NOMADIC TRAVEL WRITING

Got a gig in Zory. Zory is a little town. I have free housing with a 50 year old Polish woman. But they assure me she is a young 50. I will have freedom to design and create. No more Callan for 32 hours a week. Two more weeks in the armpit of Poland. Read more

The formating is way off. Much different poems in person. 12:20 (For Zofia) “The Bright tongue of the two / languages / dance in the one light” (Robert Duncan) I could summon cosmic gosip, unskin the monkey with its un- relenting eyes, it is never simple, these passages, these pro- miscious wanders with gravel in… Read more

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Candles galore in the graveyards Read more

Callan works but so does McDonalds!!! Read more

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on the rebound. I’m reading between the lines. Back to the voices. Damn I missed the voices! No more self-indulgent thoughts of ending it. Back to my head against the wall! Fuck suicide! Read more

I’ve got to remember why I am here. I mean, not on the earth. There’s no reason for that. It just is. But I am in Poland to write a manuscript. But I need a job that’s a little interesting to feed my writing. I return home almost always mentally drained every night. I mean,… Read more

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I’m finding an exit outta katowice. Two interviews on Friday. One in small town called Zory and one in Krakow. Hope I can make it to both interviews. Gonna be a crazy Friday but I gotta get outta this shitty city. And fuck Callan!!! So tired of teaching stage one. Where is my fucking mind???? Read more

The oven :-( Read more

I got more pictures and much more recent versions of poems from Godzeenie. Just got to get internet in my flat and then I will post them. It helps to put them out in the world somewhere. Just imagining an audience (however small) helps me to revise. Read more

I can’t stand Katowice. I went to Krakow this weekend and its the place for me. I sent out a few apps for schools and might have an interview in two weeks. Gotta get out of this very very ugly city. Keep steppin in dog shit. Gotta walk fast after work and look like I… Read more

Just moved from Rybnik to Katowice. I have an amazing flat. The nicest place I have ever lived in any country. But no internet so I am typing this in a smelly train station. So I am back in a city. More to do. I’m also connected via rail to other cities in Poland and… Read more

Heading to Czech Republic in a few minutes. Great little village on the border named Owsiszcze. Hanging with a real cool gal named Ela and her friends Aga and Iwona. Moving to Katowice tomorrow which is a medium sized city. Jazz club. Nice flat. My 4th flat in POLAND IN four weeks. Amazing. But I… Read more

The paint is very wet on these. I’m always in progress. These poems will change and mutate no doubt. 15:53 Old horse with new bucket, Hermes in a real duel with Apollo, I’m gaining weight, strip the scales, got no bal-ance, immense rage & fleet on foot, I strap on my Zbigniew Herbert, let the… Read more

I am starting to hit my stride with the new ms. It’s called Godzeenie. Thanks to the help of a nice Polish girl (and fellow artist) I discovered some interesting things about the word: Godzeenie is a play on the Polish ‘godzina’ which means hour. So the poems are titled according to the time when… Read more

Finally moved into a new flat and got my very own internet connection. YIPPIE. A little slow but it works. Poland is fascinating. Lots to see. I am hoping to visit Krakow and Prague in the next few weeks. Meanwhile work is hectic, but I am in Poland so I’ll deal. I am waiting for… Read more

made it to poland. so far it’s a tad hectic trying to learn the new teaching method after getting used to teaching uni. The method I am learning is called Callan. Not sure what I think about it yet. I don’t have internet access yet. Gotta use internet cafes. But I will move this weekend… Read more

check out Wonderland for lots of new pics and videos from Ireland (Portadown, Giant’s Causeway, Ulster American Folk Park) as well as some poetry from a new manuscript Godzennie Read more

It feels good to sleep in my cousin’s bed and eat an Ulster Fry and walk the footbridge into downtown portadown for a sausage supper with Chinese gravy videos will soon appear on the wonderland website under “ireland” Read more

