The Words are Wild

Three poetry readings tonight: Susan Kelly-DeWitt and friends in Davis, Beth Lisick at Luna's, Taylor Graham/Phil Weidman/Kathy Kieth in El Dorado Hills. Check the last few posts for details. No matter which end of the county you live in, there's something going on near you.

Taylor Graham, as Energizer-in-Residence for Rattlesnake Review, encouraged us to write triolets for this upcoming issue, and she got a good response. Which brings to mind Gerard Manley Hopkins' "A Trio of Triolets":

No. 1—Is there any news today?

'No news in the Times to-day,'
Each man tells his next-door neighbour.
He, to see if what they say,
'No news in the Times to-day'
Is correct, must plough his way
Through that: after three hours' labour,
'No news in the Times to-day,'
Each man tells his next-door neighbour.


No.2—Cockle's Antibilious Pills

'When you ask for Cockle's Pills,
Beware of spurious imitations.'
Yes, when you ask for every ill's
Cure, when you ask for Cockle's Pills,
Some hollow counterfeit that kills
Would fain mock that which heals the nations.
Oh, when you ask for Cockles' Pills
Beward of heartless imitations.


No. 3—'The Child is Father to the Man' (Wordsworth)

'The child is father to the man.'
How can he be? The words are wild.
Suck any sense from that who can:
'The child is father to the man.'
No, what the poet did write ran,
'The man is father to the child.'
'The child is father to the man!'
How can he be? The words are wild.

___________________

—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.)