2026, everyday words, Ohio River Valley Literature, poetry, the no-scape

all our stories, the ones worth memory

I find myself returning to old habits. The mornings blur, punctuated by the necessity to move. Away from the river the itchy foot kicks in and needs moving in spite of the new old man hip that moans when the rain knocks on the wind and the stairs keep going. The feet must keep going. Making sure I am present when I am home and finding ways to stretch this new old man hip out on the road. Must go and make use of the time. I have done the thing that frightened me, which is dig in and be in a single space, though that space turned out to be the land between the bridges, which opened up the river, that great world’s wound. And now, here I am, back on the road, riding different wounds and different currents. But they are not unfamiliar.

moments taken apart and cleaned within a millimeter
the surface must be clean and smooth to reduce friction
examined and repaired, each breath polished to a high shine
equipment checked and double-checked
firebox boots retooled, bring out the road hat
there are currents and islands to be found
mooncasts and sunrises to bask in
the stars make their own map
and tell all our stories, the ones worth memory

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2023, Days, Ohio River Valley Literature, poetry, river life, the no-scape, waterfront, Working Class Literature

Day 128, 2023

(post-Derby)

after the storm, the city swept clean
the old homeless man with crocodile tears
bares his teeth, hisses, then digs through
trash cans on the wharf

storm passing by ey mick
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2022, incomplete memoir, Ohio River Valley Literature, psychogeography, the no-scape, travel

more incomplete memoir

(thin soles and holes: a motif)

13 years ago this week I arrived in Mount Carroll, Illinois after 3 years in the desert. I left Phoenix in a rare rain storm and arrived in typical December weather. My shoes were unprepared for the cold.

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