011220

Now my age is a multiple of 3, and I have 8 novels & a biography that I can't wait to read, including 2 by Tm Powers, one by Gene Wolfe, one mystery by Elly Griffiths, Brightfall, by Jaime Lee Moyer, and a bio of Woody Guthrie. Some of these were Xmas and Chanukah presents.

102619e

Poetry and fiction books by David C. Kopaska Merkel

1. underfoot, the runaway spoon press, ISBN 0-926935-60-7, poetry, 1991
2. a round white hole, dbqp press, poetry, 1993
3. The Conspiracy Unmasked, Dark Regions Press, poetry, 1994
4. hunger, Preternatural Press, poetry, 1996
5. Results of a preliminary investigation of the electrochemical properties of some organic matrices , Eraserhead Press, poetry, 1999
6. Y2K survival kit, smoldering banyan press, poetry, 1999
7. The Ruined City, gnarled totem press, poetry, 2003
8. Shoggoths, Sam's Dot publishing, poetry, 2003
9. The Deadbolt Casebook, Sam's Dot publishing, fiction, 2004
10. the egg show, speakeasy press, ISBN 0-9762962-0-9 ($40, entirely handmade including the paper), poetry, 2005 http://www.speakeasypress.com/folded/foldedeggshow.html
11. I don't know what you're having, Sam's Dot, poetry, 2005
12. Separate Destinations (with Kendall Evans), D66 Press, ISBN 1-892958-02-3, poetry, 2005
13. Hasp Deadbolt, Private Eye, Sam's Dot, fiction, 2007
14. Drowning Atlantis, spechouseofpoetry.com, flash fiction, 2007
15. The memory of persistence, Naked Snake Press, poetry, 2007
16. Nursery Rhyme Noir, Sam's Dot, 978-09821068-3-9, fiction (incorporates 9 and 13), 2008
17. Night Ship to Never (with Kendall Evans), diminuendo press, 978-0-9821352-3-5, poetry, 2009

18. The Simian Transcript, Banana Oil books, flash fiction, 2010
19. Brushfires, Sam's Dot, poetry, 2010
20. The Tin Men (with Kendall Evans), Sam's Dot, poetry, 2011
21. The Edible Zoo, Sam's Dot, children's poetry, 2012--from author
22. On the Brink of Never (ed.), Sam’s Dot, ISBN 978-0-984692-04-0, poetry, 2012
23. Luminous Worlds, Dark Regions Press, ISBN 978-1-937128-92-0, poetry, 2013
24. SETI Hits Paydirt, Popcorn Press, poetry, 2014
25. Gods and Monsters, Popcorn Press, flash fiction, 2015, 9781519729446
26. Metastable Systems, diminuendo press, poetry, 2017, ISBN-13: 978-1-936021-57-4--in print
27. Entanglement (with Kendall Evans), diminuendo press, poetry, 2018, ISBN 13: 978-1-936021-56-7 (print)--in print

102619b

giving books away
by the box
but this one
and this one
and, of course THIS
needs a good home

081419

Back to the 80s

Toronto for Jamaican patties,

The Coleyville Bakery was the best;

90s Huntsville next,

Before the bookstore burned;

Mid-70s Charlottesville--

Now, where was that SF bookstore?

022219b

internet down
at home for the second day 
forced to read books

110318b

Poetry and fiction books by David C. Kopaska Merkel

the egg show, speakeasy press, ISBN 0-9762962-0-9 ($40, entirely handmade including the paper), poetry, 2005 http://www.speakeasypress.com/folded/foldedeggshow.html

Nursery Rhyme Noir, Sam's Dot (albanlake.com), 978-09821068-3-9, fiction, 2008

Brushfires, Sam's Dot (albanlake.com), poetry, 2010

The Tin Men (with Kendall Evans), Sam's Dot (albanlake.com), poetry, 2011

The Edible Zoo, Sam's Dot (albanlake.com), children's poetry, 2012

SETI Hits Paydirt, Popcorn Press, poetry, 2014

Gods and Monsters, Popcorn Press, flash fiction, 2015

Metastable Systems, diminuendo press, poetry, 2017, ISBN-13: 978-1-936021-57-4, available on Smashwords

Entanglement (with Kendall Evans), diminuendo press, poetry, 2017, ISBN 13: 978-1-936021-56-7 (print)

