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Short Story: The Patron Saint of Hamsters
Joe had witnessed the only miracle in his life, and it was too strange to tell anyone.
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Short Story: It's Cold in Heaven
Heaven is nice, but not what it's cracked up to be.
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Are the Los Angeles Dodgers Greedy or Just Shrewd?
Let's bring competition and parity to Major League Baseball.
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Memoir: My Near-Death COVID Experience in Texas
A business/vacation trip to San Antonio turned into a nightmare.
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Poetry: From Where You Have Risen
A final farewell to my mother, who joins her ancestors at sea.
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Poem: A Perfect Neurological Mix
The bartender as a metaphor for the brain.
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Poem: Why Climbers Climb
The mountains are calling those who seek adventure.
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Poem: Hibiscus Happy
An ode to Mother Nature from a flower's point of view
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Poem: The Farm Workers March For Justice
A poem about Cesar Chavéz and his friends walking for fair wages and working conditions in 1966.
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Poetry: Truth's Murky Waters
A poet's frustration in the search for meaning.
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Poem: We Need More Humanitarians
A poem dedicated to helping countries deal with catastrophic droughts.
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Ways to Eliminate Unnecessary Drama in the NBA
How to make professional basketball more watchable.
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Poem: His Name is Someday
A poem about the journey of the homeless in the desert.
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Love Poem: Eyes of the Moon
A high school boy questions himself when his heart is broken.
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Poem: Where Dreams Swayed Like Boats
A poem about a spiritual experience while swimming in the ocean.
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Charles Bukowski, The Blue Collar Literary Genius
A peek into the life of Charles Bukowski with some of his famous quotes.
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Love Poem: Hearts in Sand
A day on the beach could last forever.
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Poem: A Woman of Many Colors
A romantic poem with a rainbow metaphor.
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Nostalgic Poem: Saturday at the Toy Store
A poetic remembrance of going to my favorite toy store.
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The Rabble-Rousing Philly Sports Fans
On why being the worst fans makes us the best.
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Flash Fiction: The Psychedelic Church
What happens when a religious woman enters her grandson's marijuana den?
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Flash Fiction: Kafka's Lost Letter
A fictional story about Franz Kafka's search for a letter to his father.
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Flash Fiction: The Arrogant Fool Confesses
A flash fiction story about a narcissist who admits he has flaws.
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Charlie Chaplin: The Road to Happiness
The rollercoaster life of comic legend Charlie Chaplin.
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The Worst Choke Job in Baseball History: The 1964 Philadelphia Phillies
My recollection of baseball's big collapse.
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Jurassic Wonders: Dinosaur Sculptures in the California Dawn
Photos I took from a recent sculpture exhibit of dinosaurs in Cathedral City, California of 2022. It was called Jurassic Wonders.
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Audio Book Review: Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison
A controversial coming-of-age novel that I heard on audible.com. Adult themes and content.
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Were the 1967 Philadelphia 76ers the Best NBA Team Ever?
There have been many great NBA teams, but in my opinion, there have been none better than the 1967 Sixers.
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Flash Fiction: Lightness of Spirit
A disabled man confined by paralysis lives a dream of being free.
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Flash Fiction: The Stand-Up
A comedian's fear of the cancel culture.
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Narrative Poetry: The Farmer's Son
This narrative poem asks the question: Should we live a life according to our parents' rules, or our own?
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Poetic Whispers in Santa Barbara
A poet is awakened by the beauty of Santa Barbara, California.
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Flash Fiction: The Voices of Aunt Abby's Family
A sequence of flash fiction opinionating on Aunt Abby's strong religious beliefs.
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Humor: The Haiku of Golf
My humorous take on golf via haiku.
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Narrative Poetry: The Worse Case Scenario
A narrative poem about a family therapist's last case.
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A Memorial Day Poem: Wounded Soldier
A tribute to all the soldiers who lost their lives in battle.
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Just Ducky, A Waterfowl Poem
A poetic tale of three wandering mallards.
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A Poem to Imagine: Instructions on How to Change the World
A fun poem that challenges you to envision a better world.
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Blue Sky Dreaming, a Fantasy Poem
A fantasy poem about being as free as a bird.
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A Dog Lover's Poem: Throw and Chase
A poem about a man-dog brotherhood that endures.
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Poem: A Wandering Goat by the Sea
A poem about a lonesome pet goat on a California beach.
