What the Earth Devours

IN THE BLUE
—Antonio Machado

In the blue
a band of black birds
that shriek, flutter, and alight
on a stiff poplar tree.
...In the naked grove
the grave quiet jackdaws
write cold black notes
on February staffs.

_______________________

BESIDE THE SIERRA IN FLOWER
—Antonio Machado

Beside the sierra in flower
the broad sea bubbles.
In my honeycomb of bees
are small grains of salt.

_______________________

THE SUN IS A GLOBE OF FIRE
—Antonio Machado

The sun is a globe of fire,
the moon a purple disk.

A white dove perches
in a high centennial cypress.

The borders of myrtle
are like faded, dusty velvet.

Garden and quiet afternoon!...
Water drips in the marble fountain.

_______________________

Small Press Poetry Fair at The Book Collector:

This Saturday (10/14), 6:30-9:30 PM, Poems-For-All presents an opportunity for folks to check out a wide sampling of small press poetry publications from local and national presses. From 6:30-9:30 PM, the consignment usually paid to the bookstore will be passed on to the customer. This means that all small press publications will be anywhere from 20% to 50% off!

For example:
20% off all Rattlesnake Press publications.
30% off all Bottle of Smoke publications.
40% off all Asylum Press publications.
50% off all 24th street irregular press publications.

Poems-For-All chaplettes and other freebies will also be available.

This all takes part during the Second Saturday artwalk in Midtown—an opprtunity to explore the arts district after hours. That's at The Book Collector, 1008 24th St., Sacramento.


What else's doin' this weekend:

•••Saturday (10/14), 12 noon: For the first time in its 12-year history, the Window Art Project of Chico, CA incorporates poetry. Downtown businesses invite artists in all genres to display their work in windows available to the public for the full month of October. Skyway Poets, a critique group which also holds occasional readings, has mounted poems at the Chamber of Commerce, 300 Salem Street (opposite the parking garage); phone 530-891-5556. Participating poets are Ann Doro, Renee Goularte, Lara Gularte, Joy Harold Helsing, Sally Allen McNall, Sylvia Rosen, Audrey C. Small and Patricia Wellingham-Jones. Check out other artistic activities during the month-long Artoberfest celebration at http://www.artoberfest.org/ , including the Skyway Poets’ public reading to launch their new anthology, Skyways, (PWJ Publishing, www.wellinghamjones.com) at noon on Saturday, October 14, 2006 in Diamond Alley between 3rd and 4th Streets downtown. Everybody is welcome!

•••Saturday, 3-5 PM: Rob Anthony, Shadow, Yossarian Bowens plus open mic, 61 Yuence Smoked BBQ & GRill, 9657 Folsom Blvd., Sac. Free. 916-361-2014.

•••Sunday (10/15), 2-4 PM: The Pomo Literati is part of the KUSF Spotlight Series, a 2-hour literary program that interpolates poetry, soundscapes, and live spoken word performance. This chapter features in-studio readings by Poet/publisher William S. Gainer, Poet and spoken word impressario Chris Olander, and Poet/publisher Todd Cirillo and friends. Classic poetic rarities and contemporary spoken word. KUSF Spotlight 90.3FM San Francisco, or on the internet where we go global at www.live365.com/stations/kusf. The Pomo Literati is hosted by poet/producer frank andrick. Special guest host Jim ‘The Germ’ Smith. Info: frank andrick (209-727-5179) or fandrickfabpub@hotmail.com

•••Sunday (10/15), 7-9 PM: Get Lit @ CAV in San Francisco presents SexyFood, an evening of genre-bending fun for cunning linguists. Celebrate acclaimed wordsmiths as they unleash their vibrant sexy side, as they deftly seduce a room full of people with food as their weapon of choice. Mingle and sip exotic wines from Cav’s excellent, sophisticated cellar. Featuring: Christie Nelson, Kit Kennedy, Roxi Power Hamilton, Warren Longmire, Christine Rosakranse and surprise readings. No-host bar and light appetizer menu. CAV Wine Bar, 1666 Market St. (next to Zuni Café) at Franklin & Gough, San Francisco. Info: 415.437.1770 or www.cavwinebar.com. Email questions, ideas, writing submissions for future shows, etc: sexyfood@gmail.com

•••Monday (10/16), 7:30 PM: Sacramento Poetry Center presents Poets of Luther Burbank High School. HQ, 15th & R Sts., Sacramento.


Bin Ramke at CSUS next week:

•••Wednesday (10/18), 7 PM: The Sac State Creative Writing Program in conjunction with the Sac State Visiting Scholars Program and Poets & Writers, Inc. presents a lecture & poetry reading by internationally-acclaimed poet, teacher and scholar Bin Ramke in the CSUS Library Gallery (1st floor). Professor Ramke will deliver a talk and then give a poetry reading. The subject for his talk is "Poetry and Proof: The Problem of the Practical."

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OVER COARSE ROCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SQUARE
—Antonio Machado

Over coarse rock in the middle of the square,
water drips and drips. In the nearby grove a tall
cypress tree, behind an ivy-girded wall,
lifts a stain of rigid branches in the air.

The afternoon is falling into dreams, a lull
before the large houses in the plaza. Windows glare
with macabre echoes of the sun; forms stare
from balconies and fade like blurring skulls.

Across the barren plaza endless calm abounds
where the soul trails the outline of a tortured soul.
Water drips and drips in the marble bowl.
In all the air in shadow, only water sounds.

________________________

I DREAMED YOU LED ME
—Antonio Machado

I dreamed you led me
along a white footpath
through green fields,
toward the blue of the sierras,
toward the blue mountains,
one serene morning.

I felt your hand in mine,
your companion hand,
your child's voice in my ear
like a new bell,
the pristine bell
of a spring dawn.
It was your voice and hand
in dreams, so true!...
Live, hope, who knows
what the earth devours!

(Today's poetry was translated from the Spanish by Richard Lewis.)

________________________

—Medusa (who wishes you the best on this lucky Friday the 13th!)

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.)