Are we hot, or what?

THE PRIEST OF FLOWERS
—Susan Kelly-DeWitt

Let him fly like a dark bird across the waters
bringing oil and wafers. Let him swoop down

over the endless fields of Being,
searching for the souls of lost flowers.

Let him arrive swinging his censer
to perfume the last rites.

____________________

Thanks, Susan!

Readings in town every day this coming week—are we hot, or what? And who says our poetry scene slows down for summer?!

•Monday: Brad Buchanan will read at HQ (25th and R, Sac.) for Sac. Poetry Center, 7:30pm. See previous postings for samples of his poetry.

•Tuesday: Third Tuesday Poetry Series will present Jean Vengua (writer/researcher/teacher at UC Berkeley in Filipino-American studies) and Fausto Avendano (CSUS professor of Hispanic Literature) at La Raza/Galeria Posada, 1421 R St., Sac., 7:30pm.

•Wednesday: Urban Voices at South Natomas library, 2901 Truxel Rd., Sac.: Barbara Noble from Sacramento and Suzanne Roberts from Tahoe, 7pm.

•Thursday: Indigo Moor at Poetry Unplugged, Luna's, 1414 16th, Sac., 8pm.

•Friday: Escritores del Nuevo Sol presents Susan Hennies and Joe Finkleman with musical accompaniment by Francesca Reitano on Native American flute and Mark Halverson on percussion. La Raza/Galeria Posada, 15th & R, Sac., 7:30pm. $5.

•Saturday: Nevada County Poetry Series: Cowboy Poetry, 7:30pm. Center for the Arts, 314 W. Main St., Grass Valley. Info: 432-8196. $5.

•And watch for more info about California Poet Laureate Al Young being at the California State Fair on Saturday, August 20.

More about some of these as the week progresses. And don't forget the Poems-for-All reading tonight at The Book Collector, 1008 24th St., Sac., 7:30: Frank Andrick, Michelle Tea, Rachel Savage and Rachel Leibrock.

—Medusa

Medusa encourages poets of all ilk and ages to send their poetry and announcements of Northern California poetry events to kathykieth@hotmail.com for posting on this daily Snake blog. Rights remain with the poets.