THE LAST MEAL

This year's Last Meal shifted a bit due to us spending an extra day at the ocean due to inclement weather and the wish to avoid driving in it. Plus there was still a bunch of snow and ice on the roads when we arrived back home, so we were economical with our driving and going out.

One of the shifts was not grilling outdoors this year. First, because we had food ready for our meal. Second, I wasn't looking forward to grilling in subfreezing temperatures in the snow.

The Last Meal for The Child was Carrots and Peas, Pasta and Cheese Casserole.

The Last Meal for The Wife was Dungeness Crab.

The Last Meal for TWT was leftover Roast Beast (Prime Rib) and au jus, accompanied by Deschutes Cherries Jubelale.

—

Without the need to grill, however, the Last Flame still needed to make an appearance. So, instead of grilling in the snow and cold, we sat around the flame. In the snow. In the cold. Laughing. Reminiscing. Looking forward. Ready to bid farewell to one year and welcome another.

PACIFIC in BLUE

Pacific Beach meets Pacific Ocean. Sky meets sea. 

Blue is expressed and reflected.

Sunset approaches.

PACIFIC

It was slow driving on 90 miles of compact snow and ice to get here (also known as "white-knuckle bullshit") but ultimately worth it. That was two days ago.

Relaxation. Refreshement. Rejuvenation. 

Pacific Beach. Pacific Ocean.

Dunes and snow and sand and waves and wind.

2021 ADVENT BEER CALENDAR

The fourth six beers of the 2021 Advent Beer Calendar.

—

I enjoyed the 2019 version of this beer calendar, so when I had an opportunity to purchase the 2021 version I didn't hesitate. It's filled with German beer goodness—water, hops, barley, and yeast—and a fun way to celebrate Advent, especially with the continuing cultural complications of COVID. (It's something I can enjoy in the comfort of my own home!) Here are my tasting notes.

1. Zwönitzer Rauchbier. It pours dark brown with a tan head. Smoked and cured meats. Campfire. Charred bark. Roasted malts. Dark chocolate. Cream. Long finish that starts a bit sweet but then goes dry and smoky. Oh, my God, this is fantastic. One of my favorites of the 2019 box.
   
2. Graminger Kirta Dunkles Weissbier. Copper-tinged brown body and an ivory head. Dark fruits. Fig. Caramel. Hint of cloves. Earthiness. Leaves. Hint of red wine. Moves from sweet to dry. It's okay.
   
3. Wittman Urhell. Clear yellow body with a white head. Lemon. Citrus. Grains. Crisp and clean. Good, with a lightly lemony finish.
   
4. Fürst Carl. Hazy golden yellow with a white head. Cloves, butterscotch, leaves, caramel malts. This is very good. Split the can with my dad.
   
5. Schloßbräu Kheder. Super-clear light yellow body with a thin with head. The nose is crisp and clean. The tongue is likewise, with hints of a few flavors—butterscotch, lettuce, a welcomed flavor of which I can't quite place. It's okay, but a bit too vegetal. Split the can with my dad.
6. Kartäuser Doppelbock Dunkel. Coppery dark brown body and a tan head. Broth. Cocoa. Dark fruits. Hints of white pepper and nutmeg. This is very good and a nice finish to the box.
   

2021 ADVENT BEER CALENDAR

The third six beers of the 2021 Advent Beer Calendar.

—

I enjoyed the 2019 version of this beer calendar, so when I had an opportunity to purchase the 2021 version I didn't hesitate. It's filled with German beer goodness—water, hops, barley, and yeast—and a fun way to celebrate Advent, especially with the continuing cultural complications of COVID. (It's something I can enjoy in the comfort of my own home!) Here are my tasting notes.

1. Landgang Pils. Clear light yellow body with a finger-thick white head. Biscuit. Cream. Flower petals. Mustard seed. Tarragon. Pleasant. I like the creaminess.
   
2. Flötzinger Hell auf Rosenheim. Pale yellow body with a thin white head. Hay. Minor leaves. Mostly "meh." There just isn't much here due to lack of flavors.
   
3. Perlenzauber IPA. Clear yellow body with a half-finger-thick white head. Oranges. Candied sugar. Caramel. Some light leafiness. As it warms, there is a bit more leafy bitterness and orange bitterness. This is very different from the other offerings in the box.
   
4. Hohenthanner Schlossbrauerei Blau Weisse. Hazy butter yellow  with two-inch thick white head. Cloves. Hay. Banana bread. Sage. Lemon. Lemon zest. Other spices. Very good and enjoyable. A duplicate of the 2019 box.
   
5. Turbo Prop Imperial Pils. Clear golden-yellow body and creamy white head. Fruity. Caramel. Buttered bread. Light cloves. Candy orange slices. Excellent and complex. As it warms, caramel, orange, and boozy notes increase. Another duplicate of the 2019 box. This is very welcome.
   
6. Bayerisches Vollbier Erl Hell. Clear pale yellow body and a white head. Hay. Faint apples. Leaves. Light coriander. Faint cloves. Good and solid.
   

BONSAI SOLSTICE

Tonight was the annual Bonsai Solstice, the only evening of the year that the Pacific Bonsai Museum is open to the general public. The trails leading from the parking lot to the Museum grounds were lined with luminaries. A few full-size trees and one larger bonsai were adorned in white Christmas lights. A few select bonsai were lit with spotlights. Otherwise, attendees viewed bonsai by flashlight.

