Washing the Dog’s Blue Dish

Farely was gone. They had taken him to the vet. His tail thumped on the gurney. Then it stopped. The eyes glazed, and he was gone. Dianne was surprised to find herself thinking about it two days later. She had not particularly liked the grubby old dog—he was Doug’s. But she stood at the kitchen … Continue reading Washing the Dog’s Blue Dish →

Feeding the Grubs at the Feed-the-Hungry Feast

This is a repost of yesterday's post. Writelee could not resist adding the word "grubby," which qualifies for the Ragtag word of the day. "Grubby" should have been put into the original. There are a few other edits. Writelee has a discomfort about this sketch and the whole series that began with "I Only go … Continue reading Feeding the Grubs at the Feed-the-Hungry Feast →

The Child in Toe Shoes

She bends her bones to fling them high, a gawky graceful, nearly flawless dance, but the stodgy Envies snicker why slipper pinches will one day wince a cry against the hour she donned them just to dance, she bends her bones to fling them high. Spare no worry on the gargling sigh of those old … Continue reading The Child in Toe Shoes →

Coffee

Ambrosia should have been this dark and bitter potion, not the liqueur of yeasty fruit, not the sparkly cloy that Greek admen teach us gods guzzle in mythy mope. A god's palate has such a pampered tongue— libated with honey of human woe and satiate with the pure chill of heart-brewed sorrow— it should wake … Continue reading Coffee →

Like imprinted ducklings— they follow her swagger across campus— these poetry undergrads Prepared in response to the Ragtag Community daily prompt: sequacious

Answer Correctly and Nobody Listens

When you answer all the wrong questions, they do this to you. They asked, “who was the greatest writer in the Universe?” “I am unaware of any great writers outside this solar system,” I told them. They persisted, “Who is the greatest writer of this solar system,” they said. They caveated this with, “for God’s … Continue reading Answer Correctly and Nobody Listens →

On a Trip To Out There

O, the Olly-Prill Fusses, their kiddles and a couple of offset marmosets were going to go places, so they packed up the freeze-dried and pink lemonade. They loaded up camp stoves, whimsical gas, and marmalade baugettes. The tossed in a fridge, a dishwasher, and a rifle—so unafraid. O, a couple of offset marmosets, the Olly-Prill … Continue reading On a Trip To Out There →

Sabbath Day

Willow grove bows and nods articulating wind’s whim on which hawk rides, hunts Posted in response to both of the Ragtag Community Word of the Day: adulation, as well as, well, articulate. Thanks, guys and gals.

Report from the Mountains

The other day El Nosibor was moved to walk a mile. A walk of a mile would do his aching lungs good, it would build character in his 70 year old soul, it would build heart muscle, leg muscle. It would pump much needed oxygen to the muscle with which he makes up his stories. … Continue reading Report from the Mountains →

Smiling in Shadows

Blind old man, living alone in the nursing home could see but only a girl, smiling in shadows In response to the ragtime community prompt remember.