081720b

 

The hermits moved from shell to shell as they grew, so when the giant snails died out they suddenly had no place to live. Fortunately, by then the cities had been abandoned, and they had their pick of apartments of every size.

062820c

listed on Zillow

attic full of unopened

toys and games

040320

Working from home


outside my window
the bright green garden
chill dark room

031520

Mars doesn't have trees
leave the wood carving tools
and Lemon Pledge

031320b

house so new
it's still shrink wrapped
preloaded family

121619

winter storm coming
we're nailing up the shutters
but I'm home

110719c

we share our home
with a host of squatters
most too small to see

091819c

self-cleaning floors
the mutation spread quickly
every room was empty

090819c

This retro wooden house was perfect, until the warranty expired after 90 days. Cheap-ass glue!

022019

combing the bearded walls
getting out the snarls
the white gleam
behind the lips

013119c

house folded
into the fourth dimension
quarter acro of prime real estate
into the fifth
set down roots anywhere
coastal property
til NOAA says go

012919c

ponderous movement
of homes westward with the herds
backdoor bubbles blown

030518b

the table emerges
when visits are imminent
bags full of stuff

022017b

Spiral's Heart

I chose this place

because the massy stars

fill the sky from horizon to zenith

to horizon

I chose this place

despite the hard

radiation, which necessitates

shielding from its glory

I chose this place

so close to the galaxy's

black and deadly heart

for its bright beauty

I chose this place

021217c

A House is not a Home

The ottoman scoots closer

Reports of the latest crises

Striate the living walls

Dissolve to a salad of

Brownian spots

A signal the house needs food

I don't move

The ottoman quivers, shakes

Again, barks a warning.

Fire blossoms everywhere

Rampaging robots march with snapping claws

And crimson beams of fire

This is not real, but it's certainly distracting

It'll keep up till I do my duty.

I lever myself up

Stumble to the pantry

"I'm coming, I'm coming" I call

Uh oh

The food bag is empty

What else do I have?

The fridge flashes a low-food warning

I feel like Old Mother Hubbard

Except my dog IS my cupboard

Grab my keys and go to the door

But it stays shut.

"The grocery store! You want Purina All-House™?"

Nothing moves.

"And Home Treats™! Condo flavor!"

The door slides open.

When I get back I'll find out

What has been destroyed

And what has not.

End

Publ. Star*line

New sf flash -- haunted houses of the future

"Misprint," sf flash http://www.dailycabal.com/ Homeowners beware!