What’s a fuzzy-wuzzy?

Pigeon English by Stephen Kelman 8 min on the floor Being conscious her smile had been frozen without any further evolution in the expression, she took a sip of wine.  She didn’t know what to say, she hadn’t gotten the joke .  Joan was very adept at laughing along, joining in Read more

By justk, ago

He refers to it as ‘I’

How To Know God, The Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali trans. by Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwood 7 min on the Ossington 63 NB It is a photo, your standard school portrait, the kind that came in a split screen of sizes, from wallet to mantle. He has a small face with Read more

By justk, ago

Bit by bit*

Darkness metastasized. Bring more Light. This is an S.O.S. telegram. This is a prayer. This is an order. This could be an affirmation. Or a reminder – a Post-it™ for life. It is hard to see in the dark. That is philosophically self-evident. my shout-out to Julian Barnes. I’m trying Read more

By justk, ago

before they leave their old country

Macleans (May 28 2012 issue) 8 min @ Sunnybrook Hospital, D Wing The bottle is squat and clear although the liquid is a gritty murky brown.  The masking tape label is more offensive to Lena than the odor.  She knows this bottle is the reason she is so particular about the Read more

By justk, ago

Ah, the one must precede the other

The Book of Madness and Cures by Regina O’Melveny 5 min on the bed, Toronto The eight minutes felt like an eternity.  Jocelyn sat still despite the starched lace poking into her skin.  The first time she had worn the collar, she had stretched her neck to adjust it and the Read more

By justk, ago

She continued to weep into his ear

Lush Life by Richard Price 5 min @ Dark Horse Espresso Bar on Spadina It was a soft sound, barely human sounding.  Roger thought not even the smaller human could make a sound so small.  Her whisper soft grief echoed in his ear.  He cradled her head against his chest and felt Read more

By justk, ago

embrace the goofs

TABULA RASA   I took Latin in tenth grade.  I have no idea why, but probably at my father’s behest.  I use this word generously.  The course wasn’t completely awful, I discovered my favorite phrase and philosophy:  Tabula Rasa.  A clean slate.  I abused the term generously. Mistakes, gaffes and Read more

By justk, ago