It's a magical night during a season of gloomy daylight and long evenings, and an event I look forward to each year. It's also an opportunity to view the bonsai during their winter hibernation, many sans leaves.

REPORT from PLAGUELAND

It was a day of walking and wandering. Across downtown Puyallup, from northeast corner to southwest corner, then catching a portion of the Puyallup Loop Trail, and returning to the beginning. Later, it was a trip down the Riverwalk Trail with the dogs and a stop at my favorite corkscrew willow. By the time evening arrived, I had walked more than eight miles.

KARATE FOOT

Karate kicked my ass this week, in a good way. Good warm-up exercises. Pushed myself on stretches. Was able to do about ten pushups on my knuckles! Broke a couple of boards. Learned the first half of my weapons kata, Tonfa Sho. Was pushed to tighten up my kumite (sparring) by one of the instructors. Came away both nights at the dojo drenched in sweat, muscles burning, body and mind engaged. Practiced on the days I wasn't at the dojo. Somewhere along the way, earned a badge for the week: a tender bruise on the sole of my foot that may turn into a blood blister. And I had a blast the entire time.

ASIAN FUSION

One of my favorite lunches when I work a longer day in the office. "Asian fusion" "charcuterie." Vegetable egg rolls, BBQ pork, baby carrots, and white sticky rice. But what makes it all work are the sauces—hot mustard (Chinese), gochujang (Korean), and mae ploy (Thai). Plus the flavor of lime from the Jarritos soda (Mexico).

2021 ADVENT BEER CALENDAR

The second six beers of the 2021 Advent Beer Calendar.

—

I enjoyed the 2019 version of this beer calendar, so when I had an opportunity to purchase the 2021 version I didn't hesitate. It's filled with German beer goodness—water, hops, barley, and yeast—and a fun way to celebrate Advent, especially with the continuing cultural complications of COVID. (It's something I can enjoy in the comfort of my own home!) Here are my tasting notes.

1. Kurpfalz Bräu Helles. Clear golden body with a thin white skin on top. Hay. Fruitiness. Apples. Faint metallic note. Almost no finish. The first "meh" beer of the box. There just isn't much here.
   
2. Wiener Lager. Exceptionally clear, light yellow body with a thin white skin and bubbles! Hay. Leaves. Herbs. Bit of graham cracker in the back. Faintest hint of leather jacket.Yes! More, please.
   
3. Teisnacher 1543 Festmärzen. Semi-hazy coppery-yellow body with a thick white head. Caramel. Leaves. "Ghost" orange. Sage. Beef broth. Hint of bay leaf. This is complex, shifting, subtle, and welcoming. I imagine it served with beef stew. One of my favorites so far.
   
4. Käuzle German Pilsner. The body is a clear buttery yellow, topped with a thick and creamy white head. Floral. Spicy. Hay. Hints of butterscotch beneath. Cream. There is an attractive creaminess (both in flavor and texture) primarily due to the head.
   
5. Marie Hausbrendel Hell. Clear and bubbly yellow body with a finger-thick white lacy head. Hay. Apples. Some spiciness. Faint yeast. Bit of biscuit. Very sessionable.
   
6. Ladenburger Weizenbock Hell. Hazy yellow-orange body with a white head. Cloves. Orange. Ripe banana. Sage. Thyme. Light raspberries. A bit like banana bread fruitcake. Interesting, intriguing, and inviting. The first duplicate of the 2019 box.
   

2021 ADVENT BEER CALENDAR

The first six beers of the 2021 Advent Beer Calendar.

—

I enjoyed the 2019 version of this beer calendar, so when I had an opportunity to purchase the 2021 version I didn't hesitate. It's filled with German beer goodness—water, hops, barley, and yeast—and a fun way to celebrate Advent, especially with the continuing cultural complications of COVID. (It's something I can enjoy in the comfort of my own home!) Here are my tasting notes.

1. Herrngiersdorf Grantler Hell. Clear, golden, bubbly body with a thin white head. Light fruitiness. Hay. Faint yeast. Refreshing. Clean. Light mouthfeel. Medium finish. An excellent start to the box!
2. Wieninger Hoamat Weissbier. Hazy, melted butter yellow, moderately bubbly body with finger-thick white head. Wheat. Caramel. Light berries. Faint yeast. Good. It's nothing to write home about, but it's nothing to complain about either. I'd drink it again.
3. Egerer Alms Hell. Clear, bubbly, yellow body with a thin white head. Hay. Hint of butterscotch. Fruitiness. Faint yeast. Leafy herbs (especially as it warms). Rather enjoyable.
   
4. Rheder Husaren Trunk. The pour is like a pint of apple juice. Prominent caramel malt notes. Pretzel dough. Herbal leafiness. Prost!
5. Kraftbierwerkstatt Der Schwarze Bock Doppelbock. Clear dark brown body with a thin white head. Dark fruits. Raisins. Figs. Cocoa. Wood bark. Bit of beef broth (as it warms). Good balance of sweet and dry. Like fruitcake in a can.
6. Herrnbrau Zwickl Kellerbier. Hazy, melted butter yellow, body with a finger-thick white head. Lemon. Citrus. Hay. Herbs. Crisp, clean, and refreshing. Mellow and simple. A great selection for the box.

