Ponder this old sayingLife is a bowl of cherriesDoes it not instill thoughts of pristine, gleaming fruitBut the top sparkling layerThese hide the rotting, spoiling bottomTruth of the bowlLife is A Bowl of Cherries(Rotted and Full of Worms)2026
As a small child, I was told that when I grew up, I would be a preacher. One of those who stands in the pulpitAnd screams for twenty minutes, A true man of God.My Dad would introduce me by saying, “This is my son Roy, tell them what you’re gonna be when you grow up.”I… Read More When I Grow Up
Kitty corner from my childhood home Stood, with faded and peeling paint A gloomy red building Jo Lums Chinese RestaurantWe never, EVER ate there Not that we ate Chinese at all Even with its close proximity We still never ventured thereThe spicy smell of its kitchen The rotting stink of its dumpster Would waft our… Read More Jo Lums
Terror and fearForm in my mindAs I recall my earliest memoryChristmas at Grandmother EdmondsA yule time of cussing and fightingCould be had by all.Dad, after a few beersHas glazed eyes with a grimaceHe has checked out.Mother holding back tears.Wringing her handsMuttering words of hope.Grandmother fussing,Lecturing all on proper etiquetteCalling God’s wrath down on allGrandfather, ready… Read More First Memory
I’m so TIREDSixty-plus years of adulting has me just TUCKERED ME OUTWhy do I have to make decisions?Be the responsible one?I’m so EXHAUSTEDOf always doing the right thingWhy can’t life just gently kiss my assAnd bother somebody else?I am WORN TO A FRAZZLELooking out for othersWhat about me?Hey over here! I EXIST!ZonkedFinishedDepleted2026
KendallIt started with a hectic, mad dash southTo a frustrating city with no vacanciesBut oh, the outcome was so sweetA bright-eyed, beautiful baby girlThe last bundle of joyTo grace our familyYou made us complete,Like placing that last piece in the puzzle.Life, like it is known to do,Handed you your own peculiar playlistWhich you have mastered… Read More Kendall
Summary of the Early History of Flint, Michigan (1919) is a concise historical overview intended to preserve and communicate the foundational narrative of Flint from its earliest beginnings through its emergence as an industrial city. Written during a period when Flint was rapidly transforming due to automobile manufacturing, the publication looks backward to emphasize the… Read More Summary of the Early History of Flint Michigan by WC Cumings – Rostie Publishing
Selected Sketches and Stories is a collection that showcases the literary and narrative side of Voltairine de Cleyre, a prominent American anarchist, feminist, and orator of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. While she is most famous for her political essays and poetry, this volume highlights her ability to use fiction and “sketches”… Read More Selected Sketches and Stories of Voltairine de Cleyre by Voltairine De Cleyre – Rostie Publishing
Voltairine de Cleyre was one of the most versatile and radical thinkers in American history. Often overshadowed by her contemporary Emma Goldman, de Cleyre’s essays are noted for their poetic intensity, intellectual rigor, and a distinct “anarchism without adjectives.”1. Anarchism Without AdjectivesDe Cleyre’s most significant contribution to political theory was her refusal to get bogged… Read More Selected Essays of Voltairine de Cleyre Volume 1 by Voltairine De Cleyre – Rostie Publishing
The Eternal Feminine is a light-hearted, satirical collection of short stories in which Carolyn Wells playfully examines the social expectations placed on women at the turn of the 20th century. The story follows a charming, clever, and socially perceptive young woman who navigates romantic proposals, social traditions, and the conflicting ideals that define “proper womanhood.”Through… Read More The Eternal Feminine by Carolyn Wells – Rostie Publishing
Ramblings of an Old Coot 