Author: Edmundo Barraza

I was born in Mexico. I moved to L.A. in 1978. I became a USA Citizen a few years later. At the citizenship ceremony, I had to swear that I would fight against all foreign enemies (including Mexico) in favor of my new country. I beg God that never happens. I love music, Rock, funk, punk, soul, pop. Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Pink Floyd, The Clash, The Temptations, and all you can fit in between. Playing pool, listening to rock, and having a beer is great, but reading a book, writing a story, or watching a good film is even better. I hate guns, bad people, and evil leaders. I thank God I'm not a racist person. I hate all kinds of injustices. I love good people. I would give my life in a second to save any child. Children are the most precious thing in the world. My ultimate goal is to shoot a feature film based on one of my stories. Every day I work a little more to be able to reach that goal.
My Point of View2 Comments

Holy Water and Other Stuff

Edmundo Barraza

I’d like to know how potent and effective holy water is. I’d like to know whether the Pope can have more blessing powers than a simple priest. I’d like to know how far would a drop of holy water reach in the ocean?  Would the entire ocean be blessed, along with the rest of the oceans on the planet?  Does a gallon of holy water has more reach than just one drop?   And if I throw holy water on the ground, would the entire Earth be blessed too? Along with all animals and humans in the world, including a heretic … Continue reading Holy Water and Other Stuff

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Nirvana

Edmundo Barraza

The middle is a convenient and easy place to be, where no arguments or controversies exist. The middle is a comfortable neutral point where conformity shares space with submission. The middle is a tedious place where no one, voluntarily should remain for a long time. Life is meant to be a continuous experiment. The middle is fine, but only temporarily. I must go to the extremes, both extremes. I should never be static, I should never allow myself to be overtaken by docility or mediocrity. I would rather be invisible than mediocre. If I ever get lost, I should dig … Continue reading Nirvana

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A Ghost In Visalia

Edmundo Barraza

Before I signed the rental contract, the landlady told me that an eighty-six-year-old man had died in the first bedroom. She said she needed to disclose it before I moved in so I wouldn’t quit suddenly without a thirty-day notice. At the time I didn’t pay any attention and disregarded the comment as useless and unimportant. Later on, through the neighbors, I learned that the old man had lived there for fifteen years. After that, three new tenants moved in and out in rapid succession.  The house was old and unattractive, with a garage attached to the kitchen and living … Continue reading A Ghost In Visalia

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Free Flowing

Edmundo Barraza

Squeeze my lemons trickle down social insecurities third world project criminal justice injustice three strikes or a home-run prison system mutual terror bucket list priority destroy the world total absurdities my mother was a fish as I lay dying experiment stream of consciousness extreme mind fuck non-required grammar uncensored thoughts under subconscious and comatose dreamlike visions dormant and inert subliminal messages from the dark side both dumb and smart need not apply a comma here a period there absent and dismissed obsolete comprehension send me to hell he’ll laugh from there while others remain in heaven bored to death pitiful … Continue reading Free Flowing

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Foreign Violence

Edmundo Barraza

I’m an exile. I fled from Mexico in a hurry. The reason was just a tragic, unexpected accident. I didn’t have time to pack anything. Straight from the accident, I ran away to the US. I couldn’t say goodbye to anyone, not even to my mom. I was riding a crowded bus with my girlfriend. We were standing in the middle aisle when a man started groping my girl from behind. He was near the exit with his back close to the door. When I saw him touching my girl, I pushed him so hard the doors opened and he … Continue reading Foreign Violence

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Brothers In Distress

Edmundo Barraza

The explosion was imminent. We didn’t know who or what would set it off. The decision was mutual and final. Everybody would later say absurd, too. I expected to be painless. I hated pain. Physical or mental. We’re three brothers separated by six years each. We all were born in September. My brother Ralph was thirty, I was twenty-four and my little brother Anthony was eighteen. Our house was a gathering place for all kids from the neighborhood. I don’t remember having had any serious fights with my brothers. We were always very close to each other. My dad had … Continue reading Brothers In Distress

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Global Suicide

Edmundo Barraza

I was a little pessimistic when I wrote this little thing in 2017. Is there a reason to be optimistic now? God has left the building and the planet too. Hurricanes dance in the ocean. Hurricanes cohabit with earthquakes. The heat is hotter. Walls built with tiny hands will stop refugees but not bombs. Children expelled from paradise. Limbo kids between heaven and hell. But which is which? The ax forgets, the tree remembers. The forest never wins. Mother nature is dead. Without a nation or destination, refugees flee in mass and cry in pain. Destitute and diluted in the … Continue reading Global Suicide