How the Years Fall Upon Us

LONELY VISTAS
—Quinton Duval

Sometimes the longing begins early,
mornings steering the tractor through
uniform lines of grapes. The mist
settles between the rows, down where
the sulphur grabs hold of the leaves
and workers get that little cough
and surprising yellow in the kerchief.
But you are riding higher, inside the cab
no outer noise can seep into.
Bored, you decide the noise of the motor
is the noise it takes to make the whole
dark engine run, what it costs to play.
And all you see are unchanging rows,
occasional returns, like a ship
on a stage, afloat by simple optical
illusion. What others would see
as lucky, you write off as lonely
vistas, the same old same old thing.
Today you had bologna in your sandwich.
Today is Thursday. You can’t remember
if that’s what Thursdays always bring.
You long for a highway, a free-for-all
white line of constant change. The hands
that fold the lunch meat, lubricate the bread,
are hands you have watched for years.
Are they yours or hers? Does she wonder
where those lonely vistas will lead you?
Does she know you know how separate we are?

________________________

Valley Poet and Publisher Quinton Duval will read, along with Grass Valley Poet Will Staple, at B.L. Kennedy's Urban Voices series this coming Wednesday (11/16), to be held at the South Natomas Library, 2901 Truxel Rd., Sac. (free), 6:30-8 pm.

Speaking of publishing, someone asked me the other day for the names of poetry-publishing venues that have quick turnarounds—presses that don't sit on your poems for months and months and months before they notify you and/or publish your work. This is an area where I could use the help of Medusa readers: write to me at kathykieth@hotmail.com, if you will, and let me know about venues that are quick-and-dirty (like the Snake—whose deadline is coming up this Tuesday, Nov. 15!).

If you're looking for venues, there is always Poet's Market, of course, and the classifieds in the back of Poets & Writers. Some of us forget to use The International Directory of Little Magazines and Small Presses, though, from Dustbooks in Paradise (California, that is...). Write to them at PO Box 100, Paradise, CA 95967 or check them out online (dustbooks.com). They publish their directory in paper or cloth, and they also offer the Directory of Poetry Publishers and the Directory of Editors and Publishers. Publisher Len Fulton has been in The Biz for a substantial amount of time (!) and is a very dedicated fella, and I have heard tell that his collection of small press books is AWESOME—truly stunning.

More from Quinton:


TIME'S ARROW
—Quinton Duval

I was in awe of the face
looking back from the snapshot
your surprise letter held:
“Me – 2002.” And it is you,
your eyes the most articulate,
still the blank challenge, full-open
in a face that has evolved.

I would expect that with anyone,
but you are framed in my heart,
if I may say that: “You – circa 1982.”
We knew what we were making
became the past as soon as it left
one set of lips for the other.
We breathed in each other’s words
and saved them away like cordwood
for fires when we would be alone.

Maybe it’s just me, the foot-dragger,
the forestaller. Do you feel time’s arrow
working its way out the other side
of you too? Your letter is as light
as ether. If your picture caught fire
I would inhale the familiar smoke.

Your hands and your hair,
your belly and your long back,
your eyes spilling tears of joy
sometimes, others not. Talk about
how the years fall upon us. Time’s
whole quiver seems empty now.

____________________

Thanks, Quinton!

—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. Previously-published poems are okay for Medusa’s Kitchen, as long as you own the rights. (Please cite publication.)