Semi-Daily Scribbles

Lula in the Spotlight

Lula drowned in the summer sun. Her features faded under golden molten rays of light. Her brain turned into sticky sweet tar. Lula's power to project an essence of innocence melted like fat off her bones and splish-splattered down the storm drain. Lula stood exposed, worse than naked even. Her fanbase saw for the very first time the charred heart Lula kept hidden beneath her charming deceit.

on a roll

it's round it's square
it hits you on the noggin from out of thin air
naw, it was already there
coiled up in your belly
stretched out on the grass
wide-eyed
or weary
hot coals glow and winter's grip goes slack
summer keeps coming back
the thought can't find its word but
the world still turns

Inspiration

Lettie's Doubts

Mama had the megrims and Lettie was left to herself again. She sat on her bed, tracing the outlines of the bright yellow smiley face flowers stamped on her bedspread before turning her attention to the fresh outbreak of poison oak on the backs of her knees. Hot, itchy-scratchy pain and with no more ointment in the medicine cabinet. Summer vacay had officially kicked off in spectacular fashion. Lettie doubted even Marnie could be of use, today anyway, to chase off the bad ideas and icky thoughts that left Grand Prismatic-sized rents throughout her entire self-perceived personhood. Yeah, it was going to be one of those days. The volume on the TV in the next room, Mama's room, got louder by four or five settings. What else? Lettie wondered how many times this week Mama would watch that movie. Never a good sign when the wind began to scream and the men cried, "I've never seen one that big!"

Stew

 

My side of the tale?
I am skinny and quick, bitch.
Stew in your own juice.

Bunny Hunt

A cool down is now required. This has been one hot afternoon of dog-on-rabbit torment as the squeeze-through portions of the backyard fence have been patrolled most fervently. No animals have been harmed in today's chase, but I can't put a leash on instinct. Nature looks on while I play it safe and mend my section of fence.

Safety First

...and therefore Constable Excessive-Force was instructed that teenage girls in bathing suits (neon floral and other such summery motifs) pose a most grievous threat. Why, the concealment of weapons beneath all manner of itsy-bitsy, teeny-weenies is a public safety calamity! The only action available to Constable Excessive-Force, one in which he had intensive training, was to draw and aim.

Fire with extreme prejudice.

Keepsake

 

Summer is nearly ready to wrap up and tuck away as a keepsake. The year has sped up in all of three weeks, leaving one less set of footfalls padding down the hall. Autumn's murmur is heard in the early morning hours, before the sun sends its 3-digit greeting beating down on my head. The days now are a little thin in the middle, but still hold promise and mystery as long as I don't pull the strings too hard.

condition

no longer in mint
lost the power
to stay cool
out of condition

portion

 

long days heat nightfall
grill marks hide
raw meat inside
bitter portion served

Lone

My quiet hideout's been overrun by an invasive species. Namely, kidlets on summer holiday. Grew attached to this weedy patch. I could stretch out in the dock and clover and pretend to be the lone survivor of some apocalypse-ish catastrophe. The air was o.k. to breathe, though. Just no people, or mosquitoes. Or fire ants. Kind of makes the end of the world sound like heaven. Now I have to pull up stakes and find a new place to watch the world go by without getting stepped on. Or yanked out of the ground and twisted into a chain. It's a tough season for delicate things.