560

Keys rattle in the black. Letters confront – angry ghosts in a glowing, bone-white frame. The medium calls them, voices of the hidden mind.

559

Beyond sight, this wall extends – up, down, left, right – no door, no toeholds – and the beating of my bloody fists echoes.

558

Bubble-bubbling vat of trouble rumbles, glows, steams, and shakes. Heat! Heat! Explosion coming! Back off or get burned!

557

The border does not stop them, these migrants, earth diggers, who spread, take their place, become part – these armadillos.

556

I've just a little misery, not that much to spare. But you can have the rest of it; take it if you dare!

555

This is a miniature argument: It's short, it's supported, it's complete. I've made my point.

554

My life? ... your life? ... the questions!

553

Into the cave! Into the cave! Winter comes early, and I must hunker down for lengthy dreams.

552

I weary of this being worn, this dull din of sleep deprived, its constant thud upon mine temples. Be gone, I say, be gone ...

551

Their need sucks me in, like a whirlpool, like a riptide, like an undertow, sucks me down, drowns me.

550

The saucy saucière whips up soused sauces with lots of liquor, licorice, and whipped cream, then loves to lick the sloshes – less wiping up!

549

Where is our Hero to save the English language? Where is our Librarian? Replaced by a database? Never!

548

One eye open – quivering, another closed. Yet, yet my to-do list leads out the door like a red carpet toward the guillotine.

547

I'm waaay out of the woods and up the creek without a leg to stand on! I shouldn't'a been a rat and let the cat outta the bag!

546

That man is as inflexible as a graphite-reinforced steel fence post buried in caliche at the bottom of a windless canyon in a hard freeze.

545

Crap! The cat's got my tongue! I shouldn't'a let the damned thing outta the bag!

544

The arrow – notched, pulled, shaking – smiles inside, flashes blady teeth, shouts hallelujahs – Ready! Ready to fly!

543

Depressed, lonely, and cracked, Mr. Egg jumped into the frying pan. He landed sunny-side up, yes, but that was only a show.

542

I would have written about the pleasures of eating, but that's only half the story.