This is the correct address for Wonderland Read more

I am flying to Dublin then getting picked up by my aunt and then I will be in my birth town. This is my last night in Seoul.But leaving is painful cause I got my close cousin and a girl I admire and love in Seoul. Wonderland will include a Poland and Ireland section. keep… Read more

Sweatin like crazy but now I am showered and in my Korean nightshirt. It is purple with little cotton buttons. My dreamshirt. This is the first time I will wear it to bed. wearearbed hm . . . I am ready to admit my favourite vowel is . . . E my second favourite is… Read more

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Andrew, me, and Jonathon Read more

Check out the summer cookout over at WONDERLAND Read more

Been working out for the past two weeks. Three times a week. One hour cardio. 20 min of various crunches with weights etc. But here’s the strange thing: I gained 2 kilos. I’ve even been eating small meals. Sometimes just two sandwiches. One for lunch and one for dinner. Strange. Maybe it’s a bit of… Read more

I lost a lot of my English for six months in Korea and tried to refind it via clear concise sentences. That was the beginning of my ms Wonderland. It was an interesting experiment. I had a difficult time reading novels and poetry with complex vocabulary. My day to day English was severely limited and… Read more

I’ve added a recent video and some new entries from my ms Wonderland. It’s an interesting process thinking about matching poems with pictures. WONDERLAND Read more

I am feeling restless and rough. The rain just won’t stop. I normally don’t mind a bit of misty rain. But this heavy rain is getting to me. It’s summer break but I am just staying inside writing and perhaps thinking too much. Feel like I need to get out of here. Somewhere else. But… Read more

It won’t stop raining here in South Korea. Flooding etc. Heavy rain for almost seven days and nights. Non-stop. In other news irony is finding its way into Wonderland. Or maybe it’s a little wit. What is between irony and elegy? Some current reading projects: Walter Benjamin (Reflections) Jonathan Williams (selected poems) Tolstoy (Resurrection) Art… Read more

Some serious rain in South Korea today. It is monsoon season I guess. I’m not in the mood to venture outdoors today for my usual Kim Bap for lunch. But I have some bread, peanut butter, and some cream cheese. So a cream cheese peanut butter toasty. I think I am gonna watch a BBC… Read more

I’ve decided to keep this space and use it for off the cuff shit. talk. Get a bit personal etc. The Wonderland Blog will contain excerpts from my work in progress as well as pics, movies etc. Today I am feeling very lonely for my books. I thought I could give them up. But I… Read more

THIS BLOG IS NOW RETIRED FOR A WHILE. I’VE DECIDED TO USE MY WONDERLAND WEBSITE AS MY NEW BLOG. PLEASE VISIT my WONDERLAND BLOG Read more

a few poems from Wonderland at MIPOESIAS Read more

June 12th 2006 Everything I care for happens All the timeThe old wood sticks out From the newer handleThe neighboring dust Will have its way June 11th 2006 That, we into the world, into the cowshit andGold painting the sky, that we, laid in-Mind, rolling over cat-Egories not likelyTo be adequate, we, thatBig round story,… Read more

I WILL POST A VIDEO SOON OF A KOREAN BASEBALL GAME I ATTENDED WITH THE POET JIM GOAR. I WILL ALSO POST A VIDEO OF THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD AT THE OLD PALACE AT THE CENTER OF SEOUL. PLUS LOTS OF OTHER FUN STUFF IN THE FUTURE. CHECK IT OUT PERIODICALLY FOR UPDATES: VIDEOS… Read more

Just got an email from my friend Chad Helder. He has a really interesting blog and website on Queer Horror. Check out his blog here: Chad Helder’s Queer Horror Flash Fiction and his website on Queer Horror here: Chad Helder’s Unspeakable Horror Read more

