Author Archives: sputterpub

Personal Hygiene

Posted on April 17, 2018 by sputterpub

I’m in the bathtub every Thursday eve. The water’s always hotter than I meant, so I don’t soak as much as sweat, and leave the bath with scant a quarter hour spent. The first of every month I wash my … Continue reading →

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Hands

Posted on April 16, 2018 by sputterpub

At 16 years I knew a girl whose hands were soft and still at rest. She seemed serene, and she became the image I command when I attempt to wipe my worry clean. A year ago I started spending days … Continue reading →

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Tutorial

Posted on April 12, 2018 by sputterpub

I used to learn from Dad and friends and books – instructors taught me lessons now and then – but Dad misplaced his mind, and grown it looks like friends have given up and don’t intend to add to knowledge. … Continue reading →

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Quiet Hands

Posted on April 5, 2018 by sputterpub

The mother was the opposite of calm. She fidgeted with antsiness and stress, and never showed her children either palm except to slap or signal Stop. Unless the mother slept, her fingers weren’t still. She picked non-stop – her little … Continue reading →

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How

Posted on April 3, 2018 by sputterpub

I wondered: what’s the etymology of irony and iron? Do they share a common root, or trick disparity? I learned that they’re an unrelated pair. They sound alike coincidentally, and by the way, that’s not a synonym: coincident’ly’s not ironic’ly. … Continue reading →

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All’s Well

Posted on April 2, 2018 by sputterpub

I seldom notice when a headache ends. It’s not so much relief as memory forestalled; my situation recommends another subject then. Antipathy commands I sense annoyances and threat – no satisfaction builds a stronger urge. But goodness I am likely … Continue reading →

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The Downside

Posted on March 30, 2018 by sputterpub

We have to notice threats. We’ve got no claws or fangs for combat, nor a wing for flight. We think and link and manufacture laws. We master fire to deflect the night. We’re wired to react when something’s wrong, attuned … Continue reading →

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Dim Wittedness

Posted on March 27, 2018 by sputterpub

The ugly duckling wanted to fit in – he tried and failed belonging to the nest. The solitary black sheep hates his skin and wool, because it’s different from the rest. But after several seasons’ unsuccess, some nonconforming creatures try … Continue reading →

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R-O-N-G

Posted on March 26, 2018 by sputterpub

My first financial district job, the work was varied – words and figures I’d produce. But my direct employer was a jerk who never taught me anything of use. He wasn’t smart, and he was WASPY white, a weak and … Continue reading →

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Fruitful

Posted on March 22, 2018 by sputterpub

Be Fruitful, bids the Biblical command, and Multiply. There’s little to discuss. Though Aramaic’s hard, we understand the order is for propagating us. But that was written in a time and land that needed places to be populous. We’re crowded. … Continue reading →

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