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Prosperity's Web, A Poem
A narrative poem about a friend who had an insatiable appetite for wealth.
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The Roaring Fog, A Poem
An ode to the ocean's misty nature.
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A Poem of Poetic Paddling: Maritime Energy
A morning paddle takes a poetic twist.
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Nature Poem: Egret Sunrise
My ode to the snowy egret of the Santa Barbara coast.
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Poem: Ticket to Escondido
A humorous poem about an inebriated man's train ride along the California coast.
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Poem: I Don't Want Raphael's Angel
A humorous poem about my need for angelic imperfection.
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Poem: A Man With Many Hats
A humorous look at a poet's favorite clothing accessory.
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Surf Poem: The Maleficent Curl
An ode to the most treacherous waves, the Maverick’s of Northern California.
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Poem: Codependency Love
The power of codependent love in a poem.
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Ego's Insecurities, a Psychological Poem
A psychological poem about the power of the ego.
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Pigskin Poetry: Snowballs at Santa
A poetic version of what happened the day that Santa was pelted by snowballs by Eagle fans.
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Poetic Magic: Disneyland
A sixty-year-old man's childhood dream comes true.
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Passbook to Freedom, a Coming-of-Age Poem
A poem about a boy's first bank deposit, scary and exciting at the same time.
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The Mediocre Myth, a Narrative Poem
A poem about empowerment through changing a personal narrative.
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Poem: Dear Troubled Neighbor
A poem in the form of a letter with some good advice to a troublesome neighbor.
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Poem: Juicy Grandma Kisses
A humorous and nostalgic poem about a favorite grandma.
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Poem: Poor Bullied Soul
A poem of the pain and redemption of a young high school student who was victimized by bullies.
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Bald Baby, A Barely Humorous Poem
All babies are certainly loveable. But they are not created equal, especially in this poem.
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Poem: A Collector's Hope
A narrative poem about the hope and sadness of a hoarder.
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Canine Humor: The Dog in a Basket Poem
The life of a cute dog in a basket reduced to a humorous poem.
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Mother's Culinary Dreams, a Narrative Poem
A poem about a woman's passionate love for baking with an unsavory ending.
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Poem, A Voyeur's Life
It's easy to be nosy when you have a big picture window that looks out into the apartment complex. And for some tenants, it's more than just a curiousity. Enjoy this poem about one such person.
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The Ice Cream Jingle, a Narrative Poem
Enjoy this narrative poem about an ice cream truck jingle that put a little boy into a sugary trance.
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Poem: The Music of You
This is an ode to my musical mother-in-law. If there was one thing that could define her, it would be her love of music.
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Poem: Board of Restless Wings
A tribute to the board that helps those courageous surfers to glide through the water.
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Poem: Breaking Fiesta Eggs
My free verse poem commemorates the breaking of confetti-filled eggs in Santa Barbara, California during its annual summer fiesta. Viva La Fiesta!
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Poem: Dybbuk in the Cafeteria
A dybbuk is a demon in Jewish mystical folklore. This poem is a tribute to all the dybbuks out there.
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A Poetic Flashback: Vinyl on Sunset
A narrative poem about reconnecting with my youth through music.
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Poem: The Glen Plaid Suit
When my mother passed away, I went through her closet and found the suit I wore to my Bar Mitzvah. I wrote this poem in tribute to this powerful garment.
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Narrative Poem: Lightning Bugs
This is not your ordinary poem about lightning bugs. It is a story of how flying beetles remind me of summertime and my childhood in Philadelphia.
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Poem: The Rainbow Queens
When I moved to California, the Birds of Paradise were the first plants that caught my eye. Here's a poem about this experience.
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Poem: I Am Van Gogh
My recent interest in Vincent Van Gogh's earthy and beautiful art has led me to write this poem.
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Poem: The Last Sermon
My poem for Black History Month is about a dynamic preacher I met in an old Baptist church in Atlanta, Georgia.
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Poem: Matinee at the Castor
I still get chills thinking of all the horror movies I saw in my neighborhood theatre as a kid. Here I recount my experience in a poem.
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The Thomas Fire: It's Still Burning (A Poem)
A California poet expresses how it felt when the Thomas wildfire seemed to last forever.
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My Marichal (A Poem)
A free verse poem about one of my favorite childhood baseball idols, Juan Marichal
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The Poetry King (Narrative Poem)
Did you ever have a hero that wasn't so heroic after all? Read this narrative poem about my misguided adoration.