102718d

Poetry and fiction books by David C. Kopaska Merkel

the egg show, speakeasy press, ISBN 0-9762962-0-9 ($40, entirely handmade including the paper), poetry, 2005 http://www.speakeasypress.com/folded/foldedeggshow.html

Nursery Rhyme Noir, Sam's Dot (albanlake.com), 978-09821068-3-9, fiction, 2008

Brushfires, Sam's Dot (albanlake.com), poetry, 2010

The Tin Men (with Kendall Evans), Sam's Dot (albanlake.com), poetry, 2011

The Edible Zoo, Sam's Dot (albanlake.com), children's poetry, 2012

SETI Hits Paydirt, Popcorn Press, poetry, 2014

Gods and Monsters, Popcorn Press, flash fiction, 2015

Metastable Systems, diminuendo press, poetry, 2017, ISBN-13: 978-1-936021-57-4, available on Smashwords

Entanglement (with Kendall Evans), diminuendo press, poetry, 2017, ISBN 13: 978-1-936021-56-7 (print)

070218c

I give away
books from a downsized friend
keep a few

041718e

some of these books
are so old they're made on paper
how are they accessed

041118

house full of books
are now in mine
off the wagon

031218b

giving away
another box of books
it gets easier

022418b

pull the books
up to your chin
crack open one more

011118b

moving books
surely I can spare some of these
but not this one

011018

Putting in a new floor in my office.  Can't go to work or use computer at home.  But so far,  tidying up,  we found some missing books and gave away a box of books.

They are here. Hope it doesn't take all day.

111717

Rereading Pogo's Reflections on Elections. Normally I don't buy books that excerpt others, but I'm a completist wrt Pogo. Only one I bought twice was Potluck Pogo. Copy I bought in HS fell part: cheap glue.

111217b

Updated list of my poetry & fiction books

1. underfoot, the runaway spoon press, ISBN 0-926935-60-7, poetry, 1991
2. a round white hole, dbqp press, poetry, 1993
3. The Conspiracy Unmasked, Dark Regions Press, poetry, 1994
4. hunger, Preternatural Press, poetry, 1996
5. Results of a preliminary investigation of the electrochemical properties of some organic matrices , Eraserhead Press, poetry, 1999
6. Y2K survival kit, smoldering banyan press, poetry, 1999
7. The Ruined City, gnarled totem press, poetry, 2003
8. Shoggoths, Sam's Dot publishing, poetry, 2003
9. The Deadbolt Casebook, Sam's Dot publishing, fiction, 2004
10. the egg show, speakeasy press, ISBN 0-9762962-0-9 ($40, entirely handmade including the paper), poetry, 2005 http://www.speakeasypress.com/folded/foldedeggshow.html
11. I don't know what you're having, Sam's Dot, poetry, 2005
12. Separate Destinations (with Kendall Evans), D66 Press, ISBN 1-892958-02-3, poetry, 2005
13. Hasp Deadbolt, Private Eye, Sam's Dot, fiction, 2007
14. Drowning Atlantis, spechouseofpoetry.com, flash fiction, 2007
15. The memory of persistence, Naked Snake Press, poetry, 2007
16. Nursery Rhyme Noir, Sam's Dot, 978-09821068-3-9, fiction (incorporates 9 and 13), 2008
17. Night Ship to Never (with Kendall Evans), diminuendo press, 978-0-9821352-3-5, poetry, 2009

18. The Simian Transcript, Banana Oil books, flash fiction, 2010
19. Brushfires, Sam's Dot, poetry, 2010
20. The Tin Men (with Kendall Evans), Sam's Dot, poetry, 2011
21. The Edible Zoo, Sam's Dot, children's poetry, 2012
22. On the Brink of Never (ed.), Sam’s Dot, ISBN 978-0-984692-04-0, poetry, 2012
23. Luminous Worlds, Dark Regions Press, ISBN 978-1-937128-92-0, poetry, 2013
24. SETI Hits Paydirt, Popcorn Press, poetry, 2014
25. Gods and Monsters, Popcorn Press, flash fiction, 2015
26. Metastable Systems, diminuendo press, poetry, 2017,
    ISBN-13: 978-1-936021-57-4

062417b

each book I give away
makes me feel better
about the crap I'll be leaving
to my kids

060817

Jabberwock

Ms. Perkins put the book on my desk, right on top of the financial report. She pointed to a paragraph on the orchids of Amazonia. I first I thought silverfish had been at the book, but there were no holes in the paper. Only the ink was gone. It looked like the letters had been chipped away, or gnawed on.

