hand slaps shoulder knee rhythmically that’s called hamming the bone sitting on a street curb singing making up lyrics i got a transitor sister loves cossack named jake he rides Cherokee chopper all he’s ever known is hate he’s going down underground where a man can be a man wrestle alligators live off the land ebb flow i don’t know racing chasing hair-pin turning at 150 miles per hour downshift to 3rd spread the word sweet sour naked flower touching skin deep within defies all sin with a grin speed speed speed all i need i’m getting off coming on you tawny scrawny bow-legged pigeon-toed knock-kneed Don Juan Ponce de Leon Aly Khan all wrapped up into one going to have ******* good time good time tonight i feel like an orphan mom and dad seem so far away tonight i feel like an orphan you make me feel this way hand slaps shoulder knee rhythmically hand bone hand bone

Odyseuss drifts job to job construction worker office assistant waiter whatever he does not understand how road to recognition works continues showing portfolio to art dealers but they react indifferently he does not know how to attain notice in art world begins to suspect there is no god watching over souls instead he imagines infinite force juggling light darkness creation destruction love hate Mom and Dad insist he can earn respectable income if only he will learn commodity futures like cousin Chris Mom says you can work down at the exchange and paint on the side a part of Odysseus wants desperately to please his parents he considers perhaps Mom is right for the time being maybe build up nest egg it seems like sensible plan he wonders why Dad and Mom never speak about money how to save manage they treat the subject as forbidden topic Odysseus has no idea what Dad or Mom earn or investment strategies Odysseus is about to make serious mistake the decision to get job working at commodity exchange needs deeper examination why is he giving in to his parents what attracts him to commodities trading is it Chris’s achievement and the money? does Odysseus honestly see himself as a winning trader or does it simply look like big party with lots of rich men pretty young girls is that where he wants to be why is he giving up on his dream to be a great artist does it seem too impossible to reach who makes him think that? is he going to give up on his true self? he halfheartedly follows his parent’s advice begins working as runner at Chicago Mercantile Exchange several friends including Calexpress disloyalty for entering straight world commodity markets are not exactly straight in 1978 clearing firms pay adequately hours are 8 AM to 2 PM over course of next 6 months Odysseus runs orders out to various trading pits cousin Chris rarely acknowledges Odysseus maybe Chris feels need to protect his image of success perhaps in front of his business associates Chris is embarrassed by Odysseus’s menial rank and goof-off attitude maybe Chris senses what a terrible mistake Odysseus has made

Chicago suffers harsh winter in February Roman Polanski skips bail in California flees to France in April President Carter postpones production of neutron bomb which kills people with radiation leaving buildings intact in October Yankees win World Series defeating Dodgers in November Jim Jones leads mass-****** suicide killing 918 people in Jonestown Guyana in December in San Francisco Dianne Feinstein succeeds murdered Mayor George Moscone in Chicago John Wayne Gacy is arrested