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The Poetry of Tea (Four Short Poems)
These four poems about tea reflect tea's smooth, rhythmic, balanced and tasty nature.
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The Hotshots: Heroes of the Burning Fields (A Poem)
A commemorative poem about all those Hotshot crews who risk their lives trying to put out forest fires.
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The Colors of Therapy (A Narrative Poem)
This poem reflects the many emotional and directional shifts that a client experiences in the therapy room.
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Crow on the Roof (A Poetic Parody)
How does a parody of Fiddler on the Roof translate to a crow's life? I'll let you make the caw.
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Writer's Paradise: A Poem for Dreamers
A fantastical place where writers go only in their dreams far removed from their lonely rooms.
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The Big Tree of Santa Barbara (Lyrical Poem)
A poem about the biggest fig tree in North America, the Moreton Bay Fig Tree.
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South Mountain, a Balcony in the Sky (A Poem)
A mountain's current and historical perspective of a little Mexican town in California.
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Tree Meditation: Calming Down in Nature
Studies show that being around trees contributes positively to one's health. Trees would seem to be a logical focus of meditation in anyone's health care regimen.
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Bob Dylan: Is He a Troubadour or Troublemaker?
Judge Bob Dylan's genius by the way he approaches his art, not by the way he avoids the media or his reluctance to accept personal awards.
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Why Wilt Chamberlain Was the Greatest Athlete of All Time
Here is the case for my childhood idol, Wilt Chamberlain, being the greatest athlete of all time.
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Three Similarities Between the Practice of Yoga and Poetry
What are the similarities between the writing process of poetry and yoga? I'll discuss three of them--being mindful, relaxed and precise.
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The Essence of Philadelphia in 8 Photos
When you visit Philadelphia, you are met with a palpable, gritty vitality. A conglomeration of the old and new hits you all at once.
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W. C. Fields: Juggler to Comic Genius
The brash and no-holds-barred comic W. C. Fields was not only an entertainment icon, but he was also a world-famous juggler.
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Writers: Let Go of the Creative Energy Zappers
Writing is hard enough, but when you have Saboteurs, Sadists, Liars, and Write-My-Story folks harassing you--it's downright impossible.
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Be the Leading Scorer in a Pick Up Basketball Game
Nice guys finish last when they play pick up basketball. So here's some humorous tips on how not to be so nice.
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The Candle of Mercy (Not the Catholic kind)
If it weren't for the Candle of Mercy, I don't know what my fiancé and I would do. We might be building an outhouse in our yard or making frequent trips to the YMCA.
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The Importance of Bro Time
The slang term, "bro time," has been used to poke fun at men who spend time with each other. The truth is, men who have good male friendships are a lot healthier than those who don't.
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Why Steve McQueen Lived in Santa Paula, California
I often visit Santa Paula to see friends. One of the people who I don't see is '60s icon Steve McQueen, who used to have a ranch on Mountain Road.
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Five Movies That Would Challenge Any Therapist
Here are five movies that involve a troubled client and a heroic, if perhaps at times unethical, psychotherapist.
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One Man's Encounter with the Mysteries of UGG
For women, UGG is not just another boot. It is more than a boot. It is like that perfect wedding dress that is comfortable, fits just right, and makes you feel like a million bucks.
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How to Find Love Playing Wordfeud
People find love in many places--the supermarket, the clubs, dating services, etc. But I found love playing Scrabble on-line from a game called Wordfeud.
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Five Yoga Poses for People with Chronic Lung Disease
Yoga has long been an exercise that is beneficial to the body. Here are five yoga poses that are beneficial for people with chronic lung disease. Consult with physician before trying any yoga pose.
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English Springer Spaniels: Good at Making You Feel Guilty
Is your English Springer Spaniel really sad, or does she just look sad? Find out if dogs can actually suffer from depression or if they are just masters at looking sad.
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How to Live Peacefully with Annoying Neighbors
Living in an apartment is not always easy. You are in a confined space and you can hear your neighbors every movement. Unfortunately, some neighbors can be very annoying. This is how you can cope.
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The Importance of the Big Toe in Yoga
Besides the lungs producing our breath, the big toe is also an invaluable part of our practice of yoga. Learn more about how the big toe impacts you and enhances your daily practice.
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Gambling with Slots--Luck or Skill?
I never thought you could win on a regular basis gambling on slot machines. But then I met my girlfriend's Granny. That 94-year old woman taught me otherwise.