The Clover Men

The figures evocative of the human form in the cartoons adorning each section of this site are called Clover Men. Like some of their namesakes, they have five bulges from a central "torso"; these bugles (freely) represent two arms, two legs and a head. The Clover Men have never had faces, and they wear only the most basic clothing. (When I was in eighth grade, I drew political cartoons using them; to indicate which politician was represented by which Clover Man, I would write the name of the politician across the Clover Man's "torso.")

The Clover Men inhabited the margins of my notes while I was in school, discussing the latest grammatical atrocities or unintentionally hilarious witticisms by my teachers, the latest inanities or deceptions by my fellow students, political, cultural and social trends of the day, and (especially) various flaws in my personality, conduct and performance, all in savagely sarcastic terms.

Notwithstanding that part about discussing my flaws, the Clover Men and the fun their discussions provided me were a most excellent diversion from the business of education. Now, however, they do not have a natural habitat, as I spend most of my time in front of a computer and very little scribbling in a notebook. The Clover Men live on in occasional appearances in a blank book made for me by a kind artist friend of mine, but I felt that if I was going to have a website then they should have a place to hang out on it. I may end up doing some cartooning with them, but I probably won't; in either case, it's nice just to see them, still hanging around.

Click here to see a recent yet extremely juvenile cartoon depicting one of the limitations I imposed on the life of the Clover Men.

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