Spiders at Puppetry

SNAIL
—Federico Garcia Lorca

They have brought me a snail.

Inside it sings
a map-green ocean.
My heart
swells with water,
with small fish
of brown and silver.

They have brought me a snail.

(trans. by William Jay Smith)

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This Friday, 9/15 (NOT Sat. 9/16 as listed in Poetry Now) at 7:30 PM, Lorca will be read in Spanish at the annual all-Spanish reading to celebrate Mexican Independence Day, sponsored by the Writers of the New Sun/Escritores del Nuevo Sol. Mariposa Hall, Rm. 1000, CSUS, 6000 J St., Sac. Come hear the poetry of two immortal poets of the Generation of 27: Rafael Alberti and Federico Garcia Lorca, as well as poems from Dr. Fausto Avendano and Mariela Santana; plus, you are invited to read your favorite poem in Spanish during the open mic. Donation $5/$3 for students/members, but no one turned away for lack of money. (NOTE: Campus parking is $2.75. Pay at self-serve kiosks in parking lots. Campus map: http://itweb.csus.edu/map/location3.htm)


Lots of Choices Tonight:

•••Tonight, Sept. 13, 7:30 PM, Rattlesnake Press will be releasing Fictional Character: The Ernie Poems by Phil Weidman at The Book Collector, 1008 24th St., Sac. Also being released that night: a littlesnake broadside, Potpourri, from Sacramento Poet Patricia A. Pashby. Refreshments and a read-around will follow; bring your own poems or somebody else’s. Free.

•••Also tonight (9/13), 5-8 PM: Be Davison Herrera and friends will be continuing a celebration of her husband, Jack's, 75th birthday with a COMET & STAR performance and exhibition of hand-painted poetry banners at Luna's Cafe, 1414 16th St., Sac. The gathering time is 5-8 PM, with WORD and music starting at 6.

•••Also tonight (9/13), 10-midnight: Mahogany Poets presents Mics and Moods at Capitol Garage, 1500 K St., Sac. Features and Open Mic; 21 and older. $5. Info: 916-492-9336 or www.malikspeaks.com.

•••And in Chico, tonight, the free monthly “Telling Our Stories” writing workshops will meet the second Wednesday of each month starting in September, 6:30-8 PM, Enloe Cancer Center Library, Fountain Medical Plaza, 251 Cohasset Rd. (across from Chico Sports Club), Chico. Info: 530-332-3856.


Got a Concise, Amazing, Contemporary One For WriterAdvice?

B. Lynn Goodwin writes: Do you have a short poem to share with the readers of WriterAdvice, www.writeradvice.com? I'm looking for a couple of concise, amazing, contemporary poems for the October-November issue. Please submit your best work asap. Cut and paste it into the body of an e-mail and send it to Lgood67334@comcast.net with Poetry for WriterAdvice in the subject box.

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THE STREET OF THE MUTES
—Federico Garcia Lorca

Behind the rigid panes
the girls play games with their smiles.

(Spiders at puppetry
in the empty pianos.)

The girls talk to their suitors,
shaking their tight braids.

(World of the fan,
the handkerchief and the hand.)

The gallants reply, making
with their black cloaks wings and flowers.

(trans. by W. S. Merwin)

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HE DIED AT DAWN
—Federico Garcia Lorca

Night of four moons
and one lone tree,
with one lone shadow
and one lone bird.

I seek in my flesh
the tracks of your lips.
The fountain kisses the wind
without touch.

I carry the No that you gave me
in the palm of my hand,
like a lemon of wax
almost white.

Night of four moons
and one lone tree.
On a pin's point
my love is spinning!

(trans. by Greville Texidor)

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THE SPINSTER AT MASS
—Federico Garcia Lorca

Beneath the Moses of the incense,
drowsing.

Bull eyes observe you.
Your rosary raining.

In that dress of silk so dense,
never stir, Virginia.

Give the black melons of your breasts
to the murmur of the mass.

(trans. by Edwin Honig)

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—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.)