Author Archives: sputterpub

Minor Surgery

The surgery was recommended now.A minor operation on a kid –enlargement and a skin graft to allowreception of more sound. The parents didconsent – I had no power to forbidand wouldn’t have. But what a stressful day.The hours dragged. I … Continue reading

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Remnants

I heard some clunks against my eastern wall.I woke but turned and soon returned to sleep.Nocturnal yardmates sometimes race or sprawl,and often use those drainpipes as they creepfrom roof to fence to deck to hunt, by crawlor pounce, and fight … Continue reading

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What Now Is

Of course I love the smell of printed ink.My prized possession always was a book.My favorite job was bookstore clerk, I think,and every move I made for shelves, until –the kids moved out and small became my kink;and independent merchants … Continue reading

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Quest

The inspiration I select as bestfor me this week, to work for what I need,is channeling a knight upon a quest –an errant hero bound to do a deed.Committed to 3 labors, I won’t restuntil I wrestle phone and web, … Continue reading

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Slam

I’d love to talk about the other K –how orbits of dependents have been skewed,and what the friend abandonments convey,suggesting flaws in view and attitude.I’d like to think aloud about a choicea dear one made, apparently impelledby pain, who didn’t … Continue reading

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Like a Traffic Cone

The crate appeared last week and blocked the path.My neighbor’s name was on it, but insideit was a puzzle. Though I took a bathbefore I left, the box did not subside,and it still towered unidentifieduntil the morning light revealed, unpacked,an … Continue reading

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Better Than

Although I didn’t sleep enough last night(awake from 3 to 5, I read a lot),and though I had a headache near my right-side temple, I’m discovering I’m notperforming poorly. Finding that I’ve gotsufficient stamina for exercise,sufficient brain and less of … Continue reading

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More Ocean Breathing

A bladder of burlap has settled on shore,a sandbag that’s lost all its fill.With each ebbing wave it’s inflated once more –then breakers deplete it untilit’s flattened on sand and conforming to floor.So I am inspiring, withdrawing, to spillmy exhalation … Continue reading

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Judgment from a Childless Friend

Although we didn’t plan the pregnancy,we welcomed it with pride and gratitude.And 8 months later, we learned how to beengaged in work more vital than we dreamed –an unremitting labor: infancyto kid to teen, unglamourous and tough.Of course there were … Continue reading

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Sycamore

Encountering a bole of sycamore,it stopped me as it often has before.I touch its textured bark, its patterned scalelike camouflage or puzzle pieces, palebeneath and shading gray to green. It’s planeelsewhere, and pollarded in parks, but rangefrom root to upward, … Continue reading

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