HONEST ADVENT

Today, I start reading Honest Advent by Scott Erickson. It is a collection of twenty-five devotions for Advent, accompanied by original art illustrations. I'm excited for these devotions, as they feel fresh and inviting, focusing upon Mary and some of the feminine aspects of the biblical stories surrounding the birth of Christ—the Annunciation, Mary's pregnancy, the physicality of birth. The art and devotions are very engaging and I'm looking forward to hearing these familiar texts with a new perspective.

FABULOUS FOOT PILGRIMS

Goodman Foot Pilgrim and Goody Foot Pilgrim wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!

HAPPY HAND TURKEY

Happy Hand Turkey to you and yours!

BATTLE at the EDGE

I participated in my first karate tournament. With only four-and-a-half months of a martial arts journey it felt a bit soon, but I was encouraged by my sensei and other students to attend and it was an in-house tournament.

In the adult novice division of "The Battle at the Edge," I took third place in kata (out of three) and first place in kumite. It helps to have a sparring partner at home. The Child also took third in kata and first in kumite in their division.

It was a good and fun day at my first tournament and would have been so even without bringing hardware home.

Watching the black belts compete let me know how far I still have to go and grow on this martial arts journey.

—

I wasn't particularly happy with the results of my kata, but I know the places where I faltered and what I need to work on. Additionally, I didn't fail at it; I just have some areas that I need to polish. I especially need to work on where I place the weight during my back stance and making sure that my knife hand block (shuto uke) is strong. 

I was pleasantly surprised with my sparring. I tried out different techniques to see what worked best and discovered that some of those were hand techniques. I wasn't sure that I would be able to land some of the strikes I did, but apparently I was quicker than my opponent enough times to win the match. I see a lot of practice in my future, but it was a morale boost to take first place.

REPORT from PLAGUELAND

I have severe cedar allergies. Hanging over my back yard, but residing in my neighbor's yard, is a beautiful Western Red Cedar. Late fall and early winter is its favored time to pollinate. Another such tree sits outside my office window at work. For the past few days, I was suffering as my body once again attempted to adjust to trees that were doing what they were made to do.

But I also needed to be out in the world. At work. In the karate dojo for practice. At a karate tournament. I needed to be certain that it was indeed allergies and not COVID, so an at-home test it was. Fortunately, it was negative.

NEW JERUSALEM WELCOMES HER KING

"New Jerusalem Welcomes Her King," acrylic paint and papercut paint chip samples on cropped and colored photograph, 2021, by Troy Kehm-Goins. Photograph, 2020, by Jacob Bentzinger, via Unsplash.

And in the spirit he carried me away to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. It has the glory of God and a radiance like a very rare jewel, like jasper, clear as crystal. It has a great, high wall with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates are inscribed the names of the twelve tribes of the Israelites; on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city has twelve foundations, and on them are the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. The angel who talked to me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width; and he measured the city with his rod, fifteen hundred miles; its length and width and height are equal. He also measured its wall, one hundred forty-four cubits by human measurement, which the angel was using. The wall is built of jasper, while the city is pure gold, clear as glass. The foundations of the wall of the city are adorned with every jewel; the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. And the twelve gates are twelve pearls, each of the gates is a single pearl, and the street of the city is pure gold, transparent as glass. I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. —REVELATION 21:10-23 

A piece of art to celebrate the end of the church year, Christ the King.

THE WAY of the EMPTY HANDS

I've been reading about the philosophy and wisdom that underlies the physical and material components of karate-do, "the way of empty hands." I'm seeking the concepts and ideas that underpin the practice in the dojo—how the kihon (basics), kata (forms), and kumite (sparring) are knit together.



Bushido: The Samurai Code of Japan by Inazo Nitobe is an attempt by a scion of a well-known line of samurai to bridge cultures. It examines the seven foundational precepts of bushido, "the way of the warrior"—justice, courage, benevolence, respect, sincerity, honor, and loyalty—and their similarities and differences to their counterparts in the West. It's an especially interesting read as Nitobe, who was a practicing Quaker, is well-versed not only in Zen Buddhism and Shinto, but also Christianity and classic texts of Western culture (the Greeks, Shakespeare, and the like).

—

Karate: The Art of "Empty Hand" Fighting by Hidetaka Nishiyama and Richard C. Brown provides a layout of the core principles and pieces of what constitutes karate. It covers the history of karate; basic stances, strikes, blocks, and kicks; how such techniques combine in kata and kumite; and various types of self-defense. I'm especially intrigued by the "family trees" that show how various hand techniques, foot techniques, stances, and postures relate to one another.

My favorite passage that I've encountered so far is the following: "This speedy block [knife-hand block, shuto-uke] is a technique unique to karate. It is used in a wide range of situations, mainly to defend against an attack to the solar plexus. However, beginners often experience difficulty in performing it properly." I can confirm that last line!

—

So the journey, even though it has just begun, continues. The path widens and lengthens a bit, even as some of the landscape starts to appear as familiar. I notice a few landmarks that I remember from my college days. I hope they help to guide me.

