THE SULLIED ART by Gary Lehmann

When George Caleb Bingham’s opponent

in the Missouri Legislative race of 1847

did some particularly nasty things

in the election campaign,

Bingham declared that he would

strip off all my clothes and bury them,

scour my body all over with sand and water,

put on a clean suit

and keep out of the mire of politics

forever!

One year later he ran for the same seat again

-- and won.

Twice nominated for the Pushcart Prize, Gary Lehmann’s essays, poetry and short stories are widely published – over 100 pieces per year. The Span I will Cross [Process Press, 2004]. Public Lives and Private Secrets [Foothills Publishing, 2005]. His most recent book is American Sponsored Torture [FootHills Publishing, 2007]. Visit his website at www.garylehmann.blogspot.com

STAY UNTIL by J. Marcus Weekley

It’s amazing how you can’t get away from love. Even in a zombie movie, the heroine has to fall in love with a doomed hero who sacrifices himself so she can live. I’m craving beef. You can’t get a steak without blood, even well done, you know the blood has cooked around the meat, seared into it. I need someone. You feel it, inside, like something turning at the back of your throat, not quite a taste, because it’s before you’ve bitten into anything, but there, where your tongue meets your throat, there you know love. I want to taste you.

Currently serving time at Chili's in D'Iberville, Mississippi, J. Marcus Weekley also knows how to quilt, draw, and photograph, and is teaching his sister about sashing strips and binding. His work is in from four years, Look Out Below and Other Tales, and Texas Dance Halls, among others, which may be found at www.flickr.com/photos/whynottryitagain2 or www.lulu.com/whynottryitagain.

FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK. . .

MICRO-FICTION'S FIRST COUSIN


As your editor, I am always on the look out for new cultural experiences that will enrich your lives. My most recent discovery is a website that provides what is essentially literature's newest version of creative non-fiction, albeit of the micro-variety.

The website is called JamsBio and the link to my page can be found at www.jamsbio.com/user/dtricarico.

If you've ever been listening to music and said, "I love that song. . .it reminds me of the time. . ." then JamsBio is for you. They ask participants to write up their memories concerning various songs, artists, and albums. The site is still open and anyone can join.

The opportunity to write about music and my memories and the discipline needed to do it in a short space was a very powerful combination. Each piece is like a compelling little story about the writer's life and their connection--usually emotional--to the music they have listened to throughout their lives.

There's some good reading here. And some good memories.

Check it out.

We will return you to your regularly scheduled LITSNACK in a few days. Thanks and remember, at LITSNACK, it's "Easy in. Easy out. Nobody gets hurt."