darkness descends upon Odysseus his heart is not into commodity business more accurately he hates it he loathes battleship gray color of greed envy he resents prevailing overcast of misogyny he meets many pretty girls yet most of them are only interested in catching a trader it is rumored numerous high rolling traders hire young girls for sole purpose of morning ******* remainder of day girls are free to mingle run trivial errands commodity traders typically trash females it is primitive hierarchy Odysseus bounces from one clearing firm to another then moves to Chicago Options Exchange then Chicago Board of Trade on foyer wall just outside trading floor hangs bronze plaque commemorating all men who served in World War 2 Uncle Karl’s name is on that plaque Daddy Pat bought his son seat hoping to set him up after war Uncle Karl’s new wife wanted to break away from Chicago persuaded him to sell seat move to California Uncle Karl bought car wash outside Los Angeles with Daddy Pat’s support Mom and Dad encourage assure Odysseus commodities business is right choice they promise to buy him full seat on exchange if he continues to learn markets they feel certain he can be saved from his artistic notions the markets are soaring in profits cousin Chris is riding waves a number of Chris’s friends are sons of parents who belong to same clubs dine at same restaurants as Mom and Dad Odysseus is not alpha-male like Chris Odysseus is a dreamer painter poet writer explorer experimenter unlike Chris who has connections Odysseus starts out as runner then gets job holding deck for yuppie brokers in Treasury Dollar trading pit Odysseus holds buy orders between index and middle fingers sell orders in last 2 fingers arranged by time stamp price size in other hand holds nervous pencil he stands step below boss in circular pit in room size of football field full of raised pits everything is traded cattle hogs pork bellies all currencies gold numbers flash change instantaneously in columns on three high walls fourth wall is glass with seats behind for spectators thousands of people rush around delivering orders on telephones flashing hand signals shouting offers quantities every moment every day calls come in frantically from all around world space is organized chaos sometimes not so organized fortunes switch hands in nano-seconds it is global fiscal battleground rallies to up side or breaks to down side send room into hollering pushing shoving hysteria central banks financial institutions kingpin mobsters with political clout daring entrepreneurs old thieves suburban rich kids beautiful people pretty young females abound big guns **** in same air stand next to low-ranking runners everyone flirts sweats sneezes knows inside they are each expendable Odysseus is spellbound by sheer force magnitude he feels immaterial only grip is his success with girls it is not conscious talent he grins girls grin back Chris’s trader friends recognize Odysseus’s ability they push him to introduce girls to them it is way for Odysseus to level playing field he has no money or high opinion of himself he simply knows how to hook up with girls

1979 January Steelers defeat Cowboys at Super Bowl Brenda Ann Spencer kills 2 faculty wounds 8 students responds to incident “i don't like Mondays” in February Khomeini seizes power in Iran in March Voyager space-probe photographs Jupiter’s rings a nuclear power plant accident occurs at Three Mile Island Pennsylvania in May Margaret Thatcher is elected Prime Minister in England in Chicago American Airlines flight 191 crashes killing 273 people in November Iran hostage crisis begins 90 hostages 53 of whom are American in December Soviet Union invades Afghanistan 1980 in November Ronald Reagan defeats Jimmy Carter one year since Iran hostage crisis began