INKTOPODES of INKTOBER

Troy's Work Table participated in the "classic version" of Inktober 2021. I started on time, but finished a few days late. Some of the themes were challenging to figure out how to incorporate within the mythology of the Inktopodes but I didn't let that stop me. I just needed some extra time to sit with themes such as pressure, tick, leak and figure out how I wanted to illustrate them as small cephalopods.

ALL HALLOWS EVE

Happy Halloween from Mortimer.

SIX IPAs of SUMMER

These were six of my favorite IPAs of summer.

—

G'Knight, an Imperial Red India Pale Ale by Oskar Blues Brewery.

12 ounce bottle served in a pint glass.

8.7% abv.

The pour is a hazy orange-red body, with an off-white head.

The nose is beery, biscuity, and citrusy.

The tongue is biscuit, butterscotch, candied orange, malts, and the faintest hint of cherry cordials.

It has a medium mouthfeel, but with a "thick bite" to it. Medium finish. The high alcohol content is hidden rather well. This is excellent.

—

Bubble Wrap, a Hazy IPA by Crux Fermentation Project.

12 ounce bottle served in a pint glass.

6.2% abv.

The pour is a hazy, buttery yellow body and half-finger-thick white head.

The nose is apricot and tropical fruits.

The tongue is bitter papaya, tangerine, flower petals, and a faint hint of butterscotch. There's also a bit of both lemon and wheat lurking in the background, which become slightly more prominent as it warms.

The mouthfeel and finish are medium. Bitter fruit flavors fade, leaving more butterscotch candy. This IPA also dries a bit on the finish. Out of the six, I think of this ale as the "champagne" of the bunch.

—

Slide Tackle, a Hazy IPA by Pelican Brewing. It's also a collaboration with the Portland Thorns FC.

12 ounce bottle served in a pint glass.

6.7% abv.

The pour is like melted butter (hazy gold) with a white head.

The nose is berries and orange.

The tongue is berries, mango, orange, bitter leaves. 

The mouthfeel is medium. The finish is fairly short. This has a fruity essence and is quite enjoyable. It was an excellent beer that accompanied me to a couple of Cannon Beach campfires near Haystack Rock.

—

Beak Breaker, a Double IPA by Pelican Brewing.

12 ounce bottle served in a pint glass.

9.0% abv.

The pour is a hazy butter yellow body with a finger-thick white head.

The nose is citrus, both orange and lemon.

The tongue is bitter orange and then some extra bitterness.

The mouthfeel is medium with a long bitter finish. It's bitter goodness and then some. The higher alcohol content is masked.

—

IPA, an India Pale Ale by Buoy Beer Company.

12 ounce bottle served in a pint glass.

7.5% abv.

The pour is a translucent golden-orange body and an off-white head.

The nose is bright, citrus, berries.

The tongue is malty, biscuits, bitter orange, and orange peel.

The mouthfeel is medium. The finish is long and bitter and lingers for quite some time. Can you say orange zest? This is a good solid IPA.

—

Mel's Magic IPA, an IPA by Iron Horse Brewery.

12 ounce bottle served in a pint glass.

6.8% abv.

The pour is a translucent golden-orange body with a thin white head.

The nose is orange and butterscotch.

The tongue is orange, orange peel, light butterscotch, and bitterness. But it's "baby bear" bitterness: in other words, just right.

The mouthfeel is medium. The finish is medium, with bitter orange diminishing into butterscotch. This is my current "go to" IPA and likely will be for quite some time. Excellent.

YELLOW BELT

This afternoon, I tested for my first belt rank advancement in Shotokan Karate. I passed! Now I take what I have learned so far as a white belt karateka and build upon it as I wear my newly earned yellow belt (and the rank of 8th kyu).

In the dojo to which I belong, for each belt rank advancement, we have to earn eight stripes—techniques (kihon), knowledge, kata (forms), drills, versatility (weapons), kumite (sparring), self-defense, and momentum. For techniques, I had to know three basic stances and three basic blocks. For knowledge, I had to know how to properly tie my obi (belt), the meaning of basic terms related to starting class (yoi, kiotsuke, rei, yame), and how and why we bow into (and out of) the dojo. The kata I needed to learn was Taikyoku Shodan. The drill set was an offense-and-defense combination performed with a partner—an upper strike to the head on offense countered by a rising block on defense. The weapon I needed to know about and how to use was the yawara stick (also known as a kubotan). I had to know a simple sparring combo—a backhanded strike to the temple immediately followed by a lunge punch to the solar plexus. I had to know a series of five ways to break free of a wrist grab for self-defense. Finally, I had to perform a squatting backward fall for momentum.

Some of these came easy to me. For instance, I quickly earned the knowledge, self-defense, and momentum stripes. Some stripes were more challenging. I struggled to learn the choreography of the kata. I had to slowly learn the components, thinking through them carefully, and then likewise learn to not think about the moves. I found shuto uke (knife hand block) confounded me for the longest time. In fact, it still does a bit.

I have found karate classes to be something that I look forward to attending each week. I enjoy the physicality and the exercise. I am tolerating the camaraderie. I get the chance to challenge both my mind and body, and then figure out how to use them together to work through the "puzzles" of this martial art.

—

I only have 80 more stripes to earn (10 more belt ranks to earn, since two of the kyu share belts) before achieving my first dan black belt. (Then there are nine more dan levels of black belts that follow!) 

