Horses, Cats, & Little White Balls

FEEDING HORSES IN EARLY FALL
—Barbara March, Cedarville

they turn the old woman every four hours
she thirsts, strikes out, fights the season of

early snow, too early regulars say

still you release bungee cords to open the hay barn
fill feed tubs with orchard grass
kernels of grain woven through pale green stems
promise—but the order is off

horses coats are thin
gold leaves cling under cover of ice
burn pile wants burning
two owls spy your red wool hat
too soon, too soon they purr

as her head rises, her eyes roll back
to see deer glide over a white field where
winter quiet, before its time, has settled

___________________

AND ON THE SEVENTH DAY
—Shawn Aveningo, Rescue

I find myself
at that proverbial fork.
A turn to the right—
the dutiful Sunday sermon.
A turn to the left—
a flirtation for my taste buds:
wine tasting at Sogno.
Quick to grapple guilt,
only to succumb
to the swirling sensations in motion,
as sweet tonic teases my tongue.
I enjoy my free liquid lunch,
toast to life,
savoring every sip.

___________________

THE MYSTERY OF LITTLE WHITE BALLS
—Shawn Aveningo

Gentleman Only.
Ladies Forbidden!
Hence the reason
Scots wore skirts
on the Links.
Oh Excuse me… Kilts.

The American businessman,
perhaps not in touch
with his feminine side,
wears tacky plaid
and argyle.

Such pomp and primp
to chase little white balls
on a turf,
in the sand or
Uh oh… sink in the surf.

BallFinder Scout
searches to rescue
Titleist and his merry men,
Callaway, Nike and Wilson.

(Perhaps that Scout spotted Bin Laden too.)

Those that are lost
are said to have sealed their fate.
Using another man’s lost balls
can only bring future mulligans.

Dwelling near the 9th Green,
I can’t resist dropping a wayward renegade
into a flagged cup,
raising my glass to the new
hero of the hole in one,
snickering in secret.

I better be careful, karma warns.
Tiger might attack.

__________________

LIKE SNOW
—Shawn Aveningo

You dance in air.
Pristine crystals
blanket stillness within.
Each flake
a story, a memory
unique.
I treasure the
fresh, crisp
sensation.
Melted,
gone
before turning gray,
before I have a chance
to scoop you
up with my shovel,
and mold you
into my snowman.

__________________

Thanks, Shawn and Barbara, for the poems! Here is Shawn's response to our recent cat poems, plus a poem from Mitz Sackman that sprang from our Seed of the Week: Secret Gardens and Other Enchanted Places.

And don't forget:

TODAY (Nov. 15) IS THE DEADLINE FOR
RATTLESNAKE REVIEW #20!
See SnakeWatch below for how to submit.

FRISKY
—Shawn Aveningo

Here Kitty, Kitty.
Wanna come out to play?
Perhaps a dollop of sweet
cream will pique your curiosity.
Yes. I thought you might like that.
Purr, Kitty. Purr.
Oh my, what sharp claws
you have skimming down my back.
You certainly are frisky,
Feline Femme Fatale.
Tickle your whiskers with mine.
Lick me clean,
just the way you like me.
Tease me with your frolic and play.
Pounce. Pounce. Pounce.
Did I say I hate cats?
Surely, I was mistaken.
That was before you.
Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

________________

GARDEN ENCOUNTER
—Mitz Sackman, Murphys

Bold deer
Gazes at me
Melting brown eyes
Liquid pools
Merge with my soul

The light moves from me
Towards a bridge
Of love, trust
Trust moves back to
Brush my mind

My mind affirms
My life needs
Her life needs
Heart-filled peace
Between creatures
Sharing this garden space
Liquid trust comes

I lose myself
In oneness
Merge into the void

Matter swirls
Loss of form
In losing my form
I lose loneliness too

___________________

Today's LittleNip:

How can you write if you can't cry?

—Ring Lardner

_________________

—Medusa


SnakeWatch: What's New from Rattlesnake Press:

Next deadline for Rattlesnake Review is November 15!!! Send 3-5 poems, smallish art pieces and/or photos (no bio, no cover letter, no simultaneous submissions or previously-published poems) to kathykieth@hotmail.com or P.O. Box 762, Pollock Pines, CA 95726. E-mail attachments are preferred, but be sure to include all contact info, including snail address.

New for November: Now available at The Book Collector, or from the authors, or (soon) through rattlesnakepress.com, or—heck—just write to me and I'll send 'em to you: a new rattlechap from Red Fox Underground Poet Wendy Patrice Williams (Some New Forgetting); a littlesnake broadside from South Lake Tahoe Poet Ray Hadley (Children's Games); our 2009 calendar from Katy Brown (Beyond the Hill: A Poet’s Calendar) as well as Conversations, Vol. 4 of B.L. Kennedy’s Rattlesnake Interview Series. Also: littlesnake broadside #46: Snake Secrets: Getting Your Poetry Published in Rattlesnake Press (and lots of other places, besides!): A compendium of ideas for brushing up on your submissions process so as to make editors everywhere more happy, thereby increasing the likelihood of getting your poetry published.


Medusa's Weekly Menu:

(Contributors are welcome to cook up something for any and all of these!)

Monday: Weekly NorCal poetry calendar

Tuesday: Seed of the Week: Tuesday is Medusa's day to post poetry triggers such as quotes, forms, photos, memories, jokes—whatever might tickle somebody's muse. Pick up the gauntlet and send in your poetic results; and don't be shy about sending in your own triggers, too! All poems will be posted and a few of them will go into Medusa's Corner of each Rattlesnake Review. Send your work to kathykieth@hotmail.com or P.O. Box 762, Pollock Pines, CA 95726. No deadline for SOWs; respond today, tomorrow, or whenever the muse arrives. (Print 'em out, maybe, save 'em for a dry spell?) When you send us work, though, just let us know which "seed" it was that inspired you.

Wednesday (sometimes): HandyStuff Quickies: Resources for the poet, including whatever helps ease the pain of writing and/or publishing: favorite journals to read and/or submit to; books, etc., about writing; organizational tools—you know—HandyStuff! Tell us about your favorite tools.

Thursday: B.L.'s Drive-Bys: Micro-reviews by our irreverent Reviewer-in-Residence, B.L. Kennedy. Send books, CDs, DVDs, etc. to him for possible review (either as a Drive-By or in future issues of Rattlesnake Review) at P.O. Box 160664, Sacramento, CA 95816.

Friday: NorCal weekend poetry calendar

Daily (except Sunday): LittleNips: SnakeFood for the Poetic Soul: Daily munchables for poetic thought, including short paragraphs, quotes, wonky words, silliness, little-known poetry/poet facts, and other inspiration—yet another way to feed our ravenous poetic souls.

And poetry! Every day, poetry from writers near and far and in-between! The Snakes of Medusa are always hungry.......!

_________________

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). And be sure to sign up for Snakebytes, our monthly e-newsletter that will keep you up-to-date on all our ophidian chicanery.