Poodie James

excerpt

with a crane into position to begin righting the capsized locomotive.
Joe Gellardy strode between rows of trees, shaking his head
and kicking blackened apples.
“Coulda been worse,” Gellardy yelled to them.
“Not for the guy who died,” Spanger murmured.
“What killed him,” Torgerson asked, “the explosion?”
“Poodie James told my officers the brakeman was dead when he
found him in the cab. No pulse.“
The mayor stopped and surveyed the wreck, silent for a minute
or more as Spanger made notes.
“How do we know it was an accident?” Torgerson said.
“What?”
“How do we know someone didn’t sabotage the rails?
Spanger looked at the mayor.
“Why? Do you see something that looks like sabotage?”
“Can you rule it out?”
“The railroad investigators will be looking for whatever might
tell them about the cause.”
“Looks supicious to me,” Torgerson said.
“What does, Pete?”
“What does? Think about it; Poodie James and that bum showing
up the minute the train went off the track. Timing. Maybe they
were just waiting to be heroes. Huh?”
The chief stepped closer to Torgerson and studied his face.
“Are you serious?”
They moved aside for two men carrying a section of rail.
“I’m serious about you being sure this wasn’t a criminal act
instead of an accident, Chief. Doesn’t that sort of fit your job
description?”
“If the railroad finds evidence of tampering with the tracks,
they’ll tell me right away. I’ll make sure they do.”
“That’s not good enough. We can’t take a chance that any suspects
get away.”
“Suspects? There are no suspects. There’s no suspicion.”
“There is in my mind.”

https://draft2digital.com/book/3562868

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08W7SHCMV

Kariotakis-Polydouri, The Tragic Love Story

As I Die
In the relaxed time of the vernal twilight, my wounded soul,
what futile effort as you’ll fold your wings
when redemption you’ll long for something
poor soul, forever sad and desperate
when you reach the end of your line you’ll find
hatred and love, passions and vile always vanish
when the disappointment, like myrrh rises
from the exquisite flowers of life, my dreamy soul
that special moment when with a simple smile
you’ll remember enemies and friends
futile soul what will you say to the sea and to the wind,
my closed heart, when you stand opposite the pale dusk?

https://draft2digital.com/book/3562951

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1926763459

Hours of the Stars

Aegeus II
15-20 of July
From Attica to desolate Crete
Amphitriti played with Triton
her breasts shone like the sun
her hair jet black like the crow’s
he always raised his arm against the sun
his glance had the depth of a grave and
when she raised her neck like a boat
the kink sunk in her farewell

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1926763408

Savages and Beasts

excerpt

Next morning Anton got up early, earlier than his dad, and after washing his face and shaving he went upstairs where his mother had prepared their simple breakfast. He sat to have his morning coffee when his dad joined him. They took their breakfast, which consisted of a toast with marmalade and some fruit. Then his father took his lunch box, prepared by his wife, and left. Anton kissed his mother goodbye and left for the School. It was a windy morning with strong blows coming down from the north, coldish wind, the autumn precursor which stirred the consciousness of the Kamloops citizens to start getting ready for the inevitable arrival of the cold and the rains before the snow would show up to blanket the area which lasted for a while. Yet today, although windy the sun was the archon of the sky, bright sun that shone upon the natural beauty of Kamloops, the trees, the plains next to the big river, and the oaks and chestnut trees which swayed back and forth in the grounds of the Indian Residential School. It seemed that everything was exposed to the strong sunshine as if expecting it to warm them up against the north winds which were blasting them this morning.
All the various formats the clouds took up in the blue dome above Kamloops only lasted for moments before changing into something different depending on the mood and power of the winds, which suggested a change in season, a change that was …

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1926763602