Gestures and Greetings(Ssangmun, South Korea, May 30th 2006) “If a man has character he will have the same experience over and over again.”(Nietzsche) He’s completely wrong > I could veil myself in speculation because I’m such a pig-headed bastard > the answer is: “You don’t need talent to be a genius” > my head has… Read more

I’M CREATING A WEBSITE FOR MY WONDERLAND PROJECT. IT WILL INCLUDE READINGS FROM MY POETRY MANUSCRIPT, PICTURES, AND SHORT MOVIES FROM KOREA AND OTHER ASIAN COUNTRIES. THIS IS THE ADDRESS: WONDERLAND Read more

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I just moved to north Seoul. it’s about an hour and a half commute to work. But it’s much cleaner than Gangnam. I live in Ssangmun. It is close to Dongdaemun. Dongdaemun has cheap clothes. last night I went to the Dongdaemun night market. None of the clothes fit me. It was frustrating. So I… Read more

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Seoul Station(May 5th 2006) Waiting for a bullet train I am heading to Pusan to see some Korean sea. It’s overcast, dirty, dusty, muggy. My shirt sticks to my body. It smells like shit and everyone is mumbling in staccato. Rush. Push. Bali bali. An old Korean lady (ajima) wanted money. When I refused she… Read more

A few poems from my manuscript Buckshot will be featured in Unpleasant Event Schedule on May 14th. Check out Unpleasant Event Schedule for new poems every day! Read more

Birthday(Gangnam, South Korea, April 6th 2006) What can I tell you about Korea?Got this new moleskin for my pocket and some square glasses with a red frameI sweat on the subway I SWeat on the bus I SWeat in the classroom I SWeat & I SWeat Got a package with new shirts and sweets from… Read more

I am getting ready to start my commute this morning. It’s a tad exhausting but not in time. It only takes 45 min. 25 min in the subway and about 20 min on the bus. But it’s the traffic. The crowds. The sweaty bodies stacked against each other. The herky jerky bus with abrupt turns… Read more

Well, time is strange as we all know. Ten years ago I got married to a wonderful woman and in two months I will be divorced. We are still good friends but it is difficult. I don’t know where I am headed. I don’t know if I will ever marry again. But I don’t plan… Read more

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Korea is going through some big changes. The women’s movement is just getting started and a lot of foreigners are pushing for civil rights. It hasn’t totally kicked into high gear yet (not quite the 60’s), but it might get there. Some university students are protesting against the Americanization of Korea and some of my… Read more

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Starbucks(Gangnam, South Korea, March 31st, 2006) I’ve never heard of a conscious monotypethe shower curtain illuminates a dead bodyI’ve a glittering exterior but a gloomy interiorthe days are shifting and I am unable to reach you this is not a grim joke spring is coming is coming is comingto Korea to Korea the dust from… Read more

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I had a really good birthday celebration last night in Hongdae with my cousin and some friends. I drank a little too many shots and I have quite the headache this morning. I didn’t get rip-roaring drunk. I just do the buzz these days. But mixing drinks does my head in. I have a Korean… Read more

After Grog Bog (OSAKA, JAPAN MARCH 20TH, 2006) the bog after grog is runny Grog clears the tummy Grog grog grog Bog bog bog I’ve got a bog in my tummy & a grog in my throat Gog gog Og Og I’ve a runny gr . . . gr . . . Gr OG bOg… Read more

I am leaving my goshiwon in 15 min for a new place in Gangnam. Goodbye to terrible tiolets! My new place is very clean and modern. I am sharing it with a Korean roommate who speaks very good English. It will take about an hour to travel to work everyday, but it’s worth it. Now… Read more

This university gig is really rocking. I am meeting some fascinating professors and the students are really really good. Tomorrow I am going to a classical music concert with some of the faculty. It should be cool. Then I am going out to eat with the professor of art that hooked me up with this… Read more