he meets good-looking younger girl named Monica on subway heading home from work he has seen her running orders on trading floor she is tall slender with long dark brown hair in ponytail pointed nose wide mouth innocent face she confides her estranged father is famous Chicago mobster Odysseus recognizes his name they talk about how much they dislike markets arrant disparity of wealth between traders and themselves Odysseus says i hate feeling of being so disposable worthless Monica replies yeah me too he tells her if i was a girl i’d ******* myself to several handsome generous traders Monica acknowledges that’s an interesting idea but who? how? which traders? do you know? he answers yeah i know exactly who and how Monica says if you’re serious i’m in i have a girlfriend named Larissa who might also be interested i’ll call Larissa tonight following day Monica approaches Odysseus at work agrees to meet at his place after markets close that afternoon Monica and Larissa show up eager to learn more about Odysseus’s scheme Larissa is petite built like a gymnast giggly light brown hair younger than Monica he lays it all out for them cousin Chris and his buddies the money ******* both girls are quite lovely he suggests they rehearse with him he will coach them on situations settings techniques girls consent for 4 weeks every afternoon they meet at Odysseus’s place get naked play out different scenarios he shows girls how to pose demure at first then display themselves skillfully fingers delicately pulling open ***** spreading wide apart buns working hidden muscles he directs each to take up numerous positions tasks techniques then has them switch places he teaches them timing starting slow gradually building up rhythms stirring into passionate frenzy having two mouths four hands creates novel sets of possibilities one girl attends his front while other excites his rear he positions them side-by-side so he can penetrate any of all four holes he stacks them one on top of the other many other variations after reaching ****** several times making sure to reciprocally satisfy their eager needs Odysseus dismisses girls until following day finally after month of practice Monica and Larissa feel confident proficient primed Odysseus arranges for girls to meet with 2 traders through Chris most traders have nicknames Twist who is hosting event is notoriously wild insatiable on opening night Odysseus behaves like concerned father Larissa and Monica each bring several dresses and pairs of shoes Odysseus helps them choose suggests Monica ease up on make-up he styles Larissa’s hair instructs Monica to call him when they arrive again when they leave he requests they return directly to his place Monica wears hair pulled back in French twist pearl earrings sleek little black dress black stiletto heels she stands several inches above Odysseus Larissa wears braided pigtails pink low-scooped leotard brown plaid wool kilt just above knees brown suede cowboy boots he kisses each on lips then pats their butts warns them to be careful mindful Monica winks Larissa giggles more than an hour passes as Odysseus sits wondering why he has not heard from girls suddenly reality hits he does not want to be commodities trader and certainly not a **** this is not how he wants to be known or remembered Odysseus wants to be a painter and writer Monica and Larissa are good sweet girls whom he has misguided he calls Twist’s place Twist answers Odysseus asks to speak with Monica when she comes to phone he questions are you all right Monica answers yes we’re fine we’re having a fantastic time why are you calling what’s wrong he explains you were suppose to call me when you arrived i began to worry i think maybe this whole arrangement is a bad idea i want you to call it off and come back home i don’t want either of you to become prostitutes i love you both and don’t want to be associated with dishonoring you Monica says it’s a little late to call it off but we’ll see you when we’re done kissy kiss bye Odys another hour passes then another he frets wondering what they are doing after 4 hours as he is about to call Twist’s house again doorbell rings Monica and Larissa both giggling beaming Odysseus can spot they have a coke buzz Monica announces you should be proud of us Odys we got each of them off 2 times we left them stone-numb and tapped out the girls open their purses each slaps 5 hundred dollar bills unto table Monica says this is your cut Odys we both got a thousand for ourselves he replies i can’t touch that money we need to sit down and talk Monica demands no talking Odys take off your clothes he insists i’m serious Monica i’m never going to send you out again Larissa claims there’s no turning back for me i had too much fun Monica  pleads come on Odys we’ll be good we promise now take off your clothes Twist and his buddy never attended to our needs i’m ***** as hell Larissa where’s that little bottle of dust Twisty handed you

Chicago Monday night December 8 1980 Cal and Odysseus sit at North End they're on 4th round feeling buzz the place is lively adorned with holiday decorations Cal says you’ve changed Odysseus questions what do you mean? how? Cal says the commodity markets and your cousin and his friends they’ve changed you when was the last time you painted Odys? are you dealing coke Odysseus looks Cal in the eyes answers they’re so ******* rich Cal you can’t believe it one drives a black Corvette Stingray another a ******* Delorean anything they want they buy girls cars clothes condos boats yeah i’m dealing coke to Chris’s friends it’s my only leverage remember the Columbian dude Armando we met at tittie bar? i score from him and keep it clean Chris’s buddies pay up for the quality i don’t remember my last painting maybe the black painting i never finished after breaking up with Reiko Lee a girl falls off bar stool crashing to floor at other end of bar Cal says Odys, you better play it careful you’re messing with the devil got any blow on you suddenly bar grows quiet someone turns up TV volume they watch overhead as news anchorman speaks slow solemn camera pans splattered puddle of blood pieces of broken glass on steps to Dakota Building Cal looks to Odysseus John Lennon has been murdered Cal waits for Odysseus to say something tear rolls down cheek Cal glances away stares down at floor they drink in silence

Everyone, after all, was killed:
he who was crucified,
he who died without skin,
he who died without a head,
he who was drowned,
he who was thrown down
from the wall of the Temple,
which shortly after that
ceased to exist.
Everyone, after all, was tormented;
he who was put at the mercy
of lions and Neros,
he who was roasted on the bonfire,
he whose eyes were gouged out.
Everything was justified
on the excuse that no one
can live eternally
and that it is impossible
to avoid death.
Through the narrow gates of paradise
passed so many martyrs
that the gates in the end
had to be widened.
Kudos to the executioners!

