The Brain-Smashing, Pity-Bashing Art of Blind Punks

“You must sing like an angel,” a woman said to me as I prepared to go onstage with my “Avant Accordion Brain Smash” act in a Brooklyn warehouse performance space. She either did not notice my hand-sewn black bustier, or decided that my white cane rendered all the badassery surrounding it null. When I began bellowing about some murderous renaissance… Read more

Nietzsche and His Pain Named Dog, #52essays2017

“I have given a name to my pain and call it “dog.” It is just as faithful, just as obtrusive and shameless, just as entertaining, just as clever as any other dog–and I can scold it and vent my bad mood on it, as others do with their dogs, servants, and wives.” -Nietzsche, The Gay Science. I first heard this… Read more

Apostrophe, an anti-suicide suicide song for accordion

To sleep perchance to dream I hope. Can I will myself to survive I wish. Last wish. Last dying wish to live.   I took the anti-step Just now Nothing to live for so long You see. And nothing to die for either I fear. On this long Long long Way down.   When I hit the bottom My body… Read more

FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE, for accordion and volcano

[“Fire Fire Fire Fire” was first published at Quail Bell Magazine] Met you yesterday, but it doesn’t matter That the world looks flat from a bird’s eye view Cause I felt the climb, and I feel the height, Even though I’m surrounded by a thousand plateaus.   Met you yesterday, but it doesn’t matter We fell for each other out… Read more