a black and white world
color dissolves into space
ever since you left
Author: zdunno03
eating Chinese food in Istanbul: for Rita Wu
Since I’ve reposted my hamburger piece, I thought I might share again my take on Chinese food in Istanbul.
so far
it’s pretty far
from what I call
Chinese food
and Rita,
if you think take-out in NY
is junk Chinese food
wait till you try what’s here
it’s almost as bad
as that place outside Denver
remember?
the Silk Road started
or ended here
depending on one’s perspective
but Chinese food
has yet to arrive
on what passes for hamburgers in Turkey
Once again just because I had a hamburger tonight on the way back from visiting with Ali Esmen and, well, this is still very, very appropriate. I also might add that Paul does not teach at Istanbul University any longer (by his choice, I might add), Tunc no longer goes out with Seyhan, the bar Baris and I drank at no longer exists, and the owner of the cafe below Space Debris Art has given up trying to duplicate the famous NY bagel. But they still put ketchup & mayo on the table with pizza. Sigh.
Now I want to make it clear from the beginning that I am not a culinary snob or hung up on American cuisine which, as most people born somewhere else, seem to think is exemplified by the hamburger and hot dog (though the hot dog, or frankfurter, is actually German in origin but I must admit I am a bit of a snob when it comes to them but I’ll leave that for some other post). Hamburgers, though, should be judged by an objective panel who understands what constitutes the basic ingredients: ground beef, a bun, and ketchup, pickles and/onions optional.
So anyway, I’ve had 3 hamburgers now in 8 days here, which is a record for me since I didn’t eat 3 hamburgers in 8 days while living in the US, but that’s besides the point. The point here, or at least the one I’m trying to make in…
View original post 1,061 more words
on reading
oft times
there’s just me and a book
who’s an old
or maybe a new
friend
a glass of wine
the ceiling fan turning
the cat sleeping on the back
of my chair
and that’s all I need
that’s enough
on change: a tanka
days will pass away
change will come with the seasons
time does not stand still
life takes on its own rhythm
and peace will finally reign
Ben Franklin on freedom of speech
Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing freeness of speech.
Ben Franklin on second chances at life
I have no objection to a repetition of my life from its beginning, only asking the advantages authors have in a second edition–to correct its faults.
lifting a burden
coming home late
after a stop at The Belfast
to my own bottle of Irish
and thoughts of yesterday
today
hope for tomorrow
I toast the ghosts
hovering in corners
ice cubes bump shoulders
the overhead fan twirls
I take another book
from the shelf
there my friends from China
a tavern apart
and 1300 years
much to discuss
lifting a burden
from deep in the heart
Confucius on the character of leaders: from Book 8 of The Analects
The Master said, If a man has gifts as wonderful as those of the Duke of Chou, yet is arrogant and mean, all the rest is of no account.
translated by Arthur Waley
November’s chill: Turkey, the third of November, 2015
with no sweater
in my closet
to ward off
the chill
in my bones
Leonard Durso 