I been having a craving and guess what it was,
the dish is called Armando here what it's made of.
1 cup of sweetness, because you are beyond sweet.
So creamy and so smooth it's a rare delicate treat.
2 teaspoons of intelligence to soften the mixture,
With hint of kindeness to make it sweeter.
A flavor so rich filled with victoria secret and a red rose flower,
with a dash of hood called it Eat Egg thats a little sour.
This dish knock me off the roof,
I enjoy it so much it gave me a sweet tooth.
A tooth so sweet that my other teeth couldn't measure up, compared to the desert Armando the other deserts lost no matter what.
Out of all the dishes I had you are the sweetest to me, maybe I'm under a spell of a magician magic mystery.
I could crave it at work or sitting in a chair,
I could want it at home, I could have it anywhere.
Each bit is savory it lift me cloud high, its better than ice cream with sprinkles or a mouth full of pie.
This Armando dish is sweeter than my delicious cheesecake, I can eat it so much and never get a tummy ache.

It was a night of simple frolicking,
we ate worms & danced
Grand Funk,
choo-chooed on tequila.

The room swirled,
I was the engine,
you the coal-car
fed me the vibes,
as we circled,
spinning serpentine
through the juiced-crowd
of Don Armando revelers.

We escaped for fresh air,
stole a quick swim
under the entire universe,
embraced like drunken-lovers.

I traced your face with warm kisses,
felt your body pressed
into mine like a glove.
The stars above
twinkled brighter,
you did not fight
my entry nor your resolve,
as we evolved into a tidal wave.
I bled my soul into you,
you saved every drop.

Later, we skinny-dipped
in the shower-bank,
listening to the others
washing away their own salt,
playing & moaning,
savoring their own souls &
collecting drops.

Tristes van los zamoranos   metidos en gran quebranto;
retados son de traidores,   de alevosos son llamados;
más quieren todos ser muertos   que no traidores nombrados.

  Día era de san Millán,   ese día señalado,
todos duermen en Zamora,   mas no duerme Arias Gonzalo;
aún no es bien amanecido   que el cielo estaba estrellado,
castigando está a sus hijos,   a todos cuatro está armando,
las palabras que les dice   son de mancilla y quebranto:
-Yo he de lidiar el primero   con don Diego el castellano:
si con mentira nos reta,   vencerle he y hágoos salvos;
pero si cualquier traidor   hay entre los zamoranos,
y él nos reta con verdad,   muerto quedaré en el campo.
Morir quiero y no ver muerte   de hijos que tanto amo.

  Las armas pide el buen viejo,   sus hijos le están armando,
las grebas le están poniendo;   doña Urraca que allí ha entrado,
llorando de los sus ojos   y el cabello destrenzado:
-¿Para qué tomas las armas?   ¿Dónde vas, mi viejo amo:
pues sabéis, si vos morís,   perdido es todo mi estado?
¡Acordaos que prometistes   a mi padre don Fernando
de nunca desampararme   ni dejar de vuestra mano!

  Caballeros de la infanta   a don Arias van rogando
que les deje la batalla,   que la tomarán de grado;
mas él sólo da sus armas   a su hijo don Fernando:
-¡Dios vaya contigo, hijo,   la mi bendición te mando;
ve a salvar los de Zamora;   como Cristo a los humanos!

  Sin poner pie en el estribo   don Fernando ha cabalgado.
Por aquel postigo viejo   galopando se ha alejado
adonde estaban los jueces,   que ya le están esperando;
partido les han el sol,   dejado les han el campo.