My actions cannot bear this out. Actions are abstract and abstractions cut me down to size. An abstract is a summary. I stand under an act. My guilt is a damp sock. Eden feeds on waste. Love feeds on love. This notebook keeps me sane. Stung with passion I am not enough. Throatchoked with all… Read more

SLEPT　in　a　capsule．More　ｌａｔｅｒ． Ｊａｐａｎ　is　ｖｅｒｙ　ｃｌｅａｎ． 　乗れ　そおｎ Read more

3-16-06 Family precepts strike me as vaguely correct. My name is a question. It does not answer where I come from. Also it lets me enter the chorus of absolutions. I do not know what will occur in my second childhood. I am in Korea as a newly shaven lamb but a lion grows within… Read more

3-15-06 The owl ate my pussycat. A new form is just around the corner. I am typing on my powerbook with an open robe. I lie in shame before my father’s face. Hotcold I am always leaving somewhere. In shame I sit on some yellow swings. In shame I color my clothes with white paint.… Read more

My lonliness keeps coming and going by the hour. Iron and Wine is either helping or prolonging the sadness. I am not really sure. I am having some very intense dreams. A big swirl of memories every hour or so. I miss the west quite a lot. I think I may go to Poland or… Read more

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I really feel alone right now. Lonely and sick of everything Korean. Not all Korean people of course. I have met some amazing Korean people. I am just feeling really isolated. Why the hell am I putting this on a public space? I don’t know but it makes me deal with whatever it is I… Read more

3-14-06 My hands believe in Spanish songsAnd bullet holes in sanitary wallsI used to get my kicks in used bookstoresBut I’m out to sea in Korea Histrionics is after correspondenceUntidiness is infinite; tidiness is finiteWhere is my mind among these unsorted metaclips?My ambivalent tongue inserts into someone’s ambivalent mouthI’m covered in shame and I’m not… Read more

3/13/06 I believe in heaven and hell. What is hell other than hell? Hell is not like anything. Other things are like hell. It hurts like hell means it hurts a lot. Hell is about torture. The lower ninety percent of static latching is also called hell. The upper ten percent of wondering can feel… Read more

3-2-06 I have not eaten today I don’t know what THEY want but it’s all about saving face the top of the chain never takes the blame 3-2-06 I have been in this small room waiting waiting and a mother is screaming in the next room because her child was put on the wrong school… Read more

2/27/06 BEWARE YEA WHO ENTER WONDERLAND without a way out 2/29/06 EVERYONE SMILES IN WONDERLAND I speak to the mothers because I have the right format Every building is a big block building Every city has the same shops, the same food, the same signs Maybe in ten years the word for foreigner will disappear… Read more

I just moved to Beomgye yesterday because I landed a really nice university gig. The campus is new so everything is clean and fresh. By new I mean all the buildings including the bathrooms are less than one year old. Clean and new. YES! Right now I am in my spanking new office looking at… Read more

TEXT I discoveredmuch later, forinstancethe socialeconomicsof language Read more

2/10/06 I want to populate new cities A thicker ear abstracts me Tea tends to give me the trots And alas this dust unsettles me 2/14/06 Valentines Day the six-year oldsgave me chocolate & socks 2/17/06 This is JakJeon A constant buzz of lights The smells are strong and the pavement is uneven My hands… Read more

from top to bottom: 1) famous Korean king 2) Peking duck (in a nice park in Seoul) 3) Quick shot of Osaka, Japan 4) A Buddhist temple in the middle of the city (sinchon I think) 5) Old Buddhist temple in Seoul Read more

In order from top to bottom: 1) Live Jazz club in Seoul (Itewon) 2) food stand (they are everywhere in Seoul. Cheap and good on the tummy after a few pints) 3) My compact apartment Read more

I’ve tentatively decided to name this new project/ms WONDERLAND. It fits perfectly. Here are a few more rough entries. All of these are unrevised. I will revise more later. 1/22/06 My anti-hero has painful hiccups At the end of this journey I will become a blipin other words in or above the clouds. I keep… Read more