This yellow belt is a baby step in my martial arts journey, but I'm not focused too far into the future. I've chosen to live in the now and enjoy what I'm doing.

O CONSTANT WATCH

"O Constant Watch," Montana BLACK spray paint, acrylic paint, India ink, art marker, and pencil on 4" x 6" recycled cardboard postcard.

One of the cards I sent out as part of my "O Eschaton" series of poems for the 2021 Poetry Postcard Fest.

—

O CONSTANT WATCH

O Constant Watch, the all-seeing eye
of red-light cameras and solar-powered

speed information displays
ATM electronic beams

and grocery store self-checkout video.
Smile! Slow! Status quo!

A miniature drone peers
in your bedroom window

to catch glimpses of naked flesh
or one of your online passwords.

Rise up! Resist! Rebel!
“I’m sorry, Dave. I’m afraid I can’t do that.”

—

All artwork and poems by Troy Kehm-Goins © 2021 Troy's Work Table Publishing.

O GREAT EXPECTATIONS

"O Great Expectations," Montana BLACK spray paint, art marker, and India ink on 4" x 6" recycled cardboard postcard.

One of the cards I sent out as part of my "O Eschaton" series of poems for the 2021 Poetry Postcard Fest.

—

O GREAT EXPECTATIONS

O Great Expectations of a constant homeland
clinging to cardinal points of the compass

as the magnetic pole shifts
as our makeshift tents collapse

under the weight of carbon fiber footprints
under the weight of wielded batons—

we found our refugee camp
and dreamed of what it could entail

learned the history of this new nation
so that we could join its ranks.

—

All artwork and poems by Troy Kehm-Goins © 2021 Troy's Work Table Publishing.

O HYAKU of ONE-HUNDRED EMPTY HANDS

"O Hyaku of One-Hundred Empty Hands," Montana BLACK spray paint, papercut YUPO Translucent watercolor paper, acrylic paint, India ink, and art marker on 4" x 6" recycled cardboard postcard.

One of the cards I sent out as part of my "O Eschaton" series of poems for the 2021 Poetry Postcard Fest.

—

O HYAKU of ONE-HUNDRED EMPTY HANDS

O Hyaku of One-Hundred Empty Hands
seeking out pinion points and destruction of wings

you single-handedly defeated a legion of angels
in their attempt to seize heaven’s throne

and in the ever-present heat wave
the drought of these days

the aroma of Himalayan blackberries
roasting on their thirsty vines

rises from your flesh as incense
as offering as libation as epitaph.

—

All artwork and poems by Troy Kehm-Goins © 2021 Troy's Work Table Publishing.

OMNIPOLLO FATAMORGANA

Omnipollo Decuple (10x) Dry-Hopped (on Nelson Sauvin hops) Fatamorgana Quadruple India Pale Ale. 1 pint. 12% abv.

Fruity Pebbles, pineapple, papaya, mango, biscuits, butterscotch, orange juice bitterness, white wine, hint of alcohol burn.

$8 for 16 ounces. Was it worth it? It was good, but not worth 50¢ per ounce.

—

There seems to be a new style of brewer that is getting a lot of attention. It's the "nomadic brewer." At one point, they were few and far between. Evil Twin Brewing (brewer Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergsø) of Denmark being one of the best known. But now there seem to be more and more of these nomadic brewers.

Omnipollo is not only a nomadic brewery, but the duo consists of a brewer and a graphic designer. So, the design of the cans seems to be as important as what is inside. There is obviously a lot of thought and care that goes into their work, but is is style over substance. Does something really need to be dry-hopped ten times? It justifies the eight-dollar price tag, I'm sure, but I'm not sure that I would be able to tell the difference between double dry-hopping and decuple dry-hopping.

While it was a fun experiment for me, I'd rather have a six-pack of a favorite beer, such as an Iron Horse Mel's Magic IPA. For about the same price.

O GRIEVOUS PICKLE PANTS

"O Grievous Pickle Pants," Montana BLACK spray paint, art marker, and acrylic paint on 4" x 6" recycled cardboard postcard.

One of the cards I sent out as part of my "O Eschaton" series of poems for the 2021 Poetry Postcard Fest.

—

O GRIEVOUS PICKLE PANTS

O Grievous Pickle Pants (yes, I named it)
of the Western Lands (yes, you claimed it)

you polished your jar to a crystal shine
as it glittered with the dense brine within.

What sweet dreams will we savor together?
What outposts will we flavor forever?

You have nine circles of afterlife to fill
with denizens collected from various planes

of existence, whether known or unknown,
imagined or realized, deflated or firm.

Know this: even if it never works out in the end
it doesn’t matter, sings the forgetfulness…

—

All artwork and poems by Troy Kehm-Goins © 2021 Troy's Work Table Publishing.

O PILLAR of SMOKE by DAY

"O Pillar of Smoke by Day," Montana BLACK spray paint, art marker, and acrylic paint on 4" x 6" recycled postcard.

One of the cards I sent out as part of my "O Eschaton" series of poems for the 2021 Poetry Postcard Fest.

—

O PILLAR of SMOKE by DAY

A thin layer of smudge films
all of the window glass in the house

when O Pillar of Smoke by Day appears.

