John Parker Oughton
I am a poet, literary journalist and aspiring mystery writer.

John Parker Oughton's Writings

View John’s Books | Read John’s other writings below.

Poem Apr.06.2009 The Influence of Dreams on Waking Life Published by: Here Arise Waking, I trail a skin of dreams like a caul, contrail I am the sniper – crosshairs aligned on the joy of a clean kill rainbow-scaled, I fight my way up the ladder flying is only walking with more will I am the wise child, lost man with breasts, knee-length beard, new needs dogged, fur pelts forth I lie cat-kin along possibility’s wall From this... Continue Reading »	Short Story Mar.26.2009 Over Driven Published by: Story Wars Driving too fast was dangerous, politically incorrect, and he loved it. Nothing else so well shook out the mental and physical kinks of a week at the office. This was his Sunday morning ritual, his obeisance at the Altar of the great God Speed -- a couple of hours up and down the mountain roads leading away from his town. Depending on the season, the road usually... Continue Reading »
Poem Mar.26.2009 Chocolate Published by: Blogspot Cream of the cocoa bean slidesalong the tongue like lover's privatest partand then lights little love fires alongthe bayous of the brain but love it is I lack so I cover myself hair to toenailsin an armour of cracking chocolate andwalk outside. Everyone wants me now,even the bears, their shag-carpet breathheating... Continue Reading »	Short Story Mar.26.2009 Naked Man Published by: blogspot The naked man ran all over the rooftops of the city, his buttocks twinkling like tiny moons, his back somehow turned to all viewers. Perhaps he had heard of the Sadie Hawkins tradition on Feb. 29, and the very thought of a proposal from a woman, any woman, made him strip off his clothes in the February chill and run, run, his small man-self brushing the hydro... Continue Reading »
Short Story Mar.26.2009 In the Barn Published by: Story Wars website They hadn't gone to the barn for any reason except to groom the horse, check its eyes for discharge, see how the hoof that balled ice under it was doing. The horse was fine, if cranky, so they returned it to the paddock to romp and graze on snow with its buddies. And as they packed the picks and combs and brushes back in the tack box, a ladder caught their eyes,... Continue Reading »	Short Story Mar.26.2009 Story of the Reader Published by: Story Wars website "When in doubt, have a man come through the door with a gun in his hand. "-- Raymond Chandler The reader reads the first sentence, which is descriptive but not especially exciting. The second sentence must offer more to hold the reader's attention, so spang blackberry juice mynah bird. By the third, the reader feels a fain twitch of longing -- will... Continue Reading »

About John

Born in Guelph, Ontario. Educated at York University (BA, MA in English) and later at Naropa University's Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics, where I worked with Allen Ginsberg, Anne Waldman, William Burroughs, and Robert Duncan. A traveller, I have...

Read full bio »

Connections

Causes John Oughton Supports

PEN International, Amnesty International, League of Canadian Poets, POR AMOR, Greenpeace

John’s Favorite Books