Author Archives: sputterpub

House Arrest 19 (Heroic Couplets)

Posted on April 5, 2020 by sputterpub

The media reports successive spots where virus graphs condense their dire dots, as if the plague had patterns like a map of weather systems turning on the tap, evoking pollsters analyzing charts of primaries ascendant in our hearts, informing us … Continue reading →

Posted in Civics, Coronaverse, Health, Poetry | Tagged , | Leave a comment

House Arrest 18 (Terza Rima)

Posted on April 4, 2020 by sputterpub

Alive, we haven’t yet abandoned hope, although we’re half-forsaken, leader-lost, and turning to the power in our soap, by media and propaganda tossed together toward a herd immunity, no matter what the economic cost, to venture in a future none … Continue reading →

Posted in Coronaverse, Health, Philosophy, Poetry | Tagged , | Leave a comment

House Arrest 17 (Ottava Rima)

Posted on April 3, 2020 by sputterpub

It’s hard to be a fan of bureaucrats – we’ve made them rigid figures, comically. But now they’re stand-up heroes, on the mats of surreal contests, speaking honesty to power. Clerks and agents in white hats are damming up the … Continue reading →

Posted in Civics, Coronaverse, Philosophy, Poetry | Tagged | Leave a comment

Committee for Unintended Consequences

Posted on April 3, 2020 by sputterpub

It’s obvious our species has evolved through paths of unintended consequence. We own a history of having solved some problems, met some challenges with sense, but then results go otherwise than planned. The car that moves us far: extinguished birds … Continue reading →

Posted in Philosophy, Poetry | Tagged | Leave a comment

House Arrest 16 (Coronavirus Iris)

Posted on April 2, 2020 by sputterpub

My family has normal temperatures – we understand the power of apart. Awaiting new vaccines and symptom cures, we’re staying in our separate homes but start to suffer cabin fever, one and all. We want to eat together, and embrace … Continue reading →

Posted in Coronaverse, Flora, Health, Poetry | Tagged , | Leave a comment

House Arrest 15 (A Little Sale)

Posted on April 1, 2020 by sputterpub

In solitary combat with the curse Coronavirus, home alone and clean, and knowing consequences could be worse but clueless what the cancellations mean, long-term, in jobs and economic pain, inhaling headlines made me short of breath. I saw investments sink … Continue reading →

Posted in Coronaverse, Money Stuff, Poetry | Tagged | Leave a comment

Sad Anger

Posted on April 1, 2020 by sputterpub

My son was almost three when I got sick enough for surgery and weeks away. I ached for him – if I had had my pick, they would have brought my boy to where I lay. When I came home … Continue reading →

Posted in Cognition, Coronaverse, Family, Poetry | Tagged | Leave a comment

House Arrest 14 (Haiku)

Posted on March 31, 2020 by sputterpub

The bug’s holding sway, alas, too long. Keep 6 feet away to succeed.

Posted in Coronaverse, Health, Poetry | Tagged , | Leave a comment

House Arrest 13 (Ode Perverse)

Posted on March 30, 2020 by sputterpub

I check the weather forecast every day (a walker wants to know what gear to wear), and since the autumn fires, it’s my way to note pollution levels in the air. What I assumed was excellent was not; most midday … Continue reading →

Posted in Coronaverse, Philosophy, Poetry | Tagged | Leave a comment

The Neighbor’s Cat

Posted on March 30, 2020 by sputterpub

The neighbors have a cat that lives outside as if it were an apex beast of prey, evolved to wanton feats of avicide, and tearing plants his collar pulls away from trellises or tangles with the hose, refining talons scoring … Continue reading →

Posted in Critters, Neighborhood, Poetry | Tagged | Leave a comment