Author Archives: sputterpub

Unknown to Me

Unknown to me although we’ve shared our yearsin empathetic close fraternity,I’m sometimes stunned as evidence appears,unknown to me. I tried imagining that I were he.I paid attention to his words and fears,but my best guess includes uncertainty. If distance so … Continue reading →

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Delegating Apology

A younger relative offended mewith nasty tantrum words and flouncing out.She seems too old (past 39) to berelapsing into sarcasm and pout.She “circled back” days later, to reviewthe circumstance and context of her fit(still young enough to grasp at “closure” … Continue reading →

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Age Gauge

My daughter says what makes her feel her ageis when her brother’s birthday comes along.Her younger sibling constitutes a gaugecorrecting self-impression. Is she wrong?I think not, as I read a likely page,and excavate a lyric from her song.My baby brother’s … Continue reading →

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Postponing

Postponing work a week agoconsolidated energy.It somewhat modulated flow,postponing work a week ago.I’m thinking now I need to slowmy pace to vital quality.Postponing work a week agoconsolidated energy. (Triolet)

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Fatigued Today

Fatigued today, I’m glad to have some timeat home, where I can nap and bathe and playat solitaire and searching out this rhyme.Fatigued today. I’ll have a lengthy phone call – it’s our wayeach Sunday morning to exchange sublimeor homely … Continue reading →

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Hoist

The legend says a farm boy made a vowto lift a newborn bullock every dawn.By that prescription he aimed to know how,in time, to hoist a bull, with built-up brawn.Life intervened. On land he left that cowwhile he was ill … Continue reading →

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You’d Better Modulate

You’d better modulate, for you’ve been blessedvoluminous, as passion’s candidate.The need is obvious if seldom guessed –you’d better modulate. You brim with heat and stagger under freightof truths so loud they beg to be expressed.But whispers carry more attentive weight. … Continue reading →

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A Dog Day of Summer

I’m trying laying low at home today.I’ll make an effort to resist each taskI might incline to self-assign, the wayI have since I was 8 or 9 years old.I’ll hide my underwear. I’ll learn to playa new computer game. But … Continue reading →

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Obligated Calls II

The women whom I daily telephoneare probably as bored with it as I,but when I dare omit, each takes a toneof petulant flirtation, never wry.They used to travel, leaving me alone,but age and Covid make them journey-shy.And now I only … Continue reading →

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Obligated Calls

I check in with two women every day.They each have health concerns – I feel obliged.I don’t claim to enjoy our talks, but hey –I check in with two women every day.So neither has a pithy thought to say;I’d feel … Continue reading →

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