Category Archives: Family

Eugenics

Posted on May 17, 2025 by sputterpub

She chose the father with some care, and yetit’s evident he came with temper flaws.For decades she has chosen to forgetsome coldness and obtuseness, giving pausein early scenes, but the genetic setwas never viewed as dominant, becauseshe favored nurture over … Continue reading →

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Memory Test

Posted on May 14, 2025 by sputterpub

We didn’t mean it as a recall test.I showed her mail postmarked in ‘69,the subject a close friend of hers, distressedby teenage kids. We watched her read each line,but grasp no recollection to assignthose characters. We shifted then to seekher … Continue reading →

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Strange Estrangement

Posted on April 4, 2025 by sputterpub

I’d rather you not tell your partner my negative news.But I don’t intend to request that you muzzle your speech.So I guess I’ll keep my own counsel, and play my own bluesso softly no murmurs your brotherly eardrums will reach.

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The Witness

Posted on April 1, 2025 by sputterpub

The birthday gifts two weeks ago, too muchto be acknowledged by a 4-year oldwho only longed to play with each, were suchan overload that no adult controlled,that this one was ignored – it felt no touch,got set aside. While shapes … Continue reading →

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Some Minutes More

Posted on March 30, 2025 by sputterpub

It’s not my home, but I’ve some moments morealone with wine and book, before I seefour party people toting atmosphereof almost 8 and one no longer 3.Of course I love their happy energy,but I appreciate some minutes moretill I’m beset … Continue reading →

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The Other C Word

Posted on March 29, 2025 by sputterpub

I think (and hope) this cold is nearly done.My nose still runs and I’ve low energy,but aim to travel west today for funwith birthday-celebrating family.And 5 days hence I’ll fly so I can bewith Oregonians I long to kiss.So, yes, … Continue reading →

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Path Lamps

Posted on March 27, 2025 by sputterpub

Presented to me several months ago,I didn’t think I needed them, and yet,fraternal acts protecting me are soadorable I stored without regretthe box, and last week other brother setthem up along the path that fronts my gate.Malfunction two days later … Continue reading →

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March Medley

Posted on March 15, 2025 by sputterpub

Three members of my City familyhave birthdays, so I need to shift the dateof overnighting (twice) from normalcyto novelty. And one who’s out of statewill mark his seventeenth. I want to beattendant, and I plan to celebratea month from customary … Continue reading →

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Artifact

Posted on March 13, 2025 by sputterpub

Although I wasn’t girly when a kid,as only daughter I assumed I knewmy mother’s rings and things. She never hidher stuff from me. And though she often threwaway her things (and mine), I had no cluethat something closeted or boxed … Continue reading →

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These Kids Today…

Posted on March 2, 2025 by sputterpub

If I were feeling critical, I mightcondemn the way they misprioritizedtheir yesterday, when what would have been rightwas more and early visit (I advisedconsideration, never heard). Last nightsome neighbors, even younger yet, surprisedme with their texted inabilityto think. (But neither … Continue reading →

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