The Deconstruction of Freckles

why change is often overrated
—debee loyd, modesto

like the words to a song in a strange tongue
they must at the very least rhyme, for god’s sake
at least let me tell it the way i saw it

reflecting on all the changes i have seen
i can tell you stories
of time, work, struggle misshapen into
adventure or stuffed in a closet for a half century
to become legend at least a black cloud hovering

change by its nature an uneasy guest
we like the way we were the way we perceive
life and our living of it at least that is what we
tell each other in the stories and familial chisme
that breeds like river moss under shade
we deny knowing when we do
we hope it doesn’t look like we know
we steamroll the innocents among us
wring every last word from their gaping and
surprised mouths grab those as they fall from
denying lips, stuff them into our own mouths
chew until we can speak around them
and repeat the never changing refrain ...did you know

_______________________

Thanks, debee! Rattlechapper debee loyd, a past Poet Laureate of Modesto, is one of the editors of hardpan, a fine new journal of poetry which will be celebrating its second issue this Saturday (11/18) at the Mistlin Gallery in Modesto [see yesterday's post].

Send me any poem about change (seasons, moving, or otherwise) by midnight tonight (Tues., Nov. 14) and I'll send you Jane Blue's wonderful new chapbook, Turf Daisies and Dandelions. Or Sharyn Stever's equally-wonderful chap, Heron's Run. Or something else, if you have those two. Send your change poem to kathykieth@hotmail.com or P.O. Box 1647, Orangevale, CA 95662. Or send it in a bunch with your submission for Rattlesnake Review (deadline is tomorrow, Weds., November 15!); just mark which is which. All "change" poems you send will be posted on Medusa.


Calendar addition for this Thursday:

•••Thursday (11/16), 7:30 PM: The Nevada County Poetry Series & The Center for the Arts presents the NCPS's Season Finale, a party to celebrate the release of NCPS's Year 2006 Anthology. $5/$1 for those under 18. Refreshments. Off Center Stage (enter from Richardson St.) behind The Center for the Arts, 314 Main St., Grass Valley. Info: 530-432-8196.

_______________________

END OF FRECKLING TIME UP NORTH
—Marie Riepenhoff-Talty, Sacramento

This green and golden grappled leaf
wraps up my summer in its folds.
It's seen the flint of tiny grapes,
covered them from hail and rain,
let them blush with simple pleasure,
turning red, then darker, richer
into luscious purple Concords,
making scent that salivates;
leaf hangs speckled, freckled, dying.

And I beside the vineyard know, the
time for juice and wine has come.
I’ll don my mittens, coat and scarf
and like the wise and noisy
geese, will head due south;
taking with me speckles, freckles
of a brief and sun-tanned summer.

_______________________

Thanks, Marie!

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.)