Photo by Marie Riepenhoff-Talty, Sacramento
CHESS FOR CLOWNS
—Marie Riepenhoff-Talty
I always wanted to learn how to play chess;
but wanting is not learning.
The internet play game that takes the work out
does not work.
If a clown can learn from a book,
why not; shall I start there?
But a widow has no potential partner, and her
same-sex, same-age friends play in the past.
Still—the book; but deep down I know
there's no master there.
_______________________
Thanks, Marie! Marie Riepenhoff-Talty has sent me a series of photos of plastic clowns which I find oddly unsettling. They've inspired some poems in her, and maybe they will in you, too.
This weekend in poetry:
•••Tomorrow (Sat., 3/3), a milestone for Redding. Patricia Wellingham-Jones writes: Tomorrow is Redding's big day. The brand new library is having a community-wide book passing, with people lined up for a couple of miles across downtown passing books hand-tohand from the old library to the new. My writers' group (Writers Forum of Redding) will be out in force for the ceremony and book signing afterwards, too. Redding almost lost its library a decade or so ago because of funding, so to see this new one actually happen is a very big deal.
•••Sunday (3/4), 6 PM: All are welcome when the PoemSpirits of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento assemble; the invited feature reader is Kathy Kieth. Attendees are also invited to bring a poem to read—your own, or one that you particularly like. Free and open to the public; open mic, light refreshments. We meet in the library/foyer of the UUSS, 2425 Sierra Blvd., Sacramento, between Howe & Fulton Avenues, 2 blocks north of Fair Oaks Blvd. Contact: Tom Goff or Nora Staklis at 916-481-3312, or JoAnn Anglin at 451-1372.
•••Monday (3/5), 7:30 PM: The Other Voice Poetry Series in Davis presents Heather Hutcheson and Melanie Sievers reading their poetry at The Unitarian Universalist Church of Davis, 27074 Patwin Road, Davis. There will be an open reading following the poets. This is a free event. Call 530-750-3514 for details, and see yesterday's post for bios of these fine poets.
•••Also next Monday (3/5), 7:30 PM: Sacramento Poetry Center presents “Words, Music and Motion”, an evening of storytelling and dance with Angela James and friends at HQ for the Arts, 25th & R Sts., Sacramento. Free; open mic. This group of storytellers, spoken word artists and musicians meld their different art forms together to produce a fascinating and entertaining show. Angela’s entourage includes:
>Mario Ellis Hill, co-host of Poetry Unplugged and director of Mario Ellis Hill Poetry Machine. Mario is also a storyteller, a musician and a capoerista and has twice been the National Slam Poet, in 1995 and 1997.
>Gene and Lorty McClain, husband and wife duo of jazz musicians. Gene plays guitar and keyboards and Lorty backs him up with vocals and the drums.
>Wanda Faye Portman, a published writer and poet whose writing is inspired by family and friends and pertains to all aspects of life based on true life experiences. Faye a member of Capitol Toasters, and Aesop Fablers, a club dedicated to storytelling.
>Angela James, storyteller, poet and inspirational speaker, draws upon childhood experience in the West Indies to etch vivid pictures in the minds of her listeners. She has been published in Sussurus and can be heard on the CD, Echo in the Bone.
>Fenix Drum and Dance Co. was recently picked Best Beatkeepers by Sacramento Magazine. Their blend of song, dance and drumming lend an intriguing color when added to spoken word.
________________________
Russell Edson has something to say about clowns:
THE TRAVELING CIRCUS
—Russell Edson
A white-faced clown lying in the gutter like an old tennis shoe. The circus has left town...
The last time the circus left it left a fat lady dumped on the sidewalk like a pile of varicose cottage cheese wearing lingerie.
Packing and unpacking, the circus always on the move, always forgetting something.
One time even forgetting to leave town...
_______________________
And this one seems oddly appropriate, too:
THE TWILIGHT OF THE GODS
—Russell Edson
A man had stuffed a huge dummy. Then he climbed up on it and sat on its knee.
When he tired of this he alit and took out a small dummy
and sat it on his knee.
When he tired of this he would take out a tiny dummy and sit it on the small dummy's knee.
Sometimes he would again sit on the huge dummy's knee with the small dummy on his knee, and the tiny dummy seated on the small dummy's knee...
And all to sit there as the twilight empties slowly through the dusk...
_______________________
—Medusa
Medusa encourages poets of all ilk and ages to send their POETRY, PHOTOS and ART, as well as announcements of Northern California poetry events to kathykieth@hotmail.com (or snail ‘em to P.O. Box 762, Pollock Pines, CA 95726) 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.)
—Marie Riepenhoff-Talty
I always wanted to learn how to play chess;
but wanting is not learning.
The internet play game that takes the work out
does not work.
If a clown can learn from a book,
why not; shall I start there?
But a widow has no potential partner, and her
same-sex, same-age friends play in the past.
Still—the book; but deep down I know
there's no master there.
_______________________
Thanks, Marie! Marie Riepenhoff-Talty has sent me a series of photos of plastic clowns which I find oddly unsettling. They've inspired some poems in her, and maybe they will in you, too.
This weekend in poetry:
•••Tomorrow (Sat., 3/3), a milestone for Redding. Patricia Wellingham-Jones writes: Tomorrow is Redding's big day. The brand new library is having a community-wide book passing, with people lined up for a couple of miles across downtown passing books hand-tohand from the old library to the new. My writers' group (Writers Forum of Redding) will be out in force for the ceremony and book signing afterwards, too. Redding almost lost its library a decade or so ago because of funding, so to see this new one actually happen is a very big deal.
•••Sunday (3/4), 6 PM: All are welcome when the PoemSpirits of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento assemble; the invited feature reader is Kathy Kieth. Attendees are also invited to bring a poem to read—your own, or one that you particularly like. Free and open to the public; open mic, light refreshments. We meet in the library/foyer of the UUSS, 2425 Sierra Blvd., Sacramento, between Howe & Fulton Avenues, 2 blocks north of Fair Oaks Blvd. Contact: Tom Goff or Nora Staklis at 916-481-3312, or JoAnn Anglin at 451-1372.
•••Monday (3/5), 7:30 PM: The Other Voice Poetry Series in Davis presents Heather Hutcheson and Melanie Sievers reading their poetry at The Unitarian Universalist Church of Davis, 27074 Patwin Road, Davis. There will be an open reading following the poets. This is a free event. Call 530-750-3514 for details, and see yesterday's post for bios of these fine poets.
•••Also next Monday (3/5), 7:30 PM: Sacramento Poetry Center presents “Words, Music and Motion”, an evening of storytelling and dance with Angela James and friends at HQ for the Arts, 25th & R Sts., Sacramento. Free; open mic. This group of storytellers, spoken word artists and musicians meld their different art forms together to produce a fascinating and entertaining show. Angela’s entourage includes:
>Mario Ellis Hill, co-host of Poetry Unplugged and director of Mario Ellis Hill Poetry Machine. Mario is also a storyteller, a musician and a capoerista and has twice been the National Slam Poet, in 1995 and 1997.
>Gene and Lorty McClain, husband and wife duo of jazz musicians. Gene plays guitar and keyboards and Lorty backs him up with vocals and the drums.
>Wanda Faye Portman, a published writer and poet whose writing is inspired by family and friends and pertains to all aspects of life based on true life experiences. Faye a member of Capitol Toasters, and Aesop Fablers, a club dedicated to storytelling.
>Angela James, storyteller, poet and inspirational speaker, draws upon childhood experience in the West Indies to etch vivid pictures in the minds of her listeners. She has been published in Sussurus and can be heard on the CD, Echo in the Bone.
>Fenix Drum and Dance Co. was recently picked Best Beatkeepers by Sacramento Magazine. Their blend of song, dance and drumming lend an intriguing color when added to spoken word.
________________________
Russell Edson has something to say about clowns:
THE TRAVELING CIRCUS
—Russell Edson
A white-faced clown lying in the gutter like an old tennis shoe. The circus has left town...
The last time the circus left it left a fat lady dumped on the sidewalk like a pile of varicose cottage cheese wearing lingerie.
Packing and unpacking, the circus always on the move, always forgetting something.
One time even forgetting to leave town...
_______________________
And this one seems oddly appropriate, too:
THE TWILIGHT OF THE GODS
—Russell Edson
A man had stuffed a huge dummy. Then he climbed up on it and sat on its knee.
When he tired of this he alit and took out a small dummy
and sat it on his knee.
When he tired of this he would take out a tiny dummy and sit it on the small dummy's knee.
Sometimes he would again sit on the huge dummy's knee with the small dummy on his knee, and the tiny dummy seated on the small dummy's knee...
And all to sit there as the twilight empties slowly through the dusk...
_______________________
—Medusa
Medusa encourages poets of all ilk and ages to send their POETRY, PHOTOS and ART, as well as announcements of Northern California poetry events to kathykieth@hotmail.com (or snail ‘em to P.O. Box 762, Pollock Pines, CA 95726) 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.)
