Open Circles

HAPPY (oh, sex) NEW YEAR, 06
—Ann Privateer, Davis

After the wind, after the rain
mistletoe peppers the sidewalk.
Insects kiss, cart it away
to party again next year.

_____________________

Thanks, Ann! May we all be around to party next year.

Yesterday's Sacramento Bee published an article (Scene section) on Les Birleson's artwork which has recently been installed at the majestic City Sump #2 at Riverside Blvd. and 11th Avenue, in the Land Park area of Sacramento, near the newly-restored Congregation B'nai Israel. The temple was seriously damaged in the firebombings of 1999, and as part of its restoration, the city of Sacramento has commissioned a granite sculpture called "Open Circle", with the goal of fostering tolerance and understanding. Les Birleson's massive piece includes poetry by local poets Jose Montoya, Julia Connor, Jennifer Pickering, Mary Catherine Rice, Patrick Pfister, Viola Weinberg, and spiralchapper Pearl Stein Selinsky, in addition to newcomer and aspiring poet Bloom. The poems have been sand-blasted on colored glass, then arranged like spokes in a wheel. Pearl notifies us that there will be a dedication; more about that later.


PEACE
—Gerard Manley Hopkins

When will you ever, Peace, wild wooddove, shy wings shut,
Your round me roaming end, and under be my boughs?
When, when, Peace, will you, Peace?—I'll not play hypocrite

To own my heart: I yield you do come sometimes; but
That piecemeal peace is poor peace. What pure peace allows
Alarms of wars, the daunting, wars, the death of it?

O surely, reaving Peace, my Lord should leave in lieu
Some good! And so he does leave Patience exquisite,
That plumes to Peace thereafter. And when Peace here does house
He come with work to do, he does not come to coo,
He comes to brood and sit.

_________________________

Frith Press, which produces the beautiful and prestigious Ekphrasis in addition to selected chapbooks, announces the release of Fainting at the Uffizi, a new collection from North Carolina poet Joanna Catherine Scott. This beautifully produced new volume is available from the Friths at P.O. Box 161236, Sac. 95816-1236. Info: www.hometown.aol.com/ekphrasis1. Oh—and tomorrow (1/6) is the Friths' wedding anniversary!

_________________________

THE THINKER
—William Carlos Williams

My wife's new pink slippers
have gay pom-poms.
There is not a spot or a stain
on their satin toes or their sides.
All night they lie together
under her bed's edge.
Shivering I catch sight of them
and smile, in the morning.
Later I watch them
descending the stair,
hurrying through the doors
and round the table,
moving stiffly
with a shake of their gay pom-poms!
And I talk to them
in my secret mind
out of pure happiness.

_______________________

—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.)