Category Archives: Neighborhood

Cardboard Mystery

Posted on April 27, 2021 by sputterpub

So now the students share the bins with me.They even pull them, early, to the curb.I wrote – they sent sincere apology,and I thought (prematurely) they could learn(in spite of their hysteria at beesthey misidentified as hornet hordes).But when I … Continue reading →

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The Girls and the Insects

Posted on April 16, 2021 by sputterpub

The rooms above the place across the yardhave been to grad school coeds rented out.They’re cute, but seem to find their work so hard,they have no time to haul a bin. They doubttheir tenant skills; they both have lived withoutthe … Continue reading →

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First Wisteria

Posted on March 19, 2021 by sputterpub

I saw my first wisteria Mondayat 9 a.m., in 46 degrees.I shot a picture walking, on my wayto stock my pantry with some groceries.The purple blossoms formed a scant arraybut promised spring in Berkeley more than bees.My own wisteria’s a … Continue reading →

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Plum Petals

Posted on March 2, 2021 by sputterpub

Plum petals show like snowflakes on the woodbeneath my feet, against the crooked limbsabove my office shed. Their whiteness skimsand flits on wind as if they understoodtheir blossom purpose has been served. I couldavert my glance – no other act … Continue reading →

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Chores

Posted on January 4, 2021 by sputterpub

I’m fortunate. I really shouldn’t rant,but Monday mornings are intense and tough.Committed to long exercise, I can’tbe Sunday sedentary. That’s a roughreality, but add to it the store,for usually I’m mostly out of food.I have to hike an hour to … Continue reading →

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My Walk to the Store

Posted on January 2, 2021 by sputterpub

The market where I shop is small and old,and never crowded early in the day.I walk there first-thing, when the air’s still cold:unmasked en route in solitude’s my way.But neither Internet nor instinct toldme they’d be closed to lengthen holiday.I … Continue reading →

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Density

Posted on October 11, 2020 by sputterpub

I live so close to neighbors, you’d expectmy house to be a fishbowl where you seemy every act, but here we all respectand cherish our domestic privacy.We aim our vision forward in the yard,ignoring social noise unless it booms.We give … Continue reading →

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Threatless

Posted on July 11, 2020 by sputterpub

(A Pre-Covid Piece) Commuting yesterday, at nearly noon, I noticed I felt free and oddly fine. I focused on surroundings then, and soon observed that every vista seemed benign. Though weather’s weird, the air was warm and clear. Though politics … Continue reading →

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Magnolia St (HA 108 Spenserian Stanza)

Posted on July 3, 2020 by sputterpub

I walked for errands till this house arrest removed most business from my every day. I chose my route deliberately, for best in garden sights and local tree array. But when I crossed a busy street, my way was quite … Continue reading →

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Chainsaws & Chippers (HA 94 Almost-Pushkin Sonnet)

Posted on June 19, 2020 by sputterpub

For 90 days I dwelled in quiet here. I mostly stayed at home like all of you. We watched surrounding air and water clear. We buzzed with nerves and heard the birds anew. But now our house arrest is wearing … Continue reading →

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