Monthly Archives: July 2014

Cafeen (End)

Posted on July 31, 2014 by sputterpub

She had lined up eight interviews for a two hour period. Since she never completed a job interview in less than 20 minutes, she had as usual doomed herself to fall behind. She wasn’t able that morning to pay attention … Continue reading →

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Cafeen (Middle)

Posted on July 30, 2014 by sputterpub

The winter when Connie was 47 (and Megan 12 and Bill 53) was a harsh one. They had almost twice the normal rainfall, and high winds. There were more power outages that season than in any of the ten years … Continue reading →

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Cafeen (Beginning)

Posted on July 29, 2014 by sputterpub

She was a very ordinary person. Five and a half feet tall if she stood up straight, Connie usually slumped to about 5’4″. She weighed 165, which on her frame looked like 20 pounds too much. Not enough for obese … Continue reading →

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Chatter

Posted on July 28, 2014 by sputterpub

Do you remember office telephones that rang aloud so everybody heard? And typewriters with syncopated tones or printers leaving carbon with each word? Remember corporate noise? It’s with us still but changed in character. Today the sounds of officework are … Continue reading →

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Blonde

Posted on July 25, 2014 by sputterpub

I often watch this woman on the train: a specimen self-confident and fat, of middle height, with features blunt and plain, in jeans and flannel daily. Topping that her hair hangs long and bottle-blonde, still damp from her shampoo. Around … Continue reading →

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Of Pot and Peaches (Part 3 of 3)

Posted on July 24, 2014 by sputterpub

It took almost 40 years, but Kinsey’s brain blew up last week. I’m always going to wonder if that glass-smashing concussion weakened something in his head. Anyway, he’s not dead yet. That’s why we’re gathered around him, although we’re kind … Continue reading →

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Of Pot and Peaches (Part 2 of 3)

Posted on July 23, 2014 by sputterpub

Jeff Connor and Mary arrived while we were in the kitchen breaking the kilo into lids. As usual, Kinsey set aside one for the dealer. But it wasn’t until the decadents showed up that we decided to do the whole … Continue reading →

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Of Pot and Peaches (Part 1 of 3)

Posted on July 22, 2014 by sputterpub

I smoked pot before I came to Cal, but I don’t think I really felt it until that fall evening in 1967. Afterward I shared a big fresh peach with Alan, and it tasted more wonderful than any peach I’d … Continue reading →

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Full Moon in July

Posted on July 21, 2014 by sputterpub

Elsewhere, the sun is shining and the men will barbecue this summer afternoon. But here we’re chilly overcast again and even though it’s full tonight, the moon won’t penetrate our evening fog (its glow will be a smudge upon our … Continue reading →

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Early Works

Posted on July 18, 2014 by sputterpub

Reviewing verse I wrote when I was young, the feet uneven and the tenor brass, I skimmed what didn’t scan: a toddler tongue in stammer; my conceit as green as grass. I understood what made my lover groan when I … Continue reading →

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