I lost the usb cord for my camera, but as soon as I find one I will post some pictures from Korea and from my recent visit to Osaka, Japan. In the meantime, here are some more notes from Korea: 1-14-06 This is a dry climate. Dust builds on the counters. Everyone’s older on the… Read more

12-26-05 Mona is warmand my lap is warmwhen we will I hear this purr? Iris chases a fake mouseand climbs the walls sharp branches scrape the roof silent Boxing Day without snow 1-1-06 I am flying to Korea. I am on a plane flying to Korea. I want to hold it between my hands. My… Read more

I just back from Seoul. I love that city. So much energy. I picked up a nice leather briefcase for work and a beautiful Buddhist bell. Met some college students who wanted to practice their English with me. I saw three other white people in the whole city. It was a really great experience. But… Read more

I’ve been in Korea for a week but it feels like years. I really like the Soju ( a hard rice based liquor). I have been teaching little kids this week but I will teach older kids soon in a program called GATE (gifted and talented education). It’s been really busy. Yesterday i worked from… Read more

check out the latest issue of free verse. A nice section on experimental Irish poetry with some sections from my recently renamed manuscript CHAIN. Free verse mag Some interesting stories from my first week in Korea coming soon. Stay tuned. Read more

I am moving to Korea in two weeks for a one year teaching contract. It is a very good deal. Free lodging, HEALTH BENEFITS, good pay. Plus a culture I am not at all familiar with. I posted my cv on an ESL job board and the next day I got six requests for phone… Read more

I am often feel like I have to have something great when maybe the great is right in front of me. Read more

Innocent people suffer. The less innocent subsidize. Is this not the case? There was of course fierce resistance. A never-ending reflection the writer must smash. He was assassinated while saying Mass. Never happened even while it was happening. Is all this dead? The answer is yes. Language was employed to keep thought at bay. You… Read more

After leaving the Mormon church, I immersed myself in Buddhism and Eastern Spirituality. But it become a problem when I mixed it up with stoicism. From an early age I experienced emotions as negative. I did cry. But anything male was very negative. I was not what you might call handy. I had bushy blond… Read more

I learned a lot this weekend Especially about my life The Atlanta Poets Group reminded me why art matters There really is a difference between college poetry scenes and scenes outside the university (non career poets for one thing) It was nice to finally meet Laura Carter in person We spent some good time discussing… Read more

On the lucipo listserv there was a recent spate of discussions about projects and individual poems. I tend to value the book over the individual poem. I can name my favourite books much easier than my favourite poems. However, Carl Martin helped me with his critique of projects. A project can delude the writer into… Read more

Mairead Byrne shows me the way beyond the page Read more

boredom is blocked energy Read more

I’m humped and it’s good to let off a load. Read more

Another Lucifer Poetics roadtrip this weekend. We are going to read in Atlanta, GA and Athens, GA I am very excited to meet some of the Atlanta Poets Group. I think Brian Howe and I are going to try out some of collaboration: This is the Motherfucking Remix. Here are the details and lineup for… Read more

I heard his name all the time growing up. I was always a Liverpool supporter, but I still pretended to be Georgie Best. As a young boy from Northern Ireland living in England, I was especially chuffed he was from Belfast. Goodbye Georgie Best Read more

feeling mighty fine this morning. It’s cold and rainy. My kind of weather. I’ve got one class for next semester. Hopefully I’ll pick up four or five more. I’m going to use Rothenberg’s Technicians of the Sacred, Waldman’s Life or Death, and Kerouac’s Dharma Bums. An examination of spirtuality and the word. I’m hoping to… Read more

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My best sex was when it was prohibited. We hung pictures of Jesus on the ceiling to try and stay righteous. I ended up coming while looking at Jesus on the ceiling. Maybe I need Jesus again! BUY YR T-SHIRT HERE Read more

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