The cloud comes from a cleansing fire
that devours all in its path—

thousand-year-old redwoods
as well as upstart saplings and underbrush

animal carcasses and fleeing bodies
residences and habitations

asphalt and vinyl siding and aluminum
tires and teddy bear and televisions—

an appetite of divine provenance.

—

All artwork and poems by Troy Kehm-Goins © 2021 Troy's Work Table Publishing.

O TWILIGHT

"O Twilight," Montana BLACK spray paint, papercut paint chip sample, acrylic paint, and art marker on 4" x 6" recycled cardboard postcard.

One of the cards I sent out as part of my "O Eschaton" series of poems for the 2021 Poetry Postcard Fest.

—

O TWILIGHT

wildfires beget wildflowers
sprouting out of charred death

while we are refracted in amber light
marbled in smoke beneath a red sun

speak to us O Twilight
of an earlier age—

a moist age, a green age, of foliage
and folly and an age of leisure

rather than of labor to live
and little time to love another

—

All artwork and poems by Troy Kehm-Goins © 2021 Troy's Work Table Publishing.

O VULGAR LANGUAGE

"O Vulgar Language," Montana BLACK spray paint and iridescent calligraphy ink on 4" x 6" recycled cardboard postcard.

One of the cards I sent out as part of my "O Eschaton" series of poems for the 2021 Poetry Postcard Fest.

—

O VULGAR LANGUAGE

O Vulgar Language, cursed and uncouth
failure of diplomacy—

languid and loose become
tense and cutting—

clinging to our teeth
with moist and dank phrases—

return to your roots
branch out with new life

speak a grammar of hope
spore a new world.

—

All artwork and poems by Troy Kehm-Goins © 2021 Troy's Work Table Publishing.

O GRAPES of WRATH

"O Grapes of Wrath," Montana BLACK spray paint, papercut paint chip sample, and art marker on 4" x 6" recycled cardboard postcard.

One of the cards I sent out as part of my "O Eschaton" series of poems for the 2021 Poetry Postcard Fest.

—

O GRAPES of WRATH

O Grapes of Wrath
gift of land rescinded—

once granted to use
but never to own

stewardship entrusted
to you and I, one and all

abuse not allowed
prohibited—

except that we chose
bigger barns.

—

All artwork and poems by Troy Kehm-Goins © 2021 Troy's Work Table Publishing.

O MYTHIC MOTH

"O Mythic Moth," Montana BLACK spray paint, cardboard, and India ink on 4" x 6" recycled cardboard postcard.

One of the cards I sent out as part of my "O Eschaton" series of poems for the 2021 Poetry Postcard Fest.

—

O MYTHIC MOTH

O Mythic Moth, holy and firm
you burn incandescent

a beacon of the Ages
warm and welcoming

mystical and mysterious
a constellation transformed

from a cluster of stars
to an unclenched heart

from a glimpse of wings
to a flutter of fabric

ephemeral markings against the wall
outlined in the dust of your life.

(all apologies to Annie Dillard!)

—

All artwork and poems by Troy Kehm-Goins © 2021 Troy's Work Table Publishing.

O DIMINISHING LIGHT

"O Diminishing Light," Montana BLACK spray paint, art marker, acrylic paint, and mica powder on 4" x 6" recycled cardboard postcard.

One of the cards I sent out as part of my "O Eschaton" series of poems for the 2021 Poetry Postcard Fest.

—

O DIMINISHING LIGHT

O Diminishing Light, as the sun sinks
below the horizon at the ocean’s edge—

sunset, dusk, twilights three—
civil, nautical, and astronomical—

before night arrives and only soft light
from glowing embers of the beach fire

and faint starlight remain—
earth and heaven attempting to keep

the darkness muted and muzzled
while a group of youth listen to electronic

Indi-pop and laugh and drink
in the sand near the scrub pine and dunes.

—

All artwork and poems by Troy Kehm-Goins © 2021 Troy's Work Table Publishing.

O THEOTOKOS

"O Theotokos," Montana BLACK spray paint, acrylic paint, art marker, and iridescent calligraphy ink on 4" x 6" recycled cardboard postcard.

One of the cards I sent out as part of my "O Eschaton" series of poems for the 2021 Poetry Postcard Fest.

—

O THEOTOKOS

O Theotokos, bearer of God
creation and cosmos clasped at your breast

robed in the blue sky—
cerulean by day and ultramarine by night

spangled with constellations of stars
celestial crown announcing

both your glory
and the burden you bear—

a Pietá of galactic proportions
and entropic stellar form.

—

All artwork and poems by Troy Kehm-Goins © 2021 Troy's Work Table Publishing.

O OBFUSCATION

"O Obfuscation," Montana BLACK spray paint, papercut painted cardboard, and art marker on 4" x 6" recycled cardboard postcard.

One of the cards I sent out as part of my "O Eschaton" series of poems for the 2021 Poetry Postcard Fest.

—

O OBFUSCATION

O Obfuscation, rice paper screen madness
with your shadow puppet pageantry
and Vaseline-smeared camera lens—

will you let us glimpse the paths
of our own meanderings
or would you rather we simply arrive

out of breath… flailing… floundering?

—

All artwork and poems by Troy Kehm-Goins © 2021 Troy's Work Table Publishing.

