Getting Better

Red Crane

—Photo by Katy Brown, Davis, CA

THE RED CRANE
—Katy Brown

bright red paper crane
far from eastern shore of home
flying on the shelf

 Emu

—Photo by Katy Brown 

LITANY
—Katy Brown

hawk
bluebird
a pair of egrets, flying

red-billed somethings
fleeing the dry grass
gossiping geese

and an emu
as far from home
as Okei-san

 Emu 2

—Photo by Katy Brown

BY THE DYING POND AT WAKAMATSU
—Katy Brown

The Old Woman bleaches the morning,
setting aside the dark oaks.
She pins a pair of egrets in the milky blue.

 Mirrored Pond

—Photo by Katy Brown

MORNING MEDITATION
—Ann Wehrman, Sacramento, CA

over sixty years—who thought I’d live that long?
as morning arