Blog

Filter By:

AdvocacyAnalysisBlogCommentaryDramaEssayEventFeatureFictionGraphic NarrativeInterviewMemoirNewsObituaryOpen LetterPoetryPress ReleaseProfile

Browse By Series:

PEN Poetry Series •  Prison WritingThe PEN Ten InterviewsIllustrated PEN • Pen PalsThe PEN World

Browse By Email Subscription:

PEN America NewsEducational Censorship NewsWorks of Justice 

The July Journal

The year 1860 — Today be the first day of July Miss Ellie give me this book to write in. She say her Papa, Master Johnson, buy her six… More

If This Is Serious, Why Am I Laughing?

CAST OF CHARACTERS INDIO...PUERTO RICAN MALE, 25—30, HAS SLIGHT ACCENT, SHORT AND THIN, BEARDBLACK...BLACK MALE, 20, TALL AND MUSCULAR, VERY PHYSICALWHITE...WHITE MALE, 35-40, MEDIUM HEIGHT, GOING BALDGUARD...WHITE FEMALE, 22-24,… More

The Well

“To lust,” he said, saluting me. His fingers trembled as he lifted the paper cups to his lips. Some of the water trickled down his chin.“Ah, lust,” I said,… More

The Role of the Droll Troll

Once upon a time, in the Land of Continuity, there lived a monster of sorts. All the people indigenous to this kingdom knew this alleged creature of the underworld… More

Fairhill Prison

Fairhill PrisonI am sitting here in Fairhill Prison,watching the guards jingle by in their shiny shoes.I am O.K. here,I am secure.I have been classified, collated and rated,fingerprinted, photoed and… More

My Banned Books

Back in the 1970's I wrote a couple of what used to be known as “middle age” novels that were banned in Texas and in West Virginia. They were… More

Reductio ad absurdum

i kissed you from the door to the bedfrom the bed to the bathroom from the bathroomto the kitchen and in the morningyour panties in the refrigerator your stockings in the potyour shoes… More