Morphological Confetti

The Paper-cutter By: Thomas Bess jr. waiting in the blackness for my alarm clock to go off, the screaming banshee opens my eyes to pierce the blackness of my four walls. i see the ghost that is my work clothes resting lazily on my chair; starched white shirt, black pants, black tie. out of the apartment. i wait for the bus. i waited and cursed my local transit system. late again i was late yesterday i left thirty minutes earlier than yesterday and i was still late later than the day before i felt a cold numbness i imagined the look on my boss’ face when i tell him the bus was late again i smile an insane smile to myself i held my gas station coffee -- sweating palm the humid air clings to my business casual gravel and dust make my dress shoes look lousy i stand congregated with the other losers waiting for the bus it comes. no smiling faces sleepy zombies the bus stops i'm here quontavious, i don't think we’re in kirkwood anymore store-brand coffee brewing in employee lounge a...

I had the pleasure of attending a book signing event over the weekend. First, I should mention that Vertigo Books celebrated its 15th Anniversary; the event was hosted by Bridget Warren. Bridget is a very nice lady and works very hard to bring to us renowned and not so known authors from around the world. I especially love Vertigo’s title selection, which focuses on African, African American, Caribbean, and Latino literature. I first visited the store in 1996 when it was located in downtown Washington, D.C. (DuPont Circle). The stores present location is in College Park, adjacent to the University of Maryland campus. Now, the highlight of this event was a visit from poet, activist, and Professor Sonia Sanchez . Your boy Stephen Bess was in the front row! Smile. I had to get there early. I have admired this woman for years since my college days in Savannah where I first learned of her work. She didn’t wait for her introduction upon arriving and immediately started chatting with the cro...