O HEART of HEARTS

"O Heart of Hearts," art marker and India ink on 4" x 6" recycled cardboard postcard.

One of the cards I sent out as part of my "O Eschaton" series of poems for the 2021 Poetry Postcard Fest.

—

O HEART of HEARTS

O Heart of Hearts
blessed and blood crossed

veins and arteries
oxygenated and starved—

drop a phat beat
of drum-and-bass pleasure

pulsation     cessation
resuscitation

to keep the party going
to strive on.

—

All artwork and poems by Troy Kehm-Goins © 2021 Troy's Work Table Publishing.

O OXBOW

"O Oxbow," Montana BLACK spray paint and papercut paint chip sample on 4" x 6" recycled cardboard postcard.

One of the cards I sent out as part of my "O Eschaton" series of poems for the 2021 Poetry Postcard Fest.

—

O OXBOW

What a bend in the river
you are, O Oxbow—

a channel     a plan
reconfiguration

layer upon layer
accretion of soils and clay

ever shifting banks
and roiling rapids.

We think we can contain
you within dikes and chutes

knowing all too well
your yearn to curve.

—

All artwork and poems by Troy Kehm-Goins © 2021 Troy's Work Table Publishing.

O ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

"O Enough Is Enough," India ink and iridescent calligraphy ink on 4" x 6" watercolor postcard.

One of the cards I sent out as part of my "O Eschaton" series of poems for the 2021 Poetry Postcard Fest.

—

O ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

We scream: O Enough Is Enough
referring to this particular Year of Our Lord

Anno Domini Twenty Twenty-One
annus horribilis and best forgotten—

with its parade of biblical plagues
and unwelcomed proportions—

drought and wildfire, hurricane and riot
insurrection and political maneuverings.

We are ready for a hard reboot
planted in the good soil of hope

seed and prayer that unfurl
into a new branch on the Tree of Life.

—

All artwork and poems by Troy Kehm-Goins © 2021 Troy's Work Table Publishing.

O MANNA from HEAVEN

"O Manna from Heaven," Montana BLACK spray paint, papercut paint chip sample, acrylic paint, and art marker on 4" x 6" recycled cardboard postcard.

One of the cards I sent out as part of my "O Eschaton" series of poems for the 2021 Poetry Postcard Fest.

—

O MANNA from HEAVEN

O Manna from Heaven, dew dropped
and stone backed in desert sunshine—

cakes provided for the prophets
nourishment for the birds of the fields.

No sparrow shall hunger
the ravens will serve without pause

those stranded in the wilderness
the haunted places of gloried days.

The refugee shall receive
and be lifted up as honored guest.

—

All artwork and poems by Troy Kehm-Goins © 2021 Troy's Work Table Publishing.

O WORD GOLEM

"O Word Golem," India ink and iridescent calligraphy ink on 4" x 6" recycled cardboard postcard.

One of the cards I sent out as part of my "O Eschaton" series of poems for the 2021 Poetry Postcard Fest.

—

O WORD GOLEM

O Word Golem, built of ideogrammatic bricks
the masonry of a good story—

phrases, sentences, paragraphs
chapters, novellas, full-fledged tomes

and once fully maturated
a proper magnum opus—

roars against the illiteracy of the age
created to defend libraries and colleges

all while keeping the safe word
its Achilles heel

hidden deep within its own pages
so that it cannot be spoken or erased.

—

All artwork and poems by Troy Kehm-Goins © 2021 Troy's Work Table Publishing.

O HARPY of HARPIES

"O Harpy of Harpies," Montana BLACK spray paint, art marker, and acrylic ink on 4" x 6" watercolor postcard.

One of the cards I sent out as part of my "O Eschaton" series of poems for the 2021 Poetry Postcard Fest.

—

O HARPY of HARPIES

O Harpy of Harpies, cherubim and seraphim
Ezekiel’s wheel rolling across the heavens

thunderstruck, Valkyrie, Day of the Lord
your names and manner of appearance

mysterious, manifold, and varied
yet still you manage to arrive

accompanied by trumpet song
armed with a pitched fever

taloned, barbed, feather-winged
“Do not be afraid” a declaration

easy to ignore and overlook
as you begin your celestial hymn—

hallelujah and alleluia and aleluya
amen and amen and so shall it be.

—

All artwork and poems by Troy Kehm-Goins © 2021 Troy's Work Table Publishing.

O JAZZ-SCENTED MIDNIGHT

"O Jazz-Scented Midnight," Montana BLACK spray paint, art marker, and iridescent calligraphy ink on 4" x 6" watercolor postcard.

One of the cards I sent out as part of my "O Eschaton" series of poems for the 2021 Poetry Postcard Fest.

—

O JAZZ-SCENTED MIDNIGHT

O Jazz-Scented Midnight
with warm waves of your hair

cascading over my half-slumber
as you shift scale and tempo—

I embrace your sax-squawk
unlike the thousand unwelcomed

paper cut changes of each
day to day grind—

for here in the soft night dream
is artistry improv heartbeat hope.

—

All artwork and poems by Troy Kehm-Goins © 2021 Troy's Work Table Publishing.

O TRAPPED by CIRCUMSTANCES

"O Trapped by Circumstances," Montana BLACK spray paint, art marker, acrylic paint, and acrylic ink on 4" x 6" watercolor postcard.

