Drema Drudge

Pillows, Poems, and Plans

A breeze brought me the most gawky, adorably dorky poem. It landed in my lap all crooked and earnest, and I’ve been smiling ever since I wrote it down. I want to sit beside it on a pillow and pluck at its sleeve as it reads so I can watch it crane its neck whenContinue reading “Pillows, Poems, and Plans “

And I Always Will: To a Siren

Now Playing: “In the Ghetto,” Elvis Presley Word Raccoon thinks she’s my personal trainer now. Spoiler: she tried to bribe me with a bagel I couldn’t even dress with butter or cream cheese. This is how low we’ve sunk, friends. On Friday, I floated across a parking lot. I was back at the gym: recumbentContinue reading “And I Always Will: To a Siren “

So Much Depends…on a Feral Raccoon

Now Playing (with cheesecake crumbs on the buttons): “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen “Did you know he was a Jersey boy, William Carlos Williams?” That was Word Raccoon’s opener yesterday. She strutted into my brain like she owned the place (which, let’s be honest, she kinda does). I hadn’t known it. But apparently WRContinue reading “So Much Depends…on a Feral Raccoon”

This Seat Is Taken (By My Bag)

Now Playing: “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” Pat Benatar Word Raccoon nearly had a showdown at the café yesterday morning. By some miracle (or questionable decision-making), WR was at her post on the café porch before 8 a.m., sprawling across the mosaic-tiled table nearest the door. Prime spot for maximum nosiness. Breakfast half-eaten, poetryContinue reading “This Seat Is Taken (By My Bag)”

Produce Pickup? Swipe Left.

Now Playing: Been Caught Stealing – Jane’s Addiction Grocery pickup is a marvel for most items. Cereal? Perfect. Pasta sauce? No problem. Cleaning supplies? Absolutely. But produce? Every time I hand it over to pickup, I regret it. Not because the pickers are bad people, they’re just moving too fast to have standards. And IContinue reading “Produce Pickup? Swipe Left.”

Word Raccoon vs. the Great Coke Zero Conspiracy

Now Playing: “Do I Do,” Stevie Wonder Revised and sent off the poetry collection to a publisher this week. Cue the confetti! Fingers crossed… While there are still a couple of poems that won’t behave in the book, I was pleased with how others shaped up. One of the poems, “Holy Floaties,” (shortened title), cameContinue reading “Word Raccoon vs. the Great Coke Zero Conspiracy”

Word Raccoon Brings Lisianthus to the Poetry Deadline. Also…

Now Playing: And So It Goes by Billy Joel. The album. Today I have flowers from a teen in a bonnet on the table, a poetry collection deadline breathing down my neck, and spoiler alert, I just ran up the stairs like it is 2017. This is the album that goes with the doc, sweeties,Continue reading “Word Raccoon Brings Lisianthus to the Poetry Deadline. Also…”

Notes from the Gravel Pit

Now Playing: “Born to Run” I am listening to Bruce Springsteen. I never listen to Bruce Springsteen. Nothing against his music, I just never have other than hearing him on the radio. But when your heart is full of gravel and grief, when you hear someone whose voice is full of it, you think, YouContinue reading “Notes from the Gravel Pit”

Word Raccoon Refuses to Take the Rap for this One. Guess that Just Leaves Me.

Now playing: “You and I” Wilco / Feist A huge thank you to the weather for finally allowing comfortable outdoor writing again. I’ve been back on the porch, watching cabbage butterflies flit, and the neighbor’s cute black dog act unruly and adorable, and honestly, isn’t that the best kind of doggy? Reader, I’ve been waryContinue reading “Word Raccoon Refuses to Take the Rap for this One. Guess that Just Leaves Me.”

Triggered

I brought Richard Hugo’s The Triggering Town to the beach. I’d never read it, and what better time? A classic, or so I’d been told, a book about the poetics of place. (The title kinda tells us that.) I read it under a blue-and-white cabana, spreading the pages with delight. Nodding along.The first page broughtContinue reading “Triggered”