matchbook underfoot: a letter to tom

[mindbum]

dear thomas pynchon,

can i have the key
to my brain?
i lost my copy.

things have been a little
off kilter.

for instance,
there's a matchbook
under one of the feet
of this typewriter
to keep from imbalanced clunking
that inhibits word-machine operation.

& i managed to drill
a couple holes in the ribbon
that will snag later on.

really,
it's time for a new ribbon.
&
there's a subtle
drive sprocket tooth issue
that means the ribbon
turns in only one direction
& you have to wind it back
by hand.

it's when you forget
to switch
the drive direction back
that you cut holes
in the old silk ribbon
&
those holes
serve as snags
when yr just trying to type
trying to work a word out
edgewise
&
you don't have the time
to watch what yr doing
in the interest of words.

a river of forgetfulness
winds round & through
like a prank
of a long string
tangled round & through
a crowd of people
or a stand of trees
in the dark.

the matchbook wasnt necessary
the last time
i used this machine.
this is a different surface
but it is a table
arent those usually flat?

i've turned the machine over
to examine its seemly underbelly.
the ancient cracked rubber feet
show no change.
they are splayed
like an unshod horse-hoof.
they are still solid;
stuck together despite the cracks.

i rely on a matchbook's measure
to write a level letter.

it's a beautiful morning.
not in the realm
of yesterday's clouds.

in cracked feet
&
paper treasure,

a

[Arcadia]

I used to have a coral Hermes
in no computer times
a kind of counter-word
(you´ll sure have problems
after certain ammount of words
and to wait for that
was something like a silly challenge)

nice poem!!

[hester_prynne]

dEEElightful read MB...

H

[mindbum]

merci, hb.

arcadia, ws yr hermes one of those word processors? coral is a color.
but i thought first of a living typewriter.

thanks for reading the both o ye.

[Arcadia]

it´s a portátil-typewriter
it still exists covered by dust somewhere
it was my twelve´s birthday gift
(I loved the color!)

[Arcadia]

checks, checks, checks in Vineland
squared-shirts men, he in-bars
cashed-crashed glasses routine
Heidi like girl with punk boyfriend with car
bad guy who knows what the hell wants CIA serie
an unusual she, heavy caleidoscope, double agent beauty
simil-leather oriental maffia matrix
(samurai luthier diggression)

it continues...