One of the cards I sent out as part of my "O Eschaton" series of poems for the 2021 Poetry Postcard Fest.

—

O TRAPPED by CIRCUMSTANCES

O Trapped by Circumstances
brooding and melancholy
abandoned to sacrifice upon the altar
of the convenience of others

rise up with mournful heartfelt song
raise your fist, stand up and shout
speak your name and your cause
shake off the shackles binding your limbs

for you are alive and vibrant
the melody and harmony
that all need to hear ringing
an echo and an echo and a half.

—

All artwork and poems by Troy Kehm-Goins © 2021 Troy's Work Table Publishing.

O WORMWOOD

"O Wormwood," Montana BLACK spray paint, art marker, acrylic paint on 4" x 6" watercolor postcard.

One of the cards I sent out as part of my "O Eschaton" series of poems for the 2021 Poetry Postcard Fest.

—

O WORMWOOD

O Wormwood mixed with gall
a foretaste of the famine to come

a descent, a fall from the starred heavens
space and time buckling beneath your wait

your delay, your deus absconditus—
the watchfires of the beacons will be lit

once more and then again
night upon night without moon

without constellations with which
to navigate our way back to you.

—

All artwork and poems by Troy Kehm-Goins © 2021 Troy's Work Table Publishing.

O GREAT UNCERTAINTY

"O Great Uncertainty," Montana BLACK spray paint and papercut paint chip sample on 4" x 6" watercolor postcard.

One of the cards I sent out as part of my "O Eschaton" series of poems for the 2021 Poetry Postcard Fest.

—

O GREAT UNCERTAINTY

Once upon a wobbling moon
once upon a sunny day flood of epic proportion

we turned to you, O Great Uncertainty,
seeking confidence that we ourselves greatly lack:

once in a lifetime, the hundred-year event
became an occurrence every five or seven years

and you merely shrugged your metaphorical shoulders,
drew in the vapor of the stratosphere

and exhaled in a soft wind
that became monsoon, typhoon, hurricane.

—

All artwork and poems by Troy Kehm-Goins © 2021 Troy's Work Table Publishing.

O MOTHERBOARD

"O Motherboard," Montana BLACK spray paint, iridescent calligraphy ink, and papercut paint chip sample on 4" x 6" watercolor postcard.

One of the cards I sent out as part of my "O Eschaton" series of poems for the 2021 Poetry Postcard Fest.

—

O MOTHERBOARD

We lived online while the real world atrophied
once-conditioned muscle now weakened

and feared lost, O Motherboard.
Will you guide us back to the tangible—

our daily bread and forgivable flesh,
filled with familiar calamities,

mass extinctions, protests, and failings
the things of this life whose glimmer

was eclipsed by the neon-night trappings
of your proffered golden calf lifeware?

—

All artwork and poems by Troy Kehm-Goins © 2021 Troy's Work Table Publishing.

O ESCHATON

"O Eschaton," Montana BLACK spray paint, papercut paint chip sample, papercut adhesive labels, art marker, and India ink on 4" x 6" watercolor postcard.

One of the cards I sent out as part of my "O Eschaton" series of poems for the 2021 Poetry Postcard Fest.

—

O ESCHATON

At the end of the age,
all creation will cry out, O Eschaton

and after the last echoes die out
the carrion birds and rats will move in

and when in their turn they perish
they will be replaced by the cockroaches

who will finally have their day to rule
upon the “King of the Mountain” rubbish pile

Gregor Samsa and Archy will sit sipping tea
in the concrete and steel shells

where you and I once sat
where you and I once danced and sang.

—

All artwork and poems by Troy Kehm-Goins © 2021 Troy's Work Table Publishing.

O BECKONING SHORE

"O Beckoning Shore," Montana BLACK spray paint, papercut paint chip sample, and iridescent calligraphy ink on 4" x 6" watercolor postcard.

One of the cards I sent out as part of my "O Eschaton" series of poems for the 2021 Poetry Postcard Fest.

—

O BECKONING SHORE

O Beckoning Shore, ever-shifting line
separating sand from sea

calling the prophets from their homelands
as refugees to proclaim judgment.

Hiding the reefs and shoals that bite
at the hulls of ships, snack on rudders—

testing the likes of the Apostle Paul
with shipwreck upon shipwreck

in attempts to carve our new histories
from the oceans of old.

—

All artwork and poems by Troy Kehm-Goins © 2021 Troy's Work Table Publishing.

O TREE of LIFE

"O Tree of Life," Montana BLACK spray paint and papercut paint chip sample on 4" x 6" watercolor postcard.

One of the cards I sent out as part of my "O Eschaton" series of poems for the 2021 Poetry Postcard Fest.

—

O TREE of LIFE

O Tree of Life, roadmap to the various worlds
legend of leaves and branches and ripened fruits

to guide the way between the nether roots
and the heavenly canopies—

history meets topography in rings and burls
treasures of barked geographies—

yet fire and drought and clouded desert skies
threaten our journey

stifle our progress once fueled
by the sticky sap of sugared stems.

Will we now chart a new course
compass forward into a forest of dream?

—

All artwork and poems by Troy Kehm-Goins © 2021 Troy's Work Table Publishing.