LukeSpartacus

The Day We Cornered Happiness In The Back Alley

We cornered happiness in the back of the alley behind the pub Ambivalence and we said “stick Em up.” But happiness was quicker in the draw and shot us in the leg. After physical therapy we hung up fliers around town: Happiness, we’re coming to getcha, ya hear? “Happiness quivered in its boots” was how we…

The Ballad of The Mosquito and the House Fly

At a BBQ early today somebody brought Nickel Nips. Do you know what Nickel Nips are? Even if you think you don’t, yes, you do. Remember these little guys from your sweet tooth teething childhoods? Anyways, I twisted two together and put them in a tree, because… that’s just the sort of stuff you do…

Constipated With Love

A few years back I was dating a girl and we did not agree on acceptable levels of flatulence in our lives. I felt that within the confines of our own apartments, a few accidental vapor babies every hour or so was fine. But we did not smell nose to nose on this. She noticed…

The Times They Are Changing Musically

Come gather round. Wherever you roam. Admit it: The waters around you have grown. Keep your eyes wide. The chance won’t come again. Come mothers and fathers throughout the land. Don’t criticuze what you can’t understand. Your sons and your daughters are beyond your command. Your old road is rapidly again’. Please get out of the new on…

A Great Storytelling Game for Children and Rabble Rousing Rum Drinkers

We were having a meeting (because you know, we had a conference table at the after-after party in Toronto, so why not) when the game emerged from the cockroach corner of our minds and spread through our veins until Storyawesomein, the neurotransmitter responsible for storying telling, became strong with us. This could be one of those had-to-be-there…

Bushwick Poetry Submissions Open

Where would Jack Kerouac live today if he was still bouncing around New York? Answer: Bushwick. Obviously… Those who live or spend time in the area have noticed: Bushwick right now is NYC’s latest front of exciting new and emerging artists. From music, to art, poetry and prose, Bushwick is a place of dedicated artists toeing the…

New York’s People Filled Nights

The night started after a day filled with writing deadlines and then rushing to the Bronx for work in the afterschool program. It led me back home to grab my guitar for a show at The East village and then to a train platform, waiting for the M train—the little train that often can’t, or…

Tumaini

Tumaini –– (Swahili Verb) Hope, to want something to happen. Here, where hope is tumaini are animals everywhere, everywhere animals. Horses on the cigarettes. Rhinos on the matches. Water buffalo nickels jingling around in your lizard stamped coin purse. Do you have a rhino to light my horse? Animals as currency. You never forget the elephants…