Thrummingbirds

Posted on August 7, 2020 by sputterpub

hummer

I never saw so many hummingbirds
in 13 years of living by this yard.
If I’d attempt to put their sound in words,
I’d mention “thrum:” soft tongue upon the hard-
called palate right behind the upper teeth.
I hear them when they flit in front of me;
I pause at hovering beside, beneath,
above the smallest blossoms, frequently.

I used to see a hummingbird a week.
I don’t possess a feeder. There are cats
that linger here. No reason for this peak
in midget visitors. Is it perhaps
this COVID-season? Better garden, less
of noise and dirty air and outside stress?

Posted in Coronaverse, Critters, Home, Poetry | Tagged | 2 Comments

Furniture

Posted on August 6, 2020 by sputterpub

Furniture

Considering the way I use outside,
I know I want a bench and table there.
I picked a set IKEA advertised,
but couldn’t get it shipped. I shopped elsewhere.

I found a better set and paid with card
(and started to expect it with some glee).
The vendor then wrote “Whoops – please disregard –
it’s out of stock two months or maybe three.”

I will not wait till winter, I then thought;
I cancelled and resumed my search online.
I found a metal-bottomed one, and bought
it for proportion and its clean design.

I liked the first okay, the second more,
but this one is the best, I’m pretty sure.

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Scaled Down

Posted on August 5, 2020 by sputterpub

220px-Cerebral_lobes[1]

“The beatings will continue till morale
improves” came into office humor lore
when I was young and prone to rationale,
and this is what I took from it: The cure
for sadness, fret, and most anxiety
may be no more than interrupting bad.
When there’s a pause in any agony,
that break alone can serve to make me glad.

Likewise, while nearing seven score of days
attempting to stay home, forgoing fun
and restaurants, a visitor will raise
me up; a local stroll with anyone
I like will elevate my attitude.
It takes that little now to mend my mood.

Posted in Coronaverse, Health, Personality, Poetry | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The Napping Chair

Posted on August 4, 2020 by sputterpub

Napping Chair

At last I own the perfect napping chair.
It took a lifetime to acquire this
upholstered seat abutting shaded air
affording back support and ankle bliss.
The view from it is manna for my eyes,
although its comfort bids my lids to close.
The fan above discourages all flies,
so I relax unscreened from crown to toes.

My nest is small but nearly perfect now.
I dreamt of it when I was young, and though
my path diverted twice (I had to bow
to bigger space to raise the kids you know),
this habitat supports my attitude –
my chair inspires tired gratitude.

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Hoax

Posted on August 3, 2020 by sputterpub

conspiracy theories illustrative

I hear Coronavirus is a hoax
perpetuated by the enemies
of 45, whose followers are folks
who cherish secret dark conspiracies.
As if progressives had the means to coax
cooperation from communities
abroad! What stupid love of subterfuge,
to think the left could run a plot so huge…

(Ottava Rima)

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Behavior

Posted on August 2, 2020 by sputterpub

crowd-silhoutette-with-flags-vector_91-6330

I know the media exaggerate
the odd and shocking, but what is this shit
about barbaric acts of public hate
involving women who decide to spit
at people? Words like “inappropriate”
fall short, describing assholes lacking qualms.
While right-wing women shame themselves and hit
at air, the left erect a wall of moms.

(Huitain)

Posted in Civics, Coronaverse, Health, Poetry | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Scat

Posted on August 1, 2020 by sputterpub

scat

My yard is rodent-rich and bird-endowed,
and harbors skunks and possums frequently,
but we decided deer are not allowed –
they munch too many blossoms. So we built
a gate atop the entrance steps that cowed
the eaters of our salvia and rose.
This morning exiting, I gasped aloud
at scat outside the gate, impressively
off-path, of which a cervine can be proud.

(Magic 9)

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Optics

Posted on July 31, 2020 by sputterpub

crowd-silhoutette-with-flags-vector_91-6330

Chicago riots, 1968,
made optics the conservatives could use.
Though catalyzed when cops provoked the hate,
it looked like mobs and looters on the news.
Police deceived like Trump; they always claimed
“resisting” or “combative” as they framed
the kids, deploying gas and talking mortar –
those pictures paved a win for “law and order.”

The passing years produced some change – cops get
more weapons than our culture should allow;
they’re trained to fear the citizens they vow
to serve and to protect. But Internet
exists, and everyone can witness how
untrue their claims – we all have cameras now.

(Pushkin Sonnet)

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Oxygen

Posted on July 30, 2020 by sputterpub

Masks

I recognize a cultural motif
concerning breathing. Millions have awoke
to knees-on-necks and choke holds, and the grief
of systematic bias. Victims spoke
forever who were muzzled and unheard,
now constrained to orate through a mask.
Compromised by virus or absurd
denying science, breath becomes a task.

I’m short of breath myself, but that’s because
I smoked too many years; I’m stupid/smart.
Ignoring symptoms, breaking natural laws,
my habits have impaired a vital part.
Of late I’m feeling, over and again,
the benefits of free-range oxygen.

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Disagreement

Posted on July 29, 2020 by sputterpub

Amoxicillin

I seldom take prescription medicine,
but after recent implant surgery
(tooth number 4, for core titanium),
the dentist wrote up pain relief and more.
A 10-day course has been my regimen
of purple/pink Amoxicillin caps.
And I was well at first, but 6 days in,
digestion and the pills do not agree.
My burping tolerance is wearing thin.

(Magic 9)

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