Afterword by Ted V.
Some say it was all folklore, of the sort civilizations Will sprout like fungus from the leaking seams as they grow senile. That those who live like wolves among the ruins may find comfort In tales that make the wolves out in the wastelands to seem...
Ballade of Paternal Reminiscience
In olden days, our forefathers (there's four of us, you see Counting George, Itoma, and you, and also me) Would tarry by the power tools, the plumbing, and the paint, Where credit card constraining was the heart free of restraint. And we did...
The Heart Lies Only Once
I trust no more a promise made of words. Not for the many vows long-proven false, Not for the monkey's paw, its fingers crossed, Not for the apathies of old lang syne. There's not a one of us has had no need Of some dishonesties, just to...
A Young Ballade, and Naive
The garden is in heavy bloom. Beneath serene cerulean sky The flowers leave not even room For hurried ants to scurry by. And even when they richly die Slow fruit shall swell where once they grew, Delightful both to taste and eye: But I would...
Love Against Aggravation
_What glorious loves does history display,_ _But greater still is trust. There's grander, more luxurious ways to play_ _But this will do for us._ As once, within a earth-cool family room, I shepherded bright...
He Of the Trees
“Orpheus founded too the mysteries of Dionysus, and having been rent asunder by the Maenads he rests in Pieria." — Apollodorus, “The Library," I, 3, 2. “I hope you've been comfortable?" “As comfortable as one can be in prison, sir." “You...
Mistolinic Hymn
O Father in the utter west, They call the setting sun, From grieving be my promised rest When every day be done. A thousand roads to elsewhere lead. I cannot walk them all. Hope fills me, though, for there indeed I hear the sunset's...
Ballade of Major Depressive Disorder
My generation does not hope, So many of our elders say. It deepens, like littoral slope, Enfeebles like a caustic spray. So much encouragement do they Declaim into cacophony: How we our future selves betray. ...
All Means All
“It's discrimination!" “Hey, sir, I'm gonna have to ask you to either keep it down or leave, you're disturbing people." The capybara approached like an iceberg, quiet and smooth. “Oh, you don't care about my rights?!" The doberman turned to glare...
Epitaph Annus Horibillis
Here lies two thousand twenty four: In ways, the worst year yet we've seen. And now here comes, again, once more, The worst humanity can dream. But I am here. And you are here. And that makes we, Miraculously. And they may kill me yet,...
"I Am a Poor Wayfaring Stranger," Mistolinic Text
I am a poor wayfaring stranger Traveling through this world of woe. But there's no sickness, toil, or danger In that far land to which I go. I'm going there to see my father. Said he would meet me when I come. I'm only going into the...
Fumigantlocology Compendium
(Originally published - Oct 2nd 2021) Was thinking about this all day, and while I can't really make predictions about the precise way things in The Smoke Room are going to end, I think I can rank which routes are more likely that other to be the...