I was back in L.A. about a week and a half. It was night. The phone rang. It was Cecelia, she was sobbing. “Hank, Bill is dead. You’re the first one I’ve called.” “I’m so glad you came ...

I went to my place, started drinking. I snapped on the radio and found some classical music. I got my Coleman lantern out of the closet. I turned out the lights and sat playing with the...

the swans drown in bilge water, take down the signs, test the poisons, barricade the cow from the bull,

But there were some good moments. My sometime friend from the neighborhood, Gene, who was a year older than I, had a buddy, Harry Gibson, who had had one professional fight (he’d lost)....

and so we suck on a cigar and a beer attempting to mend the love

I took Tammie. We got there a little early and went to a bar across the street. We got a table. “Now don’t drink too much, Hank. You know how you slur your words and miss your lines whe...

But then it began raining again. The Stone had me out on a thing called Sunday Collection, and if you’re thinking of church, forget it. You picked up a truck at West Garage and a clipbo...

I was hungover again, another heat spell was on—a week of 100 degree days. The drinking went on each night, and in the early mornings and days there was The Stone and the impossibility ...

I’m in bed. it’s morning and I hear: where are your socks? please get dressed!

eating cold plums in bed she told me about the German who owned everything on the block except the custom drapery shop and he tried to buy

of late I’ve had this thought that this country has gone backwards or 5 de cades

it’s the same as before or the other time or the time before that. here’s a cock and here’s a cunt

kool enough to die but not kill I take my doctor’s green pill drink tea as the sharks swim through vases o…