"Writing is a solitary occupation. Family, friends, and society are the natural enemies of the writer. He must be alone, uninterrupted, and slightly savage if he is to sustain and complete an undertaking."

- Jessamyn West:

Writing in the dark exercise

Jay Santini

Bumble bees are blessed beings
because they bumble but do not babble, only buzz
Buzz Aldron is my favorite astronaut
because of his name: Buzz
(Did you think I would say Aldron? I did.)
Buzbie Bigbie wasn’t that that the name of someone
in a musical, or a novel?
Idea? I have none, which isn’t true
I have the idea that my cat is unhappy with me sometimes
I have the idea that I am wasting your time
and that I am saying too much
But I will say this much: I have no taste
for fluff. That much is true.

Chris is writing furiously
He’s got something good
Someone else is crunching
through the thick dark woods
The harder I try the worse it might be

night write―
a withered plant
under cold stars