Wednesday, January 30, 2008

I Won an Award!


I was presented this award from Fenny at Fenny's Bla Bla Blog. I need to list three things that I think make writing good and powerful before I pass it along to five other people:


The following aspects of writing make it good and powerful:

1. Relating to the reader by painting substance and color to life with words, in particular, the reader's life.

2. Making ordinary aspects of life seem extraordinary.

3. Pulling even the elusive reader into the flock of humanity to celebrate our common journey.


And now, I present the award to these five people:

Dan at Poetic Justice
Guy Hogan at Flash Fiction
Terry at Shamgar Report
Karen Heywood's Poetry
Ozymandiaz at Ocellus

Monday, January 28, 2008

Couplets for Fun

For a Valentine's Word Catalyst Prompt:

I love your smile, my love, so sweet
but I sure do hate your smelly feet.

Like roses red, your alluring kiss
hits my nose, you always miss.

I miss you like flowers in spring,
the ones with bugs and bees that sting.

You set my world afire, such a naughty muse!
Fire-bug! I've filed for protection from abuse.

Sunday, January 27, 2008

New Issue - Word Catalyst Magazine

A new issue is published! Word Catalyst Magazine! It's chock full of stories, poems, photographs, and artwork and it's free! You won't find a better evening's diversion than when snuggling up with Word Catalyst...well, I know it's hard to snuggle up with a computer, but you'll manage, won't you?

A snippet from my column:

To be a window washer is to be a shadow. You hover on the edge looking in, taken for granted. A dumb animation on the other side of a glass pane, you are there for unguarded moments, moments people would never speak about or reveal to you normally. Yet there you are, seeing all. Soon you disappear, never be thought of again...carrying precious observations with you in the folds of your drying cloth, a glimpse into lives and secrets, elusive and ephemeral as the air itself. That was how it was for Tom Brady the day he saw Brenda Farley turn into Sarah Thompson.

He didn't know her by those names, of course. But he saw the brunette secretary slip into the powder room and emerge again as a blond. Running his squeegee down the glass, he stared between quick swipes as the woman changed her pale pink lipstick to blood red and pulled open her top buttons to give more exposure to her breasts. She kicked off flat pumps and squeezed her feet into spike heels, next hiking up her skirt to halfway up her shapely thigh.

Saturday, January 26, 2008

The Hesitant Farmer














I walk amongst a sea of pumpkins
making conversation
with myself
in muddy earth terms
laced with mediocre intentions
while each leaf traces lines of worry
drawn from my troubled lips
and my green fruit turns orange
embarrassed by vagaries in my mind
as I weather demanding storms of summer
and change my mind along with autumn.
The harvest of my soul
in orange and green
sprinkled with rains
of promise
and sun rays
glimmering in tradition
despite my influence.
And so, another harvest
to be loaded and carted away
with my heart dragging behind
unconvinced
until spring beckons in soft whispers
with new promise
to plant another year.

Copyright 2008 JO Janoski
Picture: For to be a Farmer by Winslow Homer

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Dispelling Rumors

Can you tell what I'm thinking about? A Jozzonet:


Dispelling Rumors

Orange rays peek from a hesitant sun

as cooler breezes resist
while a robin sings its heart out
dispelling wintry rumors
with warm succulent promises
dispelling wintry rumors
while a robin sings its heart out
as cooler breezes resist
orange rays peek from a hesitant sun

Copyright 2008 JO Janoski

Sunday, January 20, 2008

New Chapter at Chain Fiction!

Two divers detached the cement bricks, then tied the bundle with strong ropes. More rugged men on the bridge waited, then tugging, hoisted up the package, their burly arms glistening with sweat even in the early morning sun. It was going to be a hot day. Bud wiped his brow while he rushed closer

"Well, let's see what we got" he yelled. "I'm curious to see who got on Frank's shit list this time. Poor schmuck!"

"It's not all that heavy," one of the strong men said. "Must be a skinny guy."

"Who ever heard of a skinny gangster?" Bud joked ... Read more...

The Bishop's Mantle

















http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigb6/2195200509/


The Bishop's Mantle

Now to be called a scholar
wearing the bishop's mantle,
one must differentiate
what you know and what you don't.
God bless my Ipod.

Copyright 2008 JO Janoski

This is called a "found" poem. It's a workshop exercise. I decided on a specific form (Dodoitsu) simply to get a handle on it.


Friday, January 18, 2008

Winter Morning

Walking softly, ghosts of winter
swish past trees of rugged bark.
Sound remains preoccupied, smothered in snow.
Only pine needles fidget, whimpering green.
Spooky quiet, early morning still,
Oh, that frigid winter spirit!

My spine tingles, lurking chilly spirit
icy fingers tapping notes of winter
up my back, and yet all is still
like those brooding trees with dull bark.
Whispers flow from only remaining green
poking through mounds of snow.

White-blanket obedient snow
fulfilling the will of its task master spirit,
blanketing all, challenging everything green
painting landscapes of monotonous winter,
but not those trees of stand-tall bark
at attention in defiance holding still.

Trees awaiting a miraculous moment still
when warming rays come marching across snow
while sunshine tickles those dull trees' bark
with insouciant morning spirit
waking the doldrums of gray winter
melting snow blankets, freeing green.

Vibrant life-filled promises in green
amidst a winter morning still
blades of grass longing to cast off winter
poking through blankets of snow
reaching to warming sun spirit
as rays skittle down tree bark.

But then covering its face, sun retreats from bark
pulling back rays, ignoring grasses green
snatching away warmth, casting aside spring spirit
returning winter's grasp on the forest still
while patches of ice recover in the snow
making new lacy patterns of winter.

God bless that pause in winter, warming forest bark
with melting snow, and emerging green
while time stands still, bowing to spring's elusive spirit.

Copyright 2008 JO Janoski

Bar owner challenges Onorato to box - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

I love this guy! And I love Mitchell's, too! Great restaurant!


Bar owner challenges Onorato to box - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Bar fight, bar fight! Owner challenges Onorato to box
By Eric Heyl
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Friday, January 18, 2008

Lace up the gloves, Dan.

Restaurateur Jim Mitchell delivered that message Thursday to Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato.

The owner of Mitchell's Restaurant, Bar & Banquet Center on Ross Street, a popular Downtown hangout for government workers, wants the politician to turn pugilist." Read more...

Sunday, January 13, 2008

My Love

A Cinquain for the Word Catalyst Workshop.


My Love

My love
rippling water,
pulsing in vibrant red,
issuing waves of affection
to you.


Copyright 2008 JO Janoski

Thursday, January 10, 2008

The Gossip

Portrait of a Woman in a Large Hat
by Amedeo Modigliani



The Gossip

Her hat halos round her brain
of sizable dimension
which she was sure to mention
in a high-pitched pensive strain.

Lady's long neck telescope
spied gossip here, here, and there,
pencil neck extraordinaire.
Unrequested interlope.

Erase truth, write juicy tales.
Mold and press and sculpture well,
enhancing stories to tell.
Spread false words when all else fails.

She's a genius, don't you know?
Ascertaining insight rare,
soothsayer extraordinaire,
Lady gossip, seeds to sow.


Copyright 2008 JO Janoski

Thursday, January 03, 2008

I'm da Man!



I'm da Man!


Smoky heart, bubbly mind, alone again.
That's okay...there's no pain.
Iconoclastic revolution!
Welcome to my resolution.
Cigar sparks anger, black hat tower.
I'm da man. I have power!
Cigar sparks anger, black hat tower.
Welcome to my resolution.
Iconoclastic revolution!
That's okay...there's no pain.
Smoky heart, bubbly mind, alone again.


Copyright 2008 JO Janoski