"One Weird Morning" by Sam Davis

Sam Davis was one of three featured readers at the July 25 •chance operations• reading at Duff's.

In addition to reading several pieces, Sam also showed a few of his short movies. Here's "One Weird Morning."



The next reading will be Monday, August 22, at Duff's, 392 North Euclid, in the Central West End, on Monday, July 25.

Featured readers will be Daniel Eberle-Mayse, Shane Signorino, and Erin Wiles.

Doors open at 7:30 p.m.; admission is $3.

Advance sign-up for the open-mic following the featured readers is encouraged. Click here to sign-up via e-mail.

Christy Callahan Featured Reader in July

Christy Callahan was one of three featured readers at the July 25 •chance operations• reading at Duff's.

The next reading will be Monday, August 22, at Duff's, 392 North Euclid, in the Central West End, on Monday, July 25.

Featured readers will be Daniel Eberle-Mayse, Shane Signorino, and Erin Wiles.

Doors open at 7:30 p.m.; admission is $3.

Advance sign-up for the open-mic following the featured readers is encouraged. Click here to sign-up via e-mail.

Erin Goss Featured Reader in July

Erin Goss was one of three featured readers at the July 25 •chance operations• reading at Duff's.

The next reading will be Monday, August 22, at Duff's, 392 North Euclid, in the Central West End, on Monday, July 25.

Featured readers will be Daniel Eberle-Mayse, Shane Signorino, and Erin Wiles.

Doors open at 7:30 p.m.; admission is $3.

Advance sign-up for the open-mic following the featured readers is encouraged. Click here to sign-up via e-mail.

First •chance operations• Book Swap on Monday, July 25, at Duff's

"Spreading the Disease" by By Paul Friswold, Riverfront Times

William S. Burroughs postulated that speech was a virus -- the original communicable disease, if you will. And it's true that words spread seemingly of their own accord; how else to explain the proliferation of slang? But words can spread via means other than speech; Books are one of the great word-delivery vectors. Monday, July 25, at Duff's (392 North Euclid Avenue), Chance Operations presents its first-ever book swap and reading, providing a double-dip of the dreaded disease. Simply show up at 7:30 p.m. and bring a gently-used book, then swap it for one someone else brings. Try to keep this exchange on a one-for-one basis, please; there's no need to OD on words, because Erin Goss, Christy Calahan and Sam Davis will read from their respective works starting at 8 p.m., and an open mic follows. Admission to the reading and book swap is $3.

Erin Goss to be Featured Reader at Duff's on Monday, July 25

Erin Goss will be one of three featured readers at our next reading at Duff's, 392 North Euclid, in the Central West End, on Monday, July 25.

Also featured will be Christy Callahan and Erin Goss.

Doors open at 7:30 p.m.; admission is $3.

Advance sign-up for the open-mic following the featured readers is encouraged. Click here to sign-up via e-mail.

Sesame St. Zulu Parables
Eve Arnold photograph, South Africa 1973

imagine munchkin munching his nutritious fist
nam nam nam nam. imagine

shriveled ribcage, clothe-less peanut, bowlegged.
mama keeps his Mr. T fro growing

up. up. up. so hungry hope does not kill, ingane.
head so big so coco smooth, pink

puzzle patches mistaken for crumbly cookies
or fingers nam nam nam. imagine

Sesame Street with Big Bird and Snuffaluffagus on the block.
look up, umntanami, the colorful picture box:

Oscar the Grouch has no nose, no tail to swat flies or mud.
mean shaggy green thing pesters

passersby with the pot he pisses in, his garbage can kingdom.
Sesame Street abets such bullies.

but honey will end! our enchanted train ride is over. cookies gone.
the Count runs out of numbers awh awh awh.

this foot is blind, farewell, little thumb-ling, mouthful of flies
not Kalashnikovs, ant hills, hyenas

or cholera, burning huts. his hunger nam nam nam nam.
where bully equals man with many guns.

-- Erin Goss

Sam Davis To Be Featured Reader at Duff's on Monday, July 25

Sam Davis will be one of three featured readers at our next reading at Duff's, 392 North Euclid, in the Central West End, on Monday, July 25.

Also featured will be Christy Callahan and Erin Goss.

Doors open at 7:30 p.m.; admission is $3.

Advance sign-up for the open-mic following the featured readers is encouraged. Click here to sign-up via e-mail.

Sam Davis is a visual artist primarily working in painting, sculpture, photography, and ceramics. Sam says, "I try to stay always in motion. I am careful not to arrive at any place, and always realizing that I must be in a state of becoming."

Flowing – Gushing – Washing over

– smoothly flowing-constant drip -forming puddles-sinking quickly - down the drain - to the river, up again – into clouds - rain falls down like a blanket over - light refracted sky reflected -

flowing – gushing – washing over - back and forth - waving persistence - eroding motion, eats away - glass half full, could be empty - clear and crisp - chewing quietly - appearing calm, silent chaos -

flowing – gushing – washing over - cleansing dirt - transforming landscapes - filling oceans, flushing down- moving through - supporting life, suffocation –

flowing – gushing – washing over – swimming – wading – stay above – lurking below an unseen movement – the great sea holds the secrets, deeply under – undiscovered, undercover - world flipped over – up above – down below – always present – die without it –

flowing – gushing – washing over – elegant power – squirting from – whirling motion – violent splashing tremendous waves – giving taking – a powerful force, transforming in an instant – completely still – moving fast – hot dynamic –

flowing – gushing – washing over – cold and frigid, frozen form - still and stuck – preserved forever , stopping motion, numbing feeling - sharp and icy - dulling life away –

Flowing – Gushing – Washing over – gaseous cloudy, floating above – raising quickly with angry force – hot dynamic, superheated – steaming kettle, piercing whistle - Flowing – Gushing – Washing over

-- Sam Davis

Christy Callahan To Be Featured Reader on Monday, July 25

Christy Callahan will be one of three featured readers at our next reading at Duff's, 392 North Euclid, in the Central West End, on Monday, July 25.

Also featured will be Sam Davis and Erin Goss.

Doors open at 7:30 p.m.; admission is $3.

Advance sign-up for the open-mic following the featured readers is encouraged. Click here to sign-up via e-mail.

Christy Callahan earned a Bachelor of Social Work degree from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. She is currently studying for her MFA in Creative Writing, Poetry at UMSL. Christy's poetry appears in publications such as LitMag, Bellerive and Bad Shoe. When not attending classes, Christy works both as a social worker and a graduate assistant.

Mirror Trees

When spring came that year, my fifteenth year,
the Magnolia tree sighed and grunted,
and feigning interest would only produce
russet-colored brittle buds
and as they bloomed, then died,
my mom cried a horrible cry,
the sound tires make as they try to dig
their claws in to wet pavement.
Dad hid in the garage, twisting metal
and swallowing scotch.
When fall came that year, my fifteenth year,
the pine tree coughed and spat
needles across our roof,
clogging our gutters and tingeing it green.
My dad cried a horrible cry,
the sound a brake pad makes with its final grind
on the rotor before death.
Mom hid in the greenhouse,
planting Brazilian Verbena
and sneaking Pall Malls.
When winter came that year, my fifteenth year,
mom moved us to Manassas
where Magnolia trees never disappoint
and dad lingered in the garage,
awaiting the pine tree’s next move.

-- Christy Callahan

Note: "Mirror Trees" previously appeared in Bad Shoe, Volume 1, Issue 2, 2011.

Phil Gounis Featured Reader in June

Photo by Josh Maasen
Phil Gounis was one of three featured readers at the June reading.

The next reading at Duff's, 392 North Euclid, in the Central West End, on Monday, July 25, will feature Christy Callahan, Sam Davis, and Erin Goss.

Doors open at 7:30 p.m.; admission is $3.

Advance sign-up for the open-mic following the featured readers is encouraged. Click here to sign-up via e-mail.

Phil Gounis and Bob Case. Photo by Josh Maasen

Will Kyle Featured Reader in June

Will Kyle was one of three featured readers at the June reading.

The next reading at Duff's, 392 North Euclid, in the Central West End, on Monday, July 25, will feature Christy Callahan, Sam Davis, and Erin Goss.

Doors open at 7:30 p.m.; admission is $3.

Advance sign-up for the open-mic following the featured readers is encouraged. Click here to sign-up via e-mail.

Imagine the Insects!

Currently, there must be millions of people
               madly screwing all over the world.

On the tractor, top floor parking garage,

               in the theatre, at the bar, faces locked in orgasm, lips shining donut O’s.
                              How loud is collective pleasure? What of animals?

Hooves thrown up over hides,

                              claws dug to paws, mouths full, grass and blood.

               Jesus, imagine the insects!

               Sublime death for the black widow, butterflies tandem winging afternoon, cicadas twelve year screech, moth legs wriggling through screen door mesh—

                              Would it get to the point where there are more

creatures enraptured than not in any given moment?

               Why aren’t we now?

If you have to ask, she whispered, you don’t deserve to know.

-- Will Kyle

Nicky Rainey Featured Reader in June

Photo by Susan Lively
Nicky Rainey was one of three featured readers at the June reading.

The next reading at Duff's, 392 North Euclid, in the Central West End, on Monday, July 25, will feature Christy Callahan, Sam Davis, and Erin Goss.

Doors open at 7:30 p.m.; admission is $3.

Advance sign-up for the open-mic following the featured readers is encouraged. Click here to sign-up via e-mail.

Antique Swing at June Reading

Photo by Susan Lively.
Antique Swing -- Tom Crammond and Jim Drennan -- provided the musical interludes at the June •chance operations• reading.

They will return to our next reading at Duff's, 392 North Euclid, in the Central West End, on Monday, July 25, with featured readers Christy Callahan, Sam Davis, and Erin Goss.

Doors open at 7:30 p.m.; admission is $3.

Advance sign-up for the open-mic following the featured readers is encouraged. Click here to sign-up via e-mail.

Antique Swing Live at Duff's by Tony Renner

Joe [No Last Name Given] at June Open Mic

Joe [No Last Name Given] was one of fourteen readers who stepped up to the •chance operations• open-mic at the June reading.

The next reading at Duff's, 392 North Euclid, in the Central West End, on Monday, July 25, will feature Christy Callahan, Sam Davis, and Erin Goss.

Doors open at 7:30 p.m.; admission is $3.

Advance sign-up for the open-mic following the featured readers is encouraged.

Sarah Barasch at June Open-Mic

Sarah Barasch was one of fourteen readers who stepped up to the •chance operations• open-mic at the June reading.

The next reading at Duff's, 392 North Euclid, in the Central West End, on Monday, July 25, will feature Christy Callahan, Sam Davis, and Erin Goss.

Doors open at 7:30 p.m.; admission is $3.

Advance sign-up for the open-mic following the featured readers is encouraged. Click here to sign-up via e-mail.

Erin Goss at June Open-Mic

Erin Goss was one of fourteen readers who stepped up to the •chance operations• open-mic at the June reading. Erin will be one of our featured readers in July.

The next reading at Duff's, 392 North Euclid, in the Central West End, on Monday, July 25, will feature Christy Callahan, Sam Davis, and Erin Goss.

Doors open at 7:30 p.m.; admission is $3.

Advance sign-up for the open-mic following the featured readers is encouraged. Click here to sign-up via e-mail.

Chris Parr at June Open-Mic

Chris Parr, •chance operations• co-founder, was one of fourteen readers who stepped up to the •chance operations• open-mic at the June reading.

The next reading at Duff's, 392 North Euclid, in the Central West End, on Monday, July 25, will feature Christy Callahan, Sam Davis, and Erin Goss.

Doors open at 7:30 p.m.; admission is $3.

Advance sign-up for the open-mic following the featured readers is encouraged. Click here to sign-up via e-mail.

Lizzy Petersen at June Open-Mic

Lizzy Petersen was one of fourteen readers who stepped up to the •chance operations• open-mic at the June reading.

The next reading at Duff's, 392 North Euclid, in the Central West End, on Monday, July 25, will feature Christy Callahan, Sam Davis, and Erin Goss.

Doors open at 7:30 p.m.; admission is $3.

Advance sign-up for the open-mic following the featured readers is encouraged. Click here to sign-up via e-mail.

Katerina Canyon at June Open-Mic

Katerina Canyon was one of fourteen readers who stepped up to the •chance operations• open-mic at the June reading.

The next reading at Duff's, 392 North Euclid, in the Central West End, on Monday, July 25, will feature Christy Callahan, Sam Davis, and Erin Goss.

Doors open at 7:30 p.m.; admission is $3.

Advance sign-up for the open-mic following the featured readers is encouraged. Click here to sign-up via e-mail.

Scott Miller at June Open-Mic

Scott Miller was one of fourteen readers who stepped up to the •chance operations• open-mic at the June reading.

The next reading at Duff's, 392 North Euclid, in the Central West End, on Monday, July 25, will feature Christy Callahan, Sam Davis, and Erin Goss.

Doors open at 7:30 p.m.; admission is $3.

Advance sign-up for the open-mic following the featured readers is encouraged. Click here to sign-up via e-mail.

Susan SpitFire Lively at June Open-Mic

Susan SpitFire Lively was one of fourteen readers who stepped up to the •chance operations• open-mic at the June reading.

The next reading at Duff's, 392 North Euclid, in the Central West End, on Monday, July 25, will feature Christy Callahan, Sam Davis, and Erin Goss.

Doors open at 7:30 p.m.; admission is $3.

Advance sign-up for the open-mic following the featured readers is encouraged. Click here to sign-up via e-mail.

Byron Lee at June Open-Mic

Byron Lee was one of fourteen readers who stepped up to the •chance operations• open-mic at the June reading.

The next reading at Duff's, 392 North Euclid, in the Central West End, on Monday, July 25, will feature Christy Callahan, Sam Davis, and Erin Goss.

Doors open at 7:30 p.m.; admission is $3.

Advance sign-up for the open-mic following the featured readers is encouraged. Click here to sign-up via e-mail.

Ben Gillers at June Open-Mic

Ben Gillers was one of fourteen readers who stepped up to the •chance operations• open-mic at the June reading.

The next reading at Duff's, 392 North Euclid, in the Central West End, on Monday, July 25, will feature Christy Callahan, Sam Davis, and Erin Goss.

Doors open at 7:30 p.m.; admission is $3.

Advance sign-up for the open-mic following the featured readers is encouraged. Click here to sign-up via e-mail.

Stephanie Marie at June Open-Mic

Stephanie Marie was one of fourteen readers who stepped up to the •chance operations• open-mic at the June reading.

The next reading at Duff's, 392 North Euclid, in the Central West End, on Monday, July 25, will feature Christy Callahan, Sam Davis, and Erin Goss.

Doors open at 7:30 p.m.; admission is $3.

Advance sign-up for the open-mic following the featured readers is encouraged. Click here to sign-up via e-mail.

Christopher Eilers at June Open-Mic

Christopher Eilers was one of fourteen readers who stepped up to the •chance operations• open-mic at the June reading.

The next reading at Duff's, 392 North Euclid, in the Central West End, on Monday, July 25, will feature Christy Callahan, Sam Davis, and Erin Goss.

Doors open at 7:30 p.m.; admission is $3.

Advance sign-up for the open-mic following the featured readers is encouraged. Click here to sign-up via e-mail.

Julia Gordon Bramer at June Open-Mic

Julia Gordon Bramer was one of fourteen readers who stepped up to the •chance operations• open-mic at the June reading.

The next reading at Duff's, 392 North Euclid, in the Central West End, on Monday, July 25, will feature Christy Callahan, Sam Davis, and Erin Goss.

Doors open at 7:30 p.m.; admission is $3.

Advance sign-up for the open-mic following the featured readers is encouraged. Click here to sign-up via e-mail.

Ode to Dionysus
for Daniel Eberle-Mayse

There is the upsway mood of your tilted grin
turned toward the sky, as you step off the cliff
carefree: to blithely die, or be caught in net
spun from poems and smoke of your cigarettes.

Starting from zero, to the age of major
arcana, you’re stupid with wisdom, danger
from those verbal ecstasies that add the sweet
orgasmic meaning to your crash of defeat.

Among old scratch pencils, asylum minds, down
under the dungeon joys of a dark Boys’ Town,
beside detox junkies, you took the bad rap,
learned flesh’s mistrust, pity, and anger’s trap.

Lying on your metal cot, dog-housed dragons
choked out hot fog, feeding madness and passion
and freeing beat, beaten prison words to work
through the cold concrete shackled feelings that lurked

inside the six- to nine-month long sentences.
Wincing through that death-god’s life, I’m bent in this
wanting to watch over you, a mama moon.
All full silver cold sober; I know you still own

a blue blood throne --and all your pure parts can’t be
sold. At your birth, I decided to live these
clear days awake, as Empress Osmosis, High
Priestess of the Geekfest, Immutable Lie,

Tarot’s Queen of Wands, or maybe, your Sensai,
the one who lived before, now holding you here
as neither lover, nor son. Pupil, so dear
to this centaur. The Greeks wrote you torn alive

by jealous Titans. My pretty boy, you’ve died
already a thousand ugly lives. So, I
thieve your heart to kill redundant suicides,
twice-aborted and yanked out of Zeus’ thigh.

Push backwards, unbirth Homer’s Hymn, and your lies
past pain if it could still leave you with its gifts.
But no, instead I laugh at your self-stamped six-
sixty-six, and adore your half-dancing as

Devil Dionysus, Playful Pan, Bacchus
Boy, Emo Eleusinian Music Man.
The ambiguous truth is that meter falls
apart and I have no rhymes for how to love

someone like you, old ghost-crow present, floating
and electric, cute black hatchling, eclectic
darling, weighing the scales of lizard king.
An ominous omen, owning the moment.

-- Julia Gordon Bramer

Daniel Eberle-Mayse at June Open-Mic

Daniel Eberle-Mayse was one of fourteen readers who stepped up to the •chance operations• open-mic at the June reading. (Daniel will be a featured reader at Duff's on Monday, August 22.)

The next reading at Duff's, 392 North Euclid, in the Central West End, on Monday, July 25, will feature Christy Callahan, Sam Davis, and Erin Goss.

Doors open at 7:30 p.m.; admission is $3.

Advance sign-up for the open-mic following the featured readers is encouraged. Click here to sign-up via e-mail.