When the Old Life Haunts the New: Poem

What shall I do?

When  I pick up the broom    

            he leaves the room.

When I fuss with kindling he

            runs for the yard.

Then he's back, and we

            hug for a long time.

In his low-to-the-ground chest

            I can hear his heart slowing down.

Viruses (not the electronic sort): Poem

This was me, the last week:

'Viruses are my sister's children

who have come to stay at my place

for the weekend.

They try to get into the cupboards.

They draw with thick crayons

on the back of my throat.

Books with a Difference #3: Cultures

The Paper House, by Carlos Maria Dominguez

This intriguing novella tells a story within a story, of a booklover slowly driven made by his passion, gradually overwhelmed by his 20,000 volumes, and what he did next (no spoiler alert here).