Category Archives: Poetry

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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Baby Gear

Posted on March 20, 2018 by sputterpub

His parents are mid-30s, well-to-do, besotted with him, and of course they vow to raise him perfectly, with this year’s new devices, paying experts to learn how. They purchase toys and gadgets to enrich the eating, drinking, bathing episodes. Dishwasher-safe, … Continue reading →

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Cough

Posted on March 19, 2018 by sputterpub

I cough too much. When I was 21, I had bronchitis in a rugged place. The meds were harsh – before the course had run, they diagnosed pneumonia in my case. And ever since, each cold becomes complex. The coughing … Continue reading →

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Ennui

Posted on March 15, 2018 by sputterpub

“What’s there to do? I’m bored,” I would complain to Mom when I was young enough to ask. “Go hit your head,” was her bizarre refrain, “against the wall.” I’d find myself a task. For I avoided boredom like a … Continue reading →

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