A Song, A Sting, and yes—A Wing!

Tell all the Truth but tell it slant—
Success in Circuit lies
Too bright for our infirm Delight
The Truth's superb surprise

As Lightning to the Children eased
With explanation kind
The Truth must dazzle gradually
Or every man be blind—

—Emily Dickinson, #1129

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Bless Kate Wells—not only does she forgive me for completely leaving her poem out of the last Snake, but she sends me her kids' poetry, too! The Snake is thoroughly charmed! Please send MORE KIDS' POEMS (ages 0-12) for Snakelets; the deadline of OCTOBER 1 looms!

Busy blog today; another full week of readings:

Tonight (9/19), the Sacramento Poetry Center presents Emily Newton and Scott Petty, 7:30 at HQ (25th & R Sts., Sac.).

Tomorrow (9/20), Blas Manuel De Luna and Linda Thorell will read at Third Tuesday Poetry Series, La Raza/ Galleria Posada, 15th & R Sts., Sac., 7pm. (No open mic.) Hosted by Art and Christina Mantecon. Info: 743-5329.

Wednesday (9/21), Jose Montoya, our previous Poet Laureate of Sacramento, reads at the South Natomas Library, 2901 Truxel Rd., Sac., 7 pm.

Also Wednesday (9/21), Elsie Whitlow Feliz will read at The Book Collector (1008 24th St.) this Wednesday (9/21), from 7:30-9pm, to celebrate the release of her new chapbook from Rattlesnake Press. Entitled Tea With Bunya, this rattlechap explores Elsie’s years growing up as a Russian in San Francisco during the '50's. Refreshments and a read-around to follow; the event is free. Info: 442-9295. (Note: for this month only, the Rattlesnake Reading Series has moved from the 2nd Weds. to the 3rd Weds.)

Also debuting at the Weds. Rattle-read:

***The long-awaited FANGS I: Snake Poems from the Snake—a free anthology of all (we think) of the poems about snakes that appeared in Issues 1-6 of Rattlesnake Review. Probably...

***Two littlesnake broadsides: Territorio Nuevo by Irene Lipshin of Placerville, and Way Too Much Sky by Kathy Kieth of Fair Oaks.

Then on Thursday, you have your choice of Gene Avery at Poetry Unplugged at Luna's (1414 16th St., Sac.), 8 pm, or Pulitizer Prize Winner Garry Wills at the California Lecture Series, Crest Theatre. Tix are $23; info: 737-1300.


Couple of snake poems from Emily:

A narrow Fellow in the Grass
Occasionally rides—
You may have met Him—did you not
His notice sudden is—

The Grass divides as with a Comb—
A spotted shaft is seen—
And then it closes at your feet
And opens further on—

He likes a Boggy Acre
A Floor too cool for Corn—
Yet when a Boy, and Barefoot—
I more than once at Noon
Have passed, I thought, a Whip last
Unbraiding in the Sun
When stooping to secure it
It wrinkled, and was gone—

Several of Nature's People
I know, and they know me—
I feel from them a transport
Of cordiality—

But never met this Fellow
Attended, or alone
Without a tighter breathing
And Zero at the Bone—

(986)

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Sweet is the swamp with its secrets,
Until we meet a snake;
'Tis then we sign for houses,
And our departure take

At that enthralling gallop
That only childhood knows.
A snake is summer's treason,
And guile is where he goes.

(1740)

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Well, now we know what Emmy thought of snakes...

Speaking of Emmys, and last night's awards, Emily D. has this to say about fame:


Fame is a bee.
It has a song—
It has a sting—
Ah, too, it has a wing.

(1763)

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Thanks, Emily!

—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.