologueAnd allBut nobody listensYeah it’s nice thoughLike a chance toList your grievancesEveryone has a turnTo be heardThey all complainThat much is trueAbout whatever they’ve heardOn the newsIt’s a totally disconnected collectio.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/618842/ Take the timeto buy more time.Or(if you prefer)save timefor later,or for others to inherit,although we can’t guaranteethat they’ll use it.We’re a certified time bank--no cheap tricks likethe cinema,meditation,or those seminarson how to use your time moreefficiently.However the dura.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/618039/ You’ve heard someone saythat he’s heard someone saythat no one quotes any one else anymore,at least not knowingly. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/611142/ What is there to do witha body anyway?There are some thingsthat can’t be helpedeven sometimes the help.Knowing thiswhat thendoes one do?Anything? http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/608995/ The boy does his bestto describe him:Most people are just collectionsof mannerisms he says butthis man is simply there.I tell the boyI don’ t think it’s hismannerisms I begrudgeit’s histhere that’s unbearable.Yes says the boymore there than beforeit is the underworldafter all.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/608993/ The back of the headhas its own set of teeththat chew shame.It has dietary needsand is prone todigestive upset,including heartburn,an ineffective deterrentto eating rich food. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/598844/ You can hear the anythingin the other voice.Words exit as if from a bus.You know only thatthey get off at a particular stop.Everything else is speculation.The other voice seemsto hear its words exiting,but has not learned to ignorethem like a driver would.Maybethis isn’t good for methe other v.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/595922/ Recently I went to The Archive.It was late but when elsewould I have had time?And besides it’s not as ifI would have slept.There was a great deal written there,about me mostly,but I was tired andthe shelves were so quiet.It was difficult to focus.I can’t remember exactlywhat I read. &nbs.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/595804/ There are a number of things worth saying. None of them will be written here.There are a number of things to say about worth. For instance an analogy between church contributions and movie theaters.There is an amount given to the church or in payment for a movie. Presumably both these amounts are.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/595792/ You can already feelsummer folding in on itselfmaybe because you know what day of August it is or  because of the hot, spent air or  because all your calls go to voicemail or  because you exhale or  because of the stillness.Sure,you could go exuberantly to the laketo laugh an.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/592464/ Try.Try laughing.Dry summer wind. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/592449/ the suneradicates the clouds.After all who else knewthe sun?The summeris quite the PR campaign.Everyone is drawn outinto the lovely weather.Children crayon hugesmiley-faced suns,their yellow rays clumsilypiercing stick figures and houses.Smiling, their parents latherthem with sunscreen.The horizon i.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/591116/ At the end of the summer the garden doesn't seem to have grown muchafter all.Next year they’ll be perfect-- much bigger. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/591109/ Participant observation is the term ethnographers use.  The stars shot down far less frequently than their word shower would suggest.  They landed as exclamations, offering themselves to those who accept that all they can do is exclaim.  There were irreducibly indeterminate lengths of.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/591009/ Memories are really wishesWishes are really memoriesEverything seems caught in thatThat is all you can rememberBut there are things you never rememberThese catch youYou never wish to catch them http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/590093/ Sr Ti Um Is Am An Of Gr Ea Ts Ta Tu ReTh Ee Mp Er Or Of Ti UmWh Os Ee Le Me Nt Sm Us Tn Ot Ex Ce Ed Tw Ol Et Te RsUn Fo Rt Un At El Yf Or Sr Ti UmSo Me Of Th Ee Le Me Nt Sc Ol Lu De DtOw Re Ak Ha Vo Co Nt He Em Pi ReSr Ti Um Fo Un.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/585345/ This town never is(we discuss on the trail)it was.  Fresh from the New cityher eldest brother wants “s**t food.”He wants to sin with each burger bite, butthe burger never is.His teeth plunge impotently intolike so last decade.“Why do Native Americans believethat sage smoke is .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/585157/ Lauren Berlant calls our attention to “the unfortunate tendency in much contemporary affect theory to elide the difference between the structure of an affect and the experience we associate with a typical emotional event.”  This almost sounds like asking “what does feeling fee.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/584205/ Some call alcohol “liquid courage.”  It doesn’t provide courage it provides something else that I would like to call stupidity.  This sounds stupid, but consider John Wayne’s definition of courage: “courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.&rdqu.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/584202/ You know when the band counts time before the song? One How I hate being stirred.One Arvo Pärt says “One plus one, it is one - it is not two. This is the secret of this technique.” OneBut I am stirred. Two There does seem to be some technique to it.One Who looks first? TwoThe ey.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/581833/ Yes, the song is called “Universal Troops”. Everybody bleedsYes, “yes” yesses throughout the patio, Everybody givesthrough every body. Everybody takesYes, some bodies are more every than others: Everybody keepsthe everyest body reveres the singing body, Everybody’s upad.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/578080/ Form comesfor wantof something better.“It’s just around the bend.”“You just see it because you can’t see it,” I say gloomily.  He gives me that looklike an animal staringwhen it can’t quite see you.You may find yourself similarlyopaque,but more likely y.