“You probably need a treat. Let’s go find one. I’m thinking maybe ice cream.” Milo wags his tail. He knows those words.

written for Midwestern Gothic “Emerald Leaf Borers, Dutch Elm Disease and Gypsy Moths blow through here like the Plagues of Egypt,” said Rafe, sipping from his glass of Parallel 44. “You’d think we’d get more than a few days of good weather for all the parasites we feed.” “Yep. Numbered among those the fair-weather Packer [...]

Man, I’m not feeling so happy anymore. I tried to tackle my money but it slipped past me; ran out the door. I don’t have a clue what to do I’m hungry. I can’t be worrying about you while both of us are trying to snag the same pair of leather shoelaces to chew. Between the financial [...]

To Build a Fire One frozen hand protruded from the snow. Encased in a blue winter glove the hand’s rigid fingers curled slightly as if seeking to grasp some final something. Huge blowing white flakes swirled, covering the rest of the body. She had begged him not to go. He laughed her off saying, “I’ll [...]

Where’s the God who isn’t there? Where’s the God who doesn’t care? God with flowing, graying hair, hand outstretched to nowhere. He doesn’t seem to be here. Perhaps He went to get a beer. Not like Him to disappear, earth’s original Engineer. Some people say He’s not around. Reasoning which isn’t sound on a subject [...]

This is an old poem that somehow recently seemed immediate. It’s early spring and rains leave miniature ponds not deep but attractive to Drake and Mallard pairs moving into the neighborhood settling quacking down. Not sensing transience in their comfortable puddles they get around swimmingly bottom feeding on the roughage shoots and grubs appearing by [...]