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Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Look Who's Talking: A Prose Poem in Four Short Short Stories

Exterior. A dusky wood. Night. 
Middle-aged writer Dante Alighieri 
avoids a trio of hungry beasts with 
aid from the Roman poet Virgil. The 
pair argue back and forth as the 
author of the Aeneid finally concedes:
"Oh, alright, alright. YOU tell it." 

Exterior. A river bank. Day. 
Teenage runaway Huckleberry Finn 
eases a small raft into the swift 
current with the aid of fellow fugitive 
Jim, an adult Negro. The pair argue 
back and forth as Miss Watson's field 
hand finally concedes:
"Oh, alright, alright. YOU tell it." 

Interior. The Spouter Inn. Dusk. 
A motley collection of seafarers
surrounds a small table at which 
novice harpoonist Ishmael sits 
opposite an enormous white sperm 
whale. The pair argue back and forth 
as the gigantic leviathan finally 
concedes:
"Oh, alright, alright. YOU tell it." 

Interior. An upper room. Suppertime. 
Jewish preacher Jesus of Nazereth 
celebrates a Passover meal with his 
disciples, including future evangelist 
Luke. The pair argue back and forth 
as the Son of God finally concedes:
"Oh, alright, alright. YOU tell it."

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Look Who's Talking: A Prose Poem in Four Short Short Stories

Exterior. A dusky wood. Night.  Middle-aged writer Dante Alighieri  avoids a trio of hungry beasts with  aid  from the Roman poet Virgil. Th...