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/575652/ In chess anger is not useful.  Say your opponent makes it impossible not to lose your queen.  Vengeful moves may lash your vision of the board, all useless.  Sure, you could take his knight, but that would make your situation worse.  It’s impossible to find the seam of the .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/572065/ This will be, I hope, the first of many episodes. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/570554/ Lamp shade tilts upturned like question, desire shading up wall.  Dust comes off in grey smears.  The composition of the dust is unremarkable, and has accumulated over five to seven years.  The lamp shade was probably pushed ajar by someone opening the door.  Camera flash throws .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/569901/ A wedding is a life.What comes before and after?In life some talk about life.Every marriage isn’t a failure,people just often go into it for the wrong reason,then it is a failure.Is a life gone into for a reason?Dude I just got married!cries the living groom,never quite expressive enough in li.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/569013/ Eat to clear plate.Drink to drain glass.Talk to fall silent.Have sex to orgasm.How to party to say goodnight? http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/568750/ A wedding is an event.When does it happen?The programme says from 5:00 to 5:15.During this time each takes the other’s hand, trembling unseen.Tears come not from rings sliding onto fingers,but nervous smiles, fast breathing, the sudden flesh of hands:nerves from witnessing the pair’s ner.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/568388/ “Falling HaFor ha haYou” ha ha ha!“I NoReally...” no no“I’m no no no.Really...” Ha ha ha ha! http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/568177/ It’s not warm.  “We’re not very warm people, but I like our friendship.”  Our friendship is in town.  We went pulling weeds on an optimistic property.  On this property nature must be kept out so that nature can thrive.  Our friendship’s mother .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/567942/ Pour out your soul. Whatever.Alone forever.Pull the lever.Mmm cherry, lemon, lemon, so many flavors, even orange.They all taste like this sentence. What rhymes with orange? http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/567733/ Precipitated by a misheard lyric, as you might guess. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/566694/ So easy to get lostin beauty.  Hiseyes glint briefly.  The soft lidsbelow his eyes seemto contain infinity.He just sits therecurled in a blanket, innocentlybearing this gift.  So innocentthat he speaks and drops it. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/566692/ “I don’t know why they call it Whale Back Mountain.”“Well, because it looks like the back of a whale.”The shape multiplied out the window;a dozen whales bred and breached in a sea of grass.Trees harpooned them sometimes.Power lines entangled thembeautifully.The pho.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/566389/ In June airplanes will buzz-ing bees in bushes withgreen protrudingleaves a diary behind(blue clearing)and hot asphalt, feet burningthe pages, one that reads quickly:too late and too soon [to]have fun & [to] love,[to] yours truly[brackets burning] http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/566234/ the fried man meticulous, aviator’s, tiny red bathing suitthe porcelain woman hat pink flower for whom the man moves a reclining chair closer to the water and his rum and cokeshe reclines he gets a plastic chair and sits facing her while her legs point at the ocean Lhe fetches purified.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/566199/ For the first few days I tried to survive and to get rescued like the stranded always do, somehow, even if it isn’t until the end of the story.  Then it was almost exciting; I was disoriented by my glee at having turned up on this beach.  I wasn’t excited because the situation.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/566198/ One of the gifts Jessica gave herself was a first-class seat.  She could afford it, and the economy seats were painful for her sluggishly circulated lankiness.  The man in the next seat kept glancing over, ostensibly looking out the window farthest from him.  He asked a lot of questi.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/566196/ She had her own apartment now. The word "apartment" seemed strangely literal, just as it did cheap and incongruous. In this town apartments were where young people lived, on their way to something else, getting by. But just as it was to them, it was also exciting. You could jump. Couldn't you?Her ey.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/565902/ cheesy pomo cliches http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/565901/ An experiment using brackets to denote missing pieces of found text. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/565891/ Trying something with television-derived epigraphs... http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/565717/ “Thatis one of the great mysteries of life,” he said, “you go forward but the scenery goes backward.”We laughed awkwardly, patronizingly, hurling forward past trees sliding backward.“And then,” his daughter dutifully added,“you look in the mirror a.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/565713/ Have you ever fired a rifle?You can’t see the boltfall back into place.It twists and slides somehow.An engineer could tell youwhat happens--you just feel the jolt in your shoulder.You might see the casing eject.One day you look into the eyesfallen back into place:the jolt.You search forevidenc.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/565611/ Don’t believe. then look into the eyes.Does it matter? who? Yes the eyes must. look back.One’s first youthful reaction Ew.Leave the youth. nailed to the road. Whip the faithful horses on.Will you? hear him wail? http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/565610/ Dangerous to utter even a part of a sentence:like a leaf it grows, colors, falls.No not like a leafbut sometimes weather is warmand then freezes buds off.The path of a vehicle is not always visibleand catches you crossing the street.Paths are difficult to uncatch,only speculatively presentyet they t.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/flounderinga/565603/