Iowa City

(A bit of fun for Thomas W. Case - I think he lives in Iowa) Hawkeye pride burns bright in Iowa City, the place where Tennessee Williams learned to curse. Iowa City hosts the 4th of July, Iowa speedway race, unique perhaps because the cars have to stay behind a tractor for the first 199 laps. How polite are the people in Iowa City? I saw a news report where a man was mugged, traumatic? Sure, but the man still remembered to say “Thank you” before the perp bugged. There are over twenty-six churches here, people can be a bit pious and obnoxiously reflective. There’s a Hawkeye infestation in Iowa City because of the university, classified as ‘moderately selective.’ Geographically, Iowa’s where the rolling plains meet a limestone rise.* Did I mention that the bars close at 2am? A travesty in any serious drinker’s eyes. Some noted authors came from Iowa City, the locals are proud of that and own it. Most were playwrights and novelists, luckily, few of them turned out to be poets. * whatever that is note... We’re in Paris (Peter and I) at the Régis oyster bar. We just polished off a dozen oysters (each) and we ordered "Plateau de fruits de mer" (a seafood platter) and they’re taking forEVER to bring it. Peter’s reading a book. “Mind if I.. ?” he’d asked. I looked at the cover, which read, "Heavy Quark Physics." ick. So I pulled out my iPad and Thomas W. Case - a poet far above my station had, once again, lavished my latest piece “Brilliant and Wonderful,” (which I seriously doubted). But it inspired me to pen this (while we waited) - his poet page says he’s from Iowa. (5 minutes research on Iowa and 5 minutes to write.) Ooo! Here comes our platter - bye!