Here is an incomplete visual description of things that have no shape.

February 8, 2021 - Reading time: ~1 minute

One. Death is a bottomless pool of clear water.

Two. Wind is a question mark.

Three. Morality is a thermos.

Four. Love is an over-full shopping bag with a broken handle.

Five. Fear is a cinderblock tower with a single door and no windows.

—Episode 148 "The Broadcaster",
Welcome to Night Vale


OpenStreetMap Haiku

January 13, 2021 - Reading time: ~1 minute

On the water's surface
Today in Hunterdon County
The day is young

*

Traffic light goes red
Green. Red. Green. Red.
The warm belly of the bus

*

Chasing laughter
The sun strikes
Feeling good in New Jersey

*

Leaves on the windshield
Thoughts of home

*

Mountain Avenue
Quite chilly
High up in the trees

*

Water like glass
A vacant lot
Far away

{x}


January 5, 2021 - Reading time: ~1 minute

Woodcut, 1920s/30s.
Walther Klemm

{x} {via}


For I will consider my Cat Jeoffry.

November 4, 2020 - Reading time: ~1 minute

For he is the servant of the Living God duly and daily serving him.

—and the rest, from Jubilate Agno,
Christopher Smart


Primer Book of the Alphabet

July 2, 2020 - Reading time: ~1 minute

A is for Azimuth,
B is for Boreas,
C is for Cosign,
D is for Diamat,
E is for Ellips,
F is for Flogiston,
G is for Gamut.
H is for Homeboy,
I is for Iikon,
J is for Jura,
K is for Kollaps,
L is for Laudanum,
M is for Myriad,
N is for Nadir,
O is for Oreole,
P is for Perihelion.
Q is for Quasar,
R is for Rhododendron,
S is for Sinus,
T is for Tricoleur,
U is for Ultra,
V is for Vector,
W is for Warheit,
X is for Xylophone,
Y is for Ystävä,
Z is for Zenith.

Disco Elysium


A lecture on ferrets

April 4, 2018 - Reading time: ~1 minute

Ferrets are small, tawny animals with four paws and a snout. They use their front paws to dig their underground cities, to hunt rats, and to hold food and baby ferrets. They use their hind paws to stand up, to mount females, and to jump. They use all four paws to run, walk, and dance. They use their snout for sniffing and to grow whiskers on, for eating, and to show their kind and benevolent feelings. They also have a furry tail, which is a source of pride to them. Justified pride, moreover, for what would become of a ferret who wasn’t proud of being a ferret? Their congenital trait is prudence, but with time they acquire wisdom as well. For them, everything in the world is red, because their eyes are red, that being the appropriate eye-color for ferrets. They are deeply interested in engineering and music. They have certain gifts of prescience, and would like to be able to fly, but so far have not done so, prevented by their prudence. They are loyal and brave. And they generally carry out their intentions.


—Renka to Livna'lams,
Kalpa Imperial, Angélica Gorodischer