This Week's Writing 10/11/25

Hello all! Below is what I published this week…but! Before I get to that I should let you know that I am on vacation next week; I’m going to NYC to watch my playwright daughter’s off-Broadway debut!

That means posting here will be somewhat lighter…I will probably share some things at least sometimes, but every day new content will pick up again when I’m back.

As always, the newsletter relies on your support…so if you find my writing valuable, consider becoming a paid subscriber so I can buy water for the kitty! It’s $5/month, $50/year.

Politics

Democrats are winning the shutdown. (Public Notice)

Where will we be in ten years? (EIH)

It’s good that Janet Mills is in the ME senate race. (EIH)

There’s very limited joy in Trump voters being hurt by Trump. (EIH)

Mike Johnson does it all for Trump. (EIH)

Cultural Criticism

How do freelancers survive today? (Jane Friedman interviews me)

Sylvia Plath and the pros and cons of Holocaust analogies. (EIH)

Poetry

One poem for my daughter; one for my career. (Five Fleas)

No MFA

I have never taught a poetry class.
I tried to be a poetry teacher but I failed.
I am still failing.
There is nothing to learn here.

—

You

fall out
and crawl over
and climb up
into you.

Little sleepy poem. (Five Fleas)

naps are good but then
you wake up and you’re just
back where you started