Kermit O'Doyle, a paraplegic, works as an analyst on the China desk of the CIA's Economic Analysis Unit. He's tasked with discovering why the Chinese are flooding the US with designer hi-tops that sell for less than canvas sneakers. Everyone wants them and soon they're outselling America's top brands. But violence follows the shoes onto the playgrounds across America. Moreover, Kermit and the paraplegics he plays wheelchair basketball with are beset with unusual nervous reactions since swi...

This is the second in a series of haiku on the four seasons. It follows "5 Winter Haiku."

Conrad and Margot, having driven the length of Mexico from the States with two small children, are crossing the border between Mexico and Guatemala at Christmas time. He has hunting weapons, and permits from all the interveneding countries to carry them into Costa Rica. An incident in Guatemala has caused all gun permits to be canceled, and something strange has happened to the colonel who signed the gun permit—he doesn't exist any more. What would have been a lengthy process at that time ...

This completes the cycle of haiku-like poems begun last winter with Winter Haiku.

Quincy happens upon Annie at a party he was reluctant to attend. His reluctance turns to eagerness when he discovers Annie plays all the tunes he ever wanted to sing. The girl of his dreams, or is this just too good to be true?

Till Dimas, San Francisco police detective, attributes his uncanny sense of smell to an Apache ancestor. His partner, Felix ("Dude") Durand, will never forget the homicide case Till solved in record time relying in large part on his sensitive nose. Closing the case leaves the partners to consult their personal beliefs in justice: did they make the city a safer place taking down the perpetrator, or did the murderer do so when she took down the victim?

Two bachelor friends, Alfie and Phil, spend a Sunday afternoon tapering off from a boozy St. Patrick's day and talking about Alfie's sudden fixation on the social commentator, Fran Lebowitz. The conversation takes a sudden serious turn, prompted by Alfie's drunken realization his life is empty.

Mustapha is young and unmarried. He works diligently, preparing and selling hummus from a stall in the medina. One day Annisa, a newcomer to Meknes, offers him a proposition: marry her and she will share with him her secret recipe for outstanding hummus. She is nearly old enough to be his mother and he dreams of a young bride who will give him many sons. Naturally he declines. Soon Annisa, who opens a stall opposite his, has taken most of his customers, who are convinced she has a secret i...

Perfection of the life, perfection of the work: is it an either/or choice? Must a person forswear one to attain the other? Byeford Pritchett wants both. He wants to live a life free of the creator's angst while turning out a work of art worthy of the name.For more years than he cares to admit, Bye Pritchett's worked on his bureaucratic novel. He wants it to show the world that there are "good" bureaucrats—courageous, intelligent, swift to act, ready to cut through red tape—as well a...

Three poems in no particular order, on no particular theme, written since the first three poems I published on Smashwords.

A young man, Jarvis, is canvassing for the Gallup polling organization when he encounters Howard, a subject who alarms him. The man turns the interview around, asking Jarvis about his most interesting "customers." Howard swears he knew Jarvis was coming. Howard has a large revolver sitting next to him on the couch. He wears black gloves and sunglasses. He is either nuts or psychic. Fearing this may be his last interview, Jarvis looks for ways to escape before Howard shoots him or completel...

Artemis, angered by the actions of King Agamemnon, stops the wind, bottling up the Greek fleet waiting to sail for Troy. To placate her, Agamemnon must sacrifice his daughter. He delays as long as he can but must consider the consequences for himself and his kingdom if he waits any longer.