Wiser and Older (& Older & Older...)

THE SOUND OF TREES
—Robert Frost

I wonder about the trees.
Why do we wish to bear
Forever the noise of these
More than another noise
So close to our dwelling place?
We suffer them by the day
Till we lose all measure of place,
And fixity in our joys,
And acquire a listening air.
They are that that talks of going
But never gets away;
And that talks no less for knowing,
As it grows wiser and older,
That now it means to stay.
My feet tug at the floor
And my head sways to my shoulder
Sometimes when I watch trees sway,
From the window or the door.
I shall set forth for somewhere,
I shall make the reckless choice
Some day when they are in voice
And tossing so as to scare
The white clouds over them on.
I shall have less to say,
But I shall be gone.

___________________

Last Sunday would've been Robert Frost's 132nd birthday. Did you know he was born in San Francisco?

Richard and Rachel Hansen and I have decided: no more "sides-sies" at The Book Collector. Poets will no longer be allowed to reserve—have the Hansens set aside—Rattlesnake Reviews for them. Do remember, though, that issues do NOT have limited runs; I keep making copies as long as anyone wants one, and that includes back issues, too. And if copies run out at The Book Collector, let me know, and I'll make sure you get one. There is always the subscription ("snail bux") option, too—$15 for a year of the Review, Vyper, Snakelets, and assorted broadsides mailed right to your house. But I will try to make sure copies of The Snake are always available on The Book Collector shelves. (Actually, as problems, go, this is not a bad one to have...)

Tonight (3/30), Frances Mayes will be in Sacramento at 6 pm at the Tsakopoulos Library Galleria, 828 I St., for a question-and-answer session and to sign her new book, A Year in the World: Journeys of a Passionate Traveller,which will be available there at 30% off. The event, sponsored by The Bee Book Club in conjunction with the Sacramento Public Library Foundation, is free and open to the public. Info: 916-321-1792. Through tonight, the following bookstores will offer a 30% discount on the title: Borders, Borders Express, Barnes & Noble, Tower, East-West Bookstore, Underground Books, Avid Reader, Hornet Bookstore, UC Davis Bookstore, and Next Chapter (in Woodland). Frances Mayes is best known for her "Tuscany" series, including Under the Tuscan Sun, but she is also the author of a wonderful poetry text, The Discovery of Poetry: A Field Guide to Reading and Writing Poems, Harcourt, Inc., 2001. Doors open tonight at 5:15; seating is first come, first served.

Also tonight (3/30), Poetry Unplugged at Luna's Cafe, 1414 16th St., Sac, presents poets/performers Sabrina Mathis and Alan Satow, 8 pm.

Need a poem about snails? Trees? Boomerangs? Recently I ran across poemhunter.com, which has hundreds of poems catagorized by subject, with hundreds of poets represented. Just in case you happen to need a poem about snails... or boomerangs...


THE SILKEN TENT
—Robert Frost

She is as in a field a silken tent
At midday when a sunny summer breeze
Has dried the dew and all its ropes relent,
So that in guys it gently sways at ease.
And its supporting central cedar pole,
That is its pinnacle to heavenward
And signifies the sureness of the soul,
Seems to owe naught to any single cord,
But strickly held by none, is loosely bound
By countless silken ties of love and thought
To everything on earth the compass round,
And only by one's going slightly taut
In the capriciousness of summer air
Is of the slightest bondange made aware.

_______________________

NEITHER OUT FAR NOR IN DEEP
—Robert Frost

The people along the sand
All turn and look one way.
They turn their back on the land.
They look at the sea all day.

As long as it takes to pass
A ship keeps raising its hull;
The wetter ground like glass
Reflects a standing gull.

The land may vary more;
But wherever the truth may be—
The water comes ashore,
And the people look at the sea.

They cannot look out far.
They cannot look in deep.
But when was that ever a bar
To any watch they keep?

_______________________

—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.)