Author Archives: sputterpub

Maroon

The man in front of me is playing rap – his radio invisible – aloud without an earphone on. He doesn’t clap but there’s an elemental beat as proud as myths of Africa, with lilting rhyme and lyric playing in … Continue reading

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Morning After (End)

I kept noticing the hair. In the front of the room around the semi-circular dais were eight council members and the mayor: all gray. The three men were lucky to have hair, for like their colleagues they were born in … Continue reading

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Morning After (Middle)

So my group wants to build teacher-only affordable rental housing. In the old Urban Safari store site, near the high school and the transit center. But “teachers-only” is too discriminatory for federal funds and maybe even for money from the … Continue reading

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Morning After (Beginning)

I like to ride the train facing backwards. Those seats are less popular so they’re more likely available. The ride is realistically mysterious. I learned thirty years ago that the ancient Greeks viewed themselves as moving backwards through life. Their … Continue reading

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A Break Today

Another patient would be filled with dread.A patient person might anticipatea dosage of discomfort. I insteadam almost eager for my dental date.I’m ready to recline and let him drillwho knows his work as well as I know mine.I get a … Continue reading

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Hide and Seek

The child’s father gives him fare to hell,releasing him with cigarettes and cashto Turk and something starting with an L.He’s cured of scabies and he’s acting rash. The adolescent’s daddy is a jerk,who can’t insist or guide and won’t enjoinfrom … Continue reading

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Dig (2/2)

Maggie has been married, twice. Aggie has known men (four). Their experiences have produced Maggie’s daughter Sarah (now twenty-six, working in Philadelphia, and happily pregnant), Agatha’s two abortions, various and sundry orgasms, and individual conclusions that neither wants marriage and … Continue reading

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Dig (1/2)

Oh the promises we make to babies. We hold those small bodies to our chests, we kiss their big sweet heads, and we murmur that we will care for them and never never never let them be hurt. Impossible promises … Continue reading

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Affadavit

Increasing strain I missed the train today,retarded by disabled folk on stairs.The escalator, still, would not convey,awaiting more unscheduled repairs.It didn’t work to cut the time so tight, and now I ride a hopeful Fremont train. I’m trying to remind … Continue reading

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Reading the News on August 31, 2001

Today the banner tells of HIV mutating speedier than research learns, and yells of the arrest and mystery of some young homicidal Slav. The burns up north are caused by angry eremites, suburban-branded outcasts, pariahs of proms and teams who … Continue reading

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