"Silverfish," I said, closing the book. "I have to finish this report before the board meeting."

"Not silverfish, there are no holes in the paper." She glared at me, then turned and strode out. I always watch her leave. She has very shapely legs. Too old for me, but nice legs. Now, where _had_ all the money been going.

*

The meeting did not go well. Money. There simply wasn't enough. If I didn't find more money in the next two weeks I would have to lay somebody off. There were only four of us on staff to begin with.

I collared Colonel Sanders (That really is his name) the next afternoon at The Club. It's just a bar, with pretensions. The Colonel had mentioned wanting to make a substantial contribution to the Foundation. I needed his money now. I asked whether he had made a decision about investing in the county's future.

"Not yet Carl. But I heard from Adrienne Perkins that you have silverfish. It's not an investment if the stock is destroyed by bugs."

"Colonel, I'm on top of that. There are a couple of books with minor damage, but I'm taking care of it." Back at the library I started looking through books. At first I didn't find anything, and almost called the exterminator back. But then I came across a bookcase that had damage in almost every book. Letters were not just obliterated. It almost looked like the books were being rewritten. Actually, the marks didn't really look like letters. I don't know what they looked like. When Harry arrived Saturday I would have him just do this area.

*

I showed Harry the bookcase. He picked up one of the books and opened it. It was blank, except for a few random specks of ink. He raised one eyebrow. I grabbed the book and shoved it back on the shelf.

"Silverfish. I don't know. Just spray. I'll be downstairs."

He rolled his eyes, but as long as he does the work, I don't care.

An hour later, Ms. Perkins stopped by.

"Director? Isn't Harry coming today?"

"He's up there now. In fact, he should be done." I held my place with a finger, but she didn't take the hint.

"He's not there. I checked. The bookcase in the middle of the reading room. That's the worst place and he's not there at all."

"Come on. That's where he started. I told him just to do that area, but he may be doing the whole floor hoping for extra pay." We searched the entire building, but we didn't find him. His truck was still out front. Where was he? I came back to the reading room. Ms. Perkins stood in front of "the bookcase." She looked pale.

"Director," she whispered. "Look at this." She handed me a history of the Civil War, but most of the pages were covered with odd geometrical shapes. Nothing about the Civil War. She had had the book open to page 56. Right in the middle of the page was an odd seven-sided figure. Inside was a cartoon drawing that looked a bit like Harry.

"They got his paunch really well," I said. "Don't you think?"

"This is not a drawing."

"Of course it is," I snapped. Then the drawing moved. It ran to the side of the figure surrounding it. It beat on the line with its fists. Then it ran to the other side, then to the top. It was trapped. "He can't leave the page." I dropped the book. "Ms. Perkins? We need to get out of here." I felt queasy all of a sudden, but grabbed her arm and ran towards the door. There was no door. Strange things surrounded us. I put Ms Perkins behind me. Then I saw the jaws. "Get ready to jump, Ms. Perkins."

"How? There is no up." I tried to look up. I could almost remember how, but I couldn't do it. We were surrounded. Something went snicker snack.

"The jaws that bite, Ms. Perkins, the claws that catch." We hugged, something we had never done in 3D. "Goodbye, Ms. Perkins."

"Goodbye Director."

Publ. The Simian Transcript, 2010

032617.1

The voice-recognition software hasn't been working on this machine. 1-finger typing blows!

Finished a book review yesterday; another to do today. Both SF/fantasy poetry collections.

Since my last garden rpt: red Amaryllis and Lenten roses (pink and white) in full bloom, many perennials not in evidence; last yr's drought was worse than the Cretaceous extinction. Newly planted hosta, bay; basil seedlings and others have true leaves. Spouse does all the work; I just enjoy the results.

Well, the review is calling...

030517

buying more cases
     the strategy of youth
piling up the books
     we do in middle age
you know you're getting old
     when you give the books away
despair
     the residue still doesn't fit
wisdom
     who gives a fuck