DREAM HUNTER
—Taylor Graham, Placerville
The curtain quivers like a bird caught in flight.
What moves behind it? Tabby without claws.
Sky threatens rain, thunder, sleet, but see
who’s begging to go out—tabby without claws.
Brittle-skrit of crumpled paper, tossed and
batted, morning prey for a tabby without claws.
Now, a blaze of sunshine through plate glass,
and spotlit on the carpet, tabby without claws.
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MINERVA
—Taylor Graham
She sits in the window, perfect
geisha of the porcelain purr, gazing
as if not seeing
below her on the street
rain puddling about the man who’s hawking
plaster saints. The words of all the poets
are for her. Below, the lower life
flows by, as if this were not the riverwalk
and she the flowered stream, as if
her joy were to look
on nature, not as in the hour awaiting
supper—doesn’t mistress know
her saucer is quite empty?
She curls now, golden
tabby at the window
dreaming a cat’s perfection
till it’s dinnertime.
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AFTER A FRIENDLY LUNCH: EVENING
—Patricia Heinicke, Jr., Sacramento
you stand near the cafe door
taller than you were this afternoon
laughing gently
so i catch my breath
and swim in the uncertain
words fall from my tongue
i suppose
and yours
off your edges
I ricochet
things
drop
your mouth opens
so i swallow
and languid blink
fall into open air
__________________
CAT’S PAW
—Mitz Sackman, Murphys
I raise my hind paw to you
Take a leap
In play
In anger
In attack
Your choice
Make the right one
__________________
Smile, cat, and stretch—
The sun is on your face—
And you are more contented
Than the whole human race
—Chrys Mollett, Angels Camp
__________________
Today's LittleNip:
Poetry is a shuffling of boxes of illusions buckled with a strap of facts.
—Carl Sandburg
__________________
—Medusa
SnakeWatch: What's New from Rattlesnake Press:
Rattlesnake Review: The latest issue (RR20) is currently available at The Book Collector, on rattlesnakepress.com, or send me four bux and I'll mail you one. Deadline for RR21 was Feb. 15; the issue will appear in mid-March. Next deadline is May 15 for RR22: 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. Meanwhile, the snakes of Medusa are always hungry; let us know if your submission is for the Review or for Medusa, or for either one.
Also available (free): 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. Pick up a copy at The Book Collector or write to me and I'll send you one. Free!
Coming in March: On Wednesday, March 11, Rattlesnake Press will be releasing a new chapbook from Norma Kohout (All Aboard); a littlesnake broadside from Patricia Hickerson (At Grail Castle Hotel); and a new issue of Rattlesnake Review (the Snake turns 21)! Join us at The Book Collector, 1008 24th St., Sacramento, 7:30. Refreshments and a read-around will follow; bring your own poems or somebody else's.
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, or any other day!): 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.......!
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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.
