Ominous Clouds
—Photo by D.R. Wagner
THE BIG LIGHT
—D.R. Wagner, Elk Grove
For many years, when we lived
Near the shore we would wait
For the big light to come as soon
As the night became dark enough
So that we could not see our hands
Before our faces. Each night just
As the light of day abandoned all
Things, the big light would flicker,
Flash and begin to move around
And around, scanning both sea
And land. It was not a lighthouse.
Rather it was a spinning rainbow
Probably caused by some fluctuation
In the atmosphere near where we were.
There were songs we used to sing
Every season and on some special
Occasions about the big light.
While we could all see it, no one could
Approach it, for it seemed to disappear
From sight whenever anyone came close
To it. So full of colors it was and bright.
There were many stories about how
It came to be here, all of them different.
We took great delight in its constancy.
We felt it was something only our village
Possessed. Even so, we never mentioned
It to anyone who came here. It seemed
That unless one was introduced to it,
It simply did not exist. This may sound
Strange but we had nothing to conceal.
Why the big light came here no one knew.
As we grew older, much of the world
Changed. Our grandfathers and grandmothers
Died, other people came to this place and seeing
It was comely and possessed a certain grace,
Decided to live here. We were accepting of this.
But we never mentioned the big light to any of them.
Now there are less than ten of us who
Are able to see this phenomenon.
We have discussed among ourselves
The possibility of telling some of the new
Ones about the big light. We are unable
To agree. People from other villages
Claim to have seen the big light
On certain nights. They have inquired
About it. We suspect this is true.
We have begun to tell stories about it
At local festivals. We claim they are folk
Tales. A few of the children have realized
That they are not. They have reported
To us that they know what we are talking
About. They say they have seen it.
This light can be seen in the western
Sky. It sweeps everything
Slowly and gracefully. Perhaps it
Can be seen from where you live.
If you see it, know that you are
In the presence of something truly
Wonderful. We still do not know
What this is but it has a magic
Surrounded by luminous shadow.
Great privilege and this particular
Kind of silence allows us to speak
Of it only as poetic fiction. Like this.
_____________________
D.R. Wagner is no stranger to these pages; his photos and poetry grace the Kitchen on a regular basis, and Rattlesnake Press was proud to produce his SpiralChap of poems and tapestries, Where the Stars Are Kept, in 2007. D.R. is the author of over 20 books and chapbooks of poetry and letters. He founded press : today : Niagara and Runcible Spoon (press) in the late 1960’s and produced over fifty magazines and chapbooks. His work is much published and has appeared in many translations. He is also a visual artist, producing miniature needle-made tapestries that have been exhibited internationally and are included in numerous publications. He is, further, a professional musician, working as a singer-songwriter and playing guitar and keyboards. He has taught Design at the University of California at Davis for over twenty years. His new SnakeRings SpiralChap, A Limited Means of Expression, is a full-length book that's packed with angels and big skies and beautiful words, and it will be released by Rattlesnake Press this coming Wednesday, April 13, at RP's Lucky Seven Birthday Bash at The Book Collector, 1008 24th St., Sacramento, beginning at 7:30pm. Be there!
Since Wednesday will be our special Birthday Bash, we are inviting five poets to read for five minutes each. If you'd like to be one of those poets, let me know at kathykieth@hotmail.com/. The first five to respond will be our open mic.
In other news, Medusa's Kitchen passed the 100,000 "hit" mark (over 100,000 readers have checked into MK since its inception) yesterday sometime between 1-2pm, and that number is growing by over 300/day. A fitting landmark during this, our birthday, week! Many thanks to all of you who are reading this, including (yesterday during the switch-over) our friends in Italy, Sweden, and other countries—eight in the Ukraine, even!
In addition to D.R.'s fine poems and photos today, we have a long list of submission opportunities that came from Ellen Bass. (I've also posted these on the "Up-coming Deadlines" page; go to the Snake on a Rod in the skinny green box and click on Up-coming Deadlines!) Check them out—including this one in Berkeley that's deadline is Sunday (and don't forget the WTF deadline coming up next Friday; see "Sub of the Week" over in the skinny green box at the right of this):
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: THE ANNA DAVIDSON ROSENBERG POETRY AWARD ON JEWISH EXPERIENCE
Deadline: April 10, 2011
Award: $3000
Submit in quadruplicate hard copy, up to three poems of no more than 10 pages and one application coversheet. No entry fee. Poems judged anonymously. Personal data on cover sheet only. For complete guidelines, contact (510) 649-2482 or e-mail cjs@gtu.edu. Web site: www.gtu.edu/centersandaffiliates/jewishstudies. Submission address: Heidi Feldman, Program Coordinator, Richard S. Dinner Center for Jewish Studies, Graduate Theological Union, 2400 Ridge Road, Berkeley, CA 94709.
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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: GOOD DEEDS THAT TURN ON US AND THE SENSE WE MAKE OF THEM
Deadline: April 15, 2011
We invite writers to explore through poetry, fiction, memoir and creative non-fiction acts of generosity that have had unintended consequences and the sense, over time, we have made of them.
Electronic submissions only. Word or RTF. Prose, 5,000 words. Poetry, 5 poems.
Submit manuscripts electronically: deeds@universaltable.org
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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: CAVE WALL, A LITERARY JOURNAL OF POETRY AND ART
Deadline: April 30, 2011
Recent contributors include Sandra Beasley, Robert Bly, Kelly Cherry, Carl Phillips, Natasha Trethewey, and Robert Wrigley. Guidelines, send SASE to Cave Wall Press LLC, P.O. Box 29546, Greensboro, NC 27429-9546. Or visit: www.cavewallpress.com.
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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: GAY AND GRAY, AN ANTHOLOGY OF MATURE GLBT WRITERS
Deadline: April 30, 2011
Seeking creative non-fiction, short stories, fiction or memoir, poetry, digital imagery, and photography. Fiction and non-fiction submissions should be a maximum of 5,000 words. Each writer may submit three pieces for consideration. Reprints are acceptable as long as the author retains the copyright.
Submissions should be sent as attachments to an email and not pasted into the body of the e-mail. Multiple submissions are welcome and should be sent in separate e-mails. Use 12-point Times New Roman, single-spaced. Authors should include a photo when possible. The photo may be taken from any point in the author’s life. Also please include a brief biography.
While there is no specific theme, content may focus on aging in the gay community, historical hindsight and/or perspective unique to the GBLTQ person 50 and older.
E-mail submissions to: submit2gayNgray@aol.com
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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: APERÇUS QUARTERLY NOW ACCEPTING POETRY, FICTION, CREATIVE NON-FICTION
Deadline: May 1, 2011
Guidelines: www.apercusquarterly.com
For questions, li.henley@hotmail.com
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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: LaCHANCE SEEKING TRUE STORIES ABOUT BREAST CANCER FOR ANTHOLOGY SERIES.
Seeking true, first-hand stories of literary merit for Volume 2 of Voices of Breast Cancer anthology. If you or someone you know has had breast cancer and wish to share your heartfelt, inspiring, true story of facing this life-defining challenge, please visit www.lachancepublishing.com for additional details and submission guidelines.
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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS; SMALL, INDEPENDENT PRESS SEEKING POEMS FOR ANTHOLOGY THAT CELEBRATES TRAILER PARK LIFE
Poems of growing up in, living in, leaving, or otherwise responding to the trailer park for an as-yet-untitled anthology. For submissions and full guidelines, e-mail parkanthology@gmail.com.
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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: THE WIDOW’S HANDBOOK SEEKING POEMS AND SHORT PERSONAL ESSAYS
Deadline: June 30, 2011
Seeking pieces no longer than 500 words about experiences related to bereavement; mourning rituals, coping strategies, support systems (or lack thereof), evolving social life (isolation, work, friends, dating), re-building (including but not limited to finding new love or focus). Payment: contributor’s copies. Send with SASE for reply to: The Widow’s Handbook, 1427 Commonwealth Ave. #401, Brighton, MA 02135.
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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF NURSING SEEKS POEMS AND VISUAL ART RELATED TO HEALTH OR HEALTH CARE
$150 honorarium paid upon publication.
Sponsored by their Art of Nursing Department. Authors need not be health care professionals. Original perspectives and clear, unsentimental writing are preferred. Query, Art of Nursing coordinator: sylvia.foley@wolterskluwer.com.
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TATTOO HIGHWAY, AN ONLINE JOURNAL OF PROSE, POETRY AND ART, SEEKS WORK FOR THEIR CRITTERS ISSUE.
Deadline: June 10, 2011
Dogs, cats, all creatures real and imaginary. Our tastes are eclectic. We like fresh, vivid language, intelligence, originality, authenticity, and humor. Guidelines on Web site; please read back issues before submitting: www.tattoohighway.org.
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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: BLUE LIGHT PRESS ACCEPTING MANUSCRIPTS FOR THEIR 2011 POETRY PRIZE AND CHAPBOOK CONTEST.
Deadline: June 15, 2011
To enter, send 10 to 24 pages of poetry, reading fee of $10.00, and SASE to: Blue Light Press Poetry Prize, 1563 45th Ave., San Francisco, CA 94122. Guidelines, E-mail: bluelightpress@aol.com or see www.bluelightpress.com
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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS : BECOMING: ANTHOLOGY OF WOMEN'S STORIES, REQUESTS PROSE FOR THE ONLINE JOURNAL, SHARK REEF
Guidelines: sharkreef.org
Please direct any questions to Lorna Reese, editor@sharkreef.org.
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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: SOFT SKULL PRESS PUBLISHES FICTION/ NON FICTION/MEMOIR/GRAPHICS
Their recent acceptance of "Love, InshAllah: The Secret Love Lives of American Muslim Women", is an example of what submission material they may be interested in. They are looking for stories where the narrator identifies as an American Muslim at the time the story is taking place. It does not have to be set in the United States. Also, they are looking specifically for love stories related to dating/courtship and the search for love. Guidelines: www.softskull.com/submission_guidelines.php
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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: SCREAM ON-LINE SEEKING POETRY AND PROSE POEMS
Deadline: June 1, 2011
They are looking for poems talking about what you think about heaven or hell; not necessarily religious. Previously published okay. Scream is an online arts/culture/literature journal. A link to the most recent issue: www.thescreamonline.com
Please send the poems as attachments to their facebook address or e-mail jzguzlowski@gmail.com
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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: SPECIAL ANTHOLOGY FOR JAPAN SPONSORED BY PIRENE’S FOUNTAIN
Deadline: October, 2011
Pirene’s Fountain is collecting an anthology of poems, flash fiction, essays, and black-&-white illustrations. Send us what you like, but please keep in mind: the shorter the piece, the more we can get in. Poems no longer than two pages, flash fiction, one page, essays and short stories no longer than five pages.
This is primarily a fund-raising project. If you are sending us a written piece published previously in a book, journal or anthology, please make sure you have permission. We will not consider any work for which written permission from the publisher has not been granted.
Questions should be addressed to: Ami Kaye, Publisher & Managing Editor, Pirene’s Fountain
www.pirenesfountain.com
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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: AN ANTHOLOGY OF GAY AND LESBIAN POETRY
Deadline: June 30, 2011
Edited by Shane Allison, to be published in Fall 2011
Open to performance poetry, academic and traditional forms as well as experimental. Themes: Coming out, sexuality, politics, growing up gay, civil rights, discrimination, love and relationships, same-sex marriages, erotica or serving in the military.
Submit unpublished work, or work that was published since 2000. 5 to 10 poems as long as queer content is relevant. They welcome queer voices from outside the US.
Submission guidelines: Title file with the initials of the anthology and author’s last name. Include your name, mailing address, email, and a bio. Submit work by email as an attachment in rtf format, to newqueerpoetry@gmail.com If poems have previously been published please include in your document where and when and be sure you hold the rights to your work.
______________________
ROAD TRIP
—D.R. Wagner
We were looking at the same
Thing, a boat, sails full of important
Wind, gifted by a momentary play of light
So it shook in splendor, a singular
Vision capable of generating a new language
For an instant only, then reclaimed
By glaucous skies, a muttering of wave
Forms, nothing extraordinary; again, a sloop
Tracking North of North North West, just
Above the place where the sun
Would choose to end the day.
“See that angel? you said.
“Where?” I answered, knowing only the sea
Was important at this moment. “Right
Near where that sailboat is now.
A flash, real bright, was an angel sure,
Saw its attributes. You?”
“Are you sure?” I asked.
“I didn’t get to be ninety-four without
Recognizing things for what they are.”
“I thought it was the sun,” I answered.
“Wrong again! I knew you’d say that.”
“An angel then, really?” I allowed.
“Gotta be ready.” you said.
“I’ll try to remember to tell you when
It is going to happen again.”
“Okay,” I agreed. “I’d like that.”
“Bet you would,” you said.
“Hope we get one before dinner.
They’re harder to recognize
On a full stomach. Pay
Attention. I’ll let you know.”
_____________________
FROM THE BOOK OF DAYS
—D.R. Wagner
We have seen the paintings
In the cave of the hunt.
The buffalo are so real in
The light of the torches.
They seem to move, the throwing
Sticks and spears flying about.
Today the sun disappeared
In the middle of the day
For a long time. Then it came
Back. Many were afraid.
I was not one of them.
The war is all around us.
There is no way to describe
What is happening. It is
Like living inside an infection
Full of noise and sorrow.
Certainly we are lost now.
It has been many weeks since
We have seen land. Only the sea.
Always the sea. It is so large.
In traveling we have encountered
Many peoples so unlike ourselves
That we could never have imagined
Them. They are each having a
Unique experience as well. How
Is this possible? Such wonders.
The maps are incredible. Each
Place, each gene, is like a universe
In itself. Yesterday we made a slight
Turn and discovered an entire
Mountain range we did not know
Before. I saw a huge flock of bright
Green and red birds flying so vigorously
They seemed to be exclaiming. We were
So far from them their flights resembled
Writing across the sky, yet full of lights.
I waited for you most of the night.
Just before dawn I realized the river
Was much too high and fast for anything
To cross safely. I know you will
Come today. I write this to comfort
My heart only. I shall keep the watch.
p.s.
I have never before thought of the rain
As an occasion. Today it has become
Something I would like to share with you.
I spent several hours just sitting quietly
Watching it from the door stoop.
____________________
Today's LittleNip:
Perhaps middle age is, or should be, a period of shedding shells; the shell of ambition, the shell of material accumulations and possessions, the shell of the ego.
—Anne Morrow Lindbergh
____________________
—Medusa
Plane Tree
—Photo by D.R. Wagner
