In the Key of Dusk

OGRE
—F.S. Flint

Through the open window can be seen
the poplars at the end of the garden
shaking in the wind,
a wall of green leaves so high
that the sky is shut off.

On the white table-cloth
a rose in a vase
—center of a sphere of odour—
contemplates the crumbs and crusts
left from a meal:
cups, saucers, plates lie
here and there.

And a sparrow flies by the open window,
stops for a moment,
flutters his wings rapidly,
and climbs an aerial ladder
with his claws
that work close in
to his soft, brown-grey belly.

But behind the table is the face of a man.

The bird flies off.

_______________________

Poetry Tonight:

•••Wed., Sept. 20, 6:30 PM: Urban Voices presents Bill Carr and Terry Moore. South Natomas Library, 2901 Truxel Rd., Sac. Free.

•••Also Weds. (9/20), 10 PM-midnight: Mics and Moods presents the live music of Sparlha Swa at Capitol Garage, 1500 K St., Sac. Features & open mic. $5; 21 and older. Info: 916-492-9336.


Kalliope Contest:

Nov. 1 is the deadline for submissions to the Kalliope 2006 Sue Saniel Elkind Poetry Contest: 1st Prize is $1000 and publication in Kalliope, to be awarded to a woman poet. Runners-up will receive consideration for publication. Maximum length is 50 lines. Entry fee $5 per poem or 3 for $12. Send two copies, one with name, address, & phone number on upper right corner and one without identification. For more details on both contests please visit www.fccj.org/kalliope, or kalliope@fccj.edu or send SASE to Kalliope, Florida Community College at Jacksonville, 11901 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32246.


Ready to Retreat?

The Fall 2006 Frank Bette Artist Retreat will be held from Saturday, October 14 through Friday, October 20 at the Elk Creek Art Center in Elk Creek, CA—a charming historic schoolhouse converted into a large artist studio with community living area, cozy bedrooms and gardens. Jumpstart your creative juices, explore new mediums and artistic processes. Reconnect with your artistic path. All creative mediums, instruments and outlets welcome. Draw, paint, collage, sculpt, etch, write, perform, play music, and think. Share artistic techniques and inspiration. Launch a new series. You can enjoy feedback, encouragement and connection, join in the group or focus on your own artwork. Kick back. Sleep in, or stay up late. Hike along the river. Hang out in your PJ’s. Enjoy a delightful, low key, self-driven retreat experience.

Retreat package price includes “Home Cooked Dinners” and a “Welcome Reception” with wine & appetizers. Our retreat cook will plan, prepare and serve dinners, and each guest will serve one night on a team helping our cook with dinner prep and clean up. Breakfasts, lunches, snacks and beverages are your choice; bring your favorite foods/beverages or eat at at the small deli/market or café within walking distance, or drive 20 minutes to the restaurants/markets in Willows.

Elk Creek is 2.5 hours north of the Bay Area, 20 miles west of Willows, in the eastern foothills of the Mendocino National Forest. Space is very limited! Sign-up now before rooms sell out. Mail your reservation form with payment by October 1.

[Now here's the strange part: the notice that came around didn't list any contact information! But here's the address and phone for the Frank Bette Center for the Arts; call them if you're interested: 510-523-6957 (1601 Paru St., Alameda, CA 94501).]


Or Head for Mallorca!

The Writing For Our Lives workshop with Ellen Bass will be held in LaSerrania in Mallorca, Spain from April 28 to May 5, 2007. Ellen Bass writes: This workshop will be an inspiring environment in which to share our lives and work, our support, our creativity. In our busy lives, many of us find that there isn’t as much time for writing as we long for. This week will be an opportunity to delve into our writing without distractions or interruptions, to nurture the creative voice. There will be ample time for writing and time for sharing and response, hearing what our work touches in others. We'll help each other to become clearer, go deeper, express our feelings and ideas more powerfully. From beginners to experienced, all writers are welcomed. Whether you are interested in poetry, fiction, nonfiction, memoir or journal writing, this workshop will provide an opportunity to explore and expand your creative world.

This size of the workshop is limited by the capacity of the retreat center to 14 participants. The regular fee for the workshop (which includes accommodations and all meals) is $1625. The early bird fee is $1375 and will be available until December 1. A $400 deposit is required to hold your place. Most rooms are doubles, but there may be single rooms available either at La Serrania or in a small house nearby. If you'd like to register, please email either Tim at retreats@laserrania.com or me at ellen@ellenbass.com.

_______________________

FRAGMENT
—F.S. Flint

...That night I loved you
in the candlelight.
Your golden hair
strewed the sweet whiteness of the pillows
and the counterpane.
O the darkness of the corners,
the warm air, and the stars
framed in the casement of the ships' lights!
The waves lapped into the harbour;
the boats creaked;
a man's voice sang out on the quay;
and you loved me.
In your love were the tall tree fuchsias,
the blue of the hortensias, the scarlet nasturtiums,
the trees on the hills,
the roads we had covered,
and the sea that had borne your body
before the rocks of Hartland.
You loved me with these
and with the kindness of people,
country folk, sailors and fishermen,
and the old lady who had lodged us and supped us.
You loved me with yourself
that was these and more,
changed as the earth is changed
into the bloom of flowers.

_______________________

HOUSES
—F.S. Flint

Evening and quiet:
a bird trills in the poplar trees
behind the house with the dark green door
across the road.

Into the sky,
the red earthenware and the galvanised iron chimneys
thrust their cowls.
The hoot of the steamers on the Thames is plain.

No wind;
the trees merge, green with green;
a car whirs by;
footsteps and voices take their pitch
in the key of dusk,
far-off and near, subdued.

Solid and square to the world
the houses stand,
their windows blocked with venetian blinds.

Nothing will move them.

_______________________

—Medusa

Medusa encourages poets of all ilk and ages to send their poetry, photos and art, 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.)