From A Diary of the Plague Year (10)

Me, with machete,
chopping methodically at a jungle
of myths and lore,
breaking news and pointless views.
I'm headed and footed
to a village in search of clarity.
I'm told they reach consensus
about facts there. Does
such a paradise really exist?

Magnetic North still tells
my compass needles where
to settle down. My body
still needs water. Facts
are beautiful. Check
them. Check on them.
Cherish them.



hans ostrom 2020

Gangster President

vile gangster president
(cult of hatred) makes war
on law and knowledge


hans ostrom 2018

Awful Bog

That the U.S. president's speech
has declined into bits of blather,
a handful of flaccid bigoted prods,
and droplets of rancid smarm
sharply summarizes the state
of the nation's health. He is where
he should not be because our sense
and sensibilities continue sunk
in an awful bog.


hans ostrom 2017