Italy's Capri admirably fits the bill as an enchanted island,
Nestled in the Bay of Naples, it's apt to call it wonderland,
It is famous as a coastal resort and a celebrated beauty spot,
Little wonder of it being touristy and a location often sought

The isle is seriously beautiful, sans any blemish in its splendor,
So little room for any shortcoming, chances of which are slender,
Breathtaking views from any angle makes Capri appear so scenic,
Futile to draw comparison to any other isle that is so panoramic

Capri is known as the isle of the sirens in Greek mythology,
It has very little to do though with any aspect of theology,
Long considered a preserve of celebrities and the super-rich,
The small precipitous island is a must-visit travel agent's sales pitch

Accessible only by ferry or hydrofoil from Naples and its surrounds,
The idyllic isle with sheer cliffs and dazzling seascapes visually astounds,
Steep cliffs rise majestically from an almost impossibly blue sea,
That the isle has that tangible deluxe feel, is for all to see

The island has a mythical charm with its jaw-dropping natural beauty,
Stunning landscapes from rocky caves to the horizon's edge lend to the popularity,
Shimmering sea views, secluded grottos lure visitors in droves to be on board,
Amazing cuisine, world-class shopping are bells and whistles; lest you get bored

Blue Grotto is an oceanic cave at the water's edge with an opening to the sea,
Optical effects created by sunlight bouncing on the cave walls, is a sight to see,
Water lit turquoise hues from below, by the sun, creates a magical atmosphere,
Shimmering cobalt-blue light images beckons us to a virtual optical stratosphere

Through the water on the floor of the cave, Roman remains are clearly visible,
Supposedly used as a bathing place by Emperor Tiberius, a reason nigh plausible,
This lagoon was probably a Roman villa with statues decorating the whole floor,
Other entrances to the grotto were created to improve irrigation, per Greek folklore

Capri's standout are three rocky peaks emerging from the azure blue water,
Called the Faraglioni, the limestone stacks are discernible to any spotter,
Formed by erosion, separated by water thro' collapse of solid land mass,
Emerging as steep rocks rising out of the sea, surprisingly not as a morass

La Piazzetta, aka chiazza, is a bustling diminutive square in the heart of Capri,
Table settings of the handful of cafes are meant for one to be carefree,
The colorful clock tower chimes every quarter hour throughout the day,
With thronging crowds at all times, little surprise why the place holds sway

Post ferry drop-off at Marina Grande, a road trip from Capri to Anacapri is a must,
Brace yourselves for a 3-km. stretch of hairpin bends en route in the mini bus,
On the slopes of Mount Solaro and at a higher elevation than Capri,
The more authentic side of the island and less crowded, is Anacapri

Piazza Vittoria in Anacapri town is the bustling bus stop square where one alights,
Sauntering thro' colorful bougainvillea, geranium festooned lanes is sheer delight,
Behold a mix of Neapolitan tailor shops, artisan shoemakers and souvenir shops,
Enjoy the aerial whiff of the town's lemon groves pervading everywhere, nonstop

Museum of Villa San Michele is a building articulating at various levels,
Ancient artifacts, Roman paving, marble columns are sights that revel,
An elevated garden with granite Sphinx and Greek tomb is a perfect setting,
For a sweeping view of the Bay of Naples below, that looks so enchanting

Continuing downhill, the Church of Santa Sofia is the pride of the town,
The adjoining Piazza Armando Diaz bustling with activity is a place of its own,
Locals chatting and reading newspapers presents such a wonderful sight,
Seated on hand painted majolica benches, as if conveying life is so bright

A visit to Capri is incomplete without tasting the famed Caprese salad,
The taste is so exquisite that one tends to break into a ballad,
Tomatoes, milky mozzarella, aromatic basil leaves are the sole ingredients,
A drizzle of sharply flavored olive oil does little to serve as an impediment

Restaurants abound the lanes with crowds' incessant chatter,
Panino Caprese being made in a jiffy is no laughing matter,
So popular is the salad that it can be found on every menu,
Strolling along past excited visitors, makes for the perfect milieu

It is with a heavy heart that you ferry back to mainland at the trip's end,
While enjoying the panoramic stunning views again, as if there's no end,
It is not without reason that Capri's famed "cliff beauty" is so majestic,
The only describable feeling of the experience is that it is "ecstatic"!

Esta cotidiana no se apoya en ninguna mutación trascendente
hoy es tan sólo un viernes de poca monta
sin noticias o trazos demasiado malos
ni tampoco demasiado buenos funcionan normalmente
las endocrinas y los semáforos
las pompas fúnebres y las de jabón
unos llegan berreando otros parten silentes
otros más se aprontan a llegar o a partir
en líneas generales el pronóstico del tiempo
acierta por fin con las turbonadas
y es justo subrayar que hoy ha logrado
truenos corroborantes
esta cotidiana es tan sólo costumbr
apenas un viernes de pobre vestimenta
pero aquí se levantan las casas del hombre
a veces existen con un ruido infernal
y otras veces duermen en silencio amoroso
sólo interrumpido por crujiditos
que pueden ser jadeos conyugales
o también calambres de la madera
sin embargo allí crecen el trabajo y la muerte
el vientre rebosante de futuro
y el viejo que no puede con sus huesos
entran por las persianas tataguas y mosquitos
y hay un latido general que es la vida
sólo rutina y sin embargo
las manos besan
los ojos palpan
los labios ven
nosotros
es decir nuestros otros
venimos
vienen
a explorar la memoria milagrosa y austera
no hay tiempo que perder
más bien hay mucho tiempo que ganar
mientras atisbo con audacia y cautela
por entre mis dedos más o menos fogueados
y veo que entre vestigios tristes y rutinarios
nacen flores de rutinario regocijo
tan sólo hábito y querencia
el enjambre adolescente se encamina a sus clásicos manantiales
pero antes de llegar se cruza con los veteranos que regresan
y los árboles ya no saben qué hacer con las preguntas
tan sólo práctica y costumbre
y de vez en cuando un salto de prodigio
en el que algunos se desnucan y otros cambian el mundo
y con las nucas rotas y las glorias que alumbran
con mártires de un día y visionarios de medio siglo
se va armando la historia como un sueño portátil
la rutina es después de todo una crisálida
una comarca de posibilidades e imposibles
de la costumbre puede estallar lo insólito
del hábito el deshábito
por eso este viernes de opaca textura
es casi un campamento de recuerdos
un filtro de presagios
uno de los confines del futuro
tallo ritual de lo ordinario
y también bulbo de lo extraordinario
sabemos algo de lo que está muriendo
pero muy poco de lo que empieza a ser
este viernes turbio durante el cual se gestan
sórdidas guerras frías y escaramuzas ígneas
mientras el consumismo se dedica a llenar
nuestras necesidades más innecesarias
el lujo escupe dádivas sobre la miseria
y a veces la miseria escupe metralla
esta jornada sin toque de campanas
sin titulares a ocho columnas
ni aguaceros radioactivos
sin naufragios ideológicos
ni exorcismos generacionales
lleva en sí misma el triunfo y el desastre
y la infinitesimal responsabilidad que nos toca
de una disyuntiva a nivel de universo
resulta sin embargo abrumadora
así de esta rutina vulnerable
de esta costumbre de inclemencia y cielo
de este hábito propenso a la aventura
de esta querencia con señales de humo
debemos elegir o tan sólo inventar
un largo paso desacostumbrado
una limpia e intrépida zancada
una rampa que no lleve al abismo
un envión que tumbe las derrotas
un trampolín que nos lance a mañana
aunque allí nos espere otra ruina
otra vida común
otra crisálida.

lately i feel like my life is going by crazy fast
feels like im strapped to a semi heading to a crash
gaining speed rapidly driving towards the wall
this is where my life shatters and apart it falls

armando said well talk about this later
so i hid 3 days straight
thought i didnt need a mediator
so i didnt dictate

the problems i was hiding
staying scared in my hole
i always had a hard time inviting
was never good at crowd control