Elected Executive Director of Beyond Baroque in 2010, Richard Modiano is a writer, curator, and editor. In 2007 he produced Beyond Baroque’s “On the Road” 50th Anniversary marathon reading and 2009 he produced the marathon reading and panel discussion of“William Burroughs’ Naked Lunch at 50.” He has been a member of the Industrial Workers of the World since 1974.
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At the Subway Station
A young man approaching and a woman, turning her back on him without a word, and going out to the sidewalk A man in a sudden outburst of anger at a woman who appears to have come late for their date A group of girl students, each hand in hand with a friend, their free hands separately hailing a taxi A plump middle-aged woman approaching with rapid mincing steps Every face looking totally intent on some immediate intimate aim What I noticed coming from the death bed of my brother
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謎々(Nazonazo)
A Bar in Hiroshima
A girl bar with red neon, called “Riddle” The young woman took a seat on the bar stool next to me “Nihongo wa diajoubu?” she asked me “Ee, diajoubu yo” A blast of cool air chilled the sweat on my face and carried her scent She smelled good but I noticed the mamasan behind the bar Why did she name the bar “Riddle”? The mamasan answers, “It sounds exotic and it seems to pose a question about life” She was eight when the bomb killed her mother and sister— She still carries scars from the glass that slashed her body Hiroshima City August 7 2005
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At the Rainbow Bar & Grill
Sitting in the upstairs bar of the Rainbow next to a good looking woman waiting for my friends— The bar tender isn’t bad looking either—I like her lipstick— The good looking woman wears no make-up but her fingernails are long and red— She drinks a glass of red wine— The bartender sets a glass and a bottle of mineral water before me— The good looking woman says, “Whatcha writin’?” She has smooth ebony skin, straight shoulder-length black hair parted down the middle, brown eyes under long lashes— “I’m drafting an article for my private newspaper” “Yeah? Where’s it published?” “In my mind” She touched my ring finger with her index finger and stroked it with her red painted nail— “No wedding ring?” “No wedding ring” She smiled— My friends arrived, my girlfriend arrived and I gripped my glass with my left hand— I got up and greeted my friends and put my arm around my girlfriend— The good looking woman slid off the barstool walked over to me and pulled my sleeve so I leaned toward her and she whispered in my ear, “Relationships, such a ball and chain” “Yes, you have a nice night too”
(Author photo by Alexis Rhone Fancher)