Peeping Turks & Moving House

AUTUMN
—T.E. Hulme

A touch of cold in the Autumn night—
I walked abroad,
And saw the ruddy moon lean over a hedge
Like a red-faced farmer.
I did not stop to speak, but nodded,
And round about were the wistful stars
With white faces like town children.

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•••Today (Thurs., 9/21) at noon, River City Writers Series presents Denver poet Chris Ransick, whose new collection of poetry, Lost Songs and Last Chances, has just been published by Ghost Road Press. Little Theater (Rm. A6), Sacramento City College.

•••Tonight, 8 PM: Poetry Unplugged features Todd Mann, Leslie Dramer, and Rachel Gregg, plus open mic before/after. Luna's Cafe, 1414 16th St., Sac. Free. Info: 916-441-3931.

•••Also tonight, 8-11 PM: Vibe Sessions at Cobbler Inn, 3520 Stockton Blvd., Sac. (next to Colonial Theater). Open mic for comedians/singers/poets. $5.

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Where were we?

If Medusa seems a bit foggy these days, it's because I just put my house on the market, with all the work (painting! Yikes!) and nerve-wracking that entails. Sam and I have decided to downsize, giving us more time for our various artistic pursuits, which of course include Hizzoner the Snake. We're getting ready to "move house", as the British say. Medusa and all our other ophidian delights will continue during this fit of painting and crapola-removal, but there may be the occasional hitch in our git-along. And, no, I'm not killing the Snake—horrors!—I just need to shrink my household commitments so I'll have more time for him. It. You.

So where were we? I dumped a fresh load of Snake 11's, the latest issue, at The Book Collector yesterday; get 'em while they're hot. The last of the contributor copies and subscriptions will go into the mail by the end of this week. September's broadside is Potpourri by Patricia A. Pashby; there are plenty of those at TBC, too. All free!

October's releases (10/11) will be Heron's Run by Sharyn Stever, and littlesnake broadside #28 by Tim Kahl. October 1 is the next deadline for Snakelets, our journal of poetry from kids 0-12 years of age; VYPER, the journal for teens 13-19, has a November 1 deadline. Pick up either Snakelets or VYPER free at The Book Collector, too. Next Rattlesnake Review deadline is Nov. 15—sooner than you think!

And from your home, Internet cafe, or spaceship, keep checking in daily on Medusa. (Tune in tomorrow; we'll launch a new contest!) Plus, submission guidelines and all sorts of other chicanery are available on rattlesnakepress.com, our new and 'way-spiffy Web site.

Now back to the Imagists, who I've been posting this week:

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ABOVE THE DOCK
—T.E. Hulme

Above the quiet dock in mid night,
Tangled in the tall mast's corded height,
Hangs the moon. What seemed so far away
Is but a child's balloon, forgotten after play.

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THE EMBANKMENT
—T.E. Hulme

(The fantasia of a fallen gentleman on a cold, bitter night.)

Once, in finesse of fiddles found I ecstasy,
In the flash of gold heels on the hard pavement.
Now see I
That warmth's the very stuff of poesy.

Oh, God, make small
The old star-eaten blanket of the sky,
That I may fold it round me and in comfort lie.

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CONVERSION
—T.E. Hulme

Lighthearted I walked into the valley wood
In the time of hyacinths,
Till beauty like a scented cloth
Cast over, stifled me. I was bound
Motionless and faint of breath
By loveliness that is her own eunuch.

Now pass I to the final river
Ignominiously, in a sack, without sound,
As any peeping Turk to the Bosphorus.

_______________________

—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.)