DOG LIPS
—David Humphreys, Stockton
Dawg leeps, you softy bear
fur soft as mink. After our
morning walk you bounce around
like a dim wit puppy but then settle
down on your bean bag bed for your
day long snooze, Mr. Dog.
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Thanks, David. David Humphreys is responding to last Tuesday's Seed of the Week.
Sacramento Poetry Center Conference: April 4-5
This year's Sacramento Poetry Center Conference will feature readings, lectures, and workshops. Here's the schedule:
Friday April 4:
6 PM late registration, passes, hors d'ouevres, book sales
6:45 PM Reception opening, introduction
7:00 PM Reading at The Space: Camille Norton, Joshua McKinney, Jane Hirshfield
8-8:30 PM Closing/Book Sales
Saturday April 5:
8:45-9:20 AM Breakfast, Late Registration, Briefing from President
9:30-11:30 AM Workshop A Camille Norton
9:30-11:30 AM Workshop B Joshua McKinney
11:30 AM Lunch
1-1:30 PM Al Young Lecture
2-4:00 PM Workshop C Ellen Bass
2-4:00 PM Workshop D Quinton Duval
4:15-4:30 PM Closing remarks by President
4:30 PM Reading at The Space: Quinton Duval, Ellen Bass, Al Young
5:30 PM Closing Book Signings
Fees: Members: Friday $10 [Reading only] Saturday $10 [Reading/Lecture only] Both Days $35; Non-members: Friday $10 [Reading] Saturday $15 [Reading/Lecture only] Both Days $45. Special one-time SPC membership fee at the conference: $25. Mail to: 1719 25th Street , Sacramento, CA 95816.
__________________
THE DOG'S MUSIC
—Russell Edson
The rich hire orchestras, and have the musicians climb into trees to sit in the branches among the leaves, playing Happy Birthday to their dogs.
When the manservants come with birthday cakes, they are told, not now, do not dare disturb me when I am listening to my dog's music.
I was just wondering, sir, if I should light the candles?
I said not now. Do you want to distract me from my dog's music? Don't you realize that this is his birthday, and that it's been a whole year since his last birthday?
Shall I just put the cake in his feeding bowl, sir?
You are still distracting me from my dog's music. I wonder why you do it. This is not your birthday. Why are you trying to attract my attention?
But, sir, the cake...
But do you think I want my dog to see me talking to you while his music is being played? How would it seem to you if I talked to the dog while your music was being played?
So sorry, sir. I'll take the cake back to the house...
Oh no, it's gone too far for that—Sic'em, sic'em, cry the rich to their dogs.
And so the dogs of the rich leap on the serving men, who cry, help help, to the rich, who reply, not now, not now, the dog's birthday is passing into history with all its marvelous music!
__________________
—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.) Medusa cannot vouch for the moral fiber of other publications, contests, etc. that she lists, however, so submit to them at your own risk. For more info about the Snake Empire, including guidelines for submitting to or obtaining our publications, click on the link to the right of this column: Rattlesnake Press (rattlesnakepress.com).
SnakeWatch: News from Rattlesnake Press
The brand-new Rattlesnake Review (#17) is now available for free at The Book Collector, 1008 24th St., Sacramento. Contributor copies and subscriptions will go into the mail this week and next. And if you aren't any of those but would like me to mail you one, send two bux to P.O. Box 762, Pollock Pines, CA 95726.
Also New in March: Attracted to Light, a chapbook by Ann Privateer; Eclipse, a free littlesnake broadside by Jeanine Stevens; and Conversations Volume Two of B.L. Kennedy's Rattlesnake Interview Series.
Coming in April: We will mark the Snake’s fourth birthday by throwing the Fourth Annual Birthday Bash at The Book Collector on Wednesday, April 9, including a buffet at 7 PM, followed by a reading at 7:30 PM. That night, there will be three history-making releases: Ann Menebroker’s new chapbook (Small Crimes); Ted Finn re-emerges with a new SnakeRings SpiralChap of his poetry and art (Damn the Eternal War); and Katy Brown inaugurates her blank (well, not really) journal series for our HandyStuff department with her MUSINGS: Photos and Prompts For Capturing Creative Thought. Please join us to celebrate four years of [your] poetry with fangs!
