A modern spin on the alien-spaghetti western-sci-fi-horror genre — For those of you unfamiliar with Jordan Peele’s cinematic portfolio, you’re not alone. Nope is my introduction to the acclaimed Black filmmaker: producer, director, writer, and actor in various projects, and I am mesmerized. I’ve also been warned by many that his other films may be too gory-horror-psychologically disturbing for…

Creative Nonfiction tips from your honorary English Professor — Imagine that we are sitting in a classroom on a crisp autumn day. There are twelve of us sitting at desks that are arranged in a circle. There’s natural light pouring in through large glass windows. You’ve come to learn how to craft creative nonfiction and personal essays. I sit…

A poem from the early marriage archives — A shattered eagle your wife lumbering, smashing the African vase against the wall matches scattering on the murky brown floor She’s searching for the definitive lure — this marriage will not backfire You will not slip up and kiss someone else She will not misstep into territory unreturnable Her ring…

Growing up is hard to do — Emma is dressed even fancier than the bearskin rug she’s standing on. She peers over the edge of the balcony at her sister’s church turned house — the chouse. Emma tucks a piece of stray brown hair behind her ear and calls down to her sister, Jane. “Put a song…

From the dating archives — Drank Rolling Rocks turned up the jukebox where we were house-sitting two months after we met. The chouse, a church turned house, surrounded by magenta hibiscus plucked up with life. We bit and clung, my black boots always on in one of two balcony bedrooms. I refused to use the one with…

Actualizing 10 — everyone’s in a space bubble — shows during the coronavirus pandemic — Imagine an almost impossibly high saturation color film and chill, psychedelic music playing as footage rolls of the 2021 OKC (Oklahoma City, US) Flaming Lips Space Bubble shows. From the beginning of the film, I knew the takeaway, and it’s one I, like many creatives, need to be reminded of…

A poem from the early days of our 20+ year romantic partnership — One year ago — drank mojitos with my roommate outside on Sunday at the Midway Jam. Breeze constantly stopped in its tracks smelled like barbecue and babies. Skin crawled with bluegrass twang. Caught a tiny yellow leaf skydiving onto the page, thought of you, shaggy hair, gap-toothed. Next day —…

And Tulsa is the heartbeat of the Oklahoma music scene — Thanks go to the motley music crew participating in the state songs 2022 music challenge. Thanks to Paul Combs and Eric Pierce for inspiring me to participate in introducing our home state stomping grounds through song. Would you believe Tulsa, Oklahoma, has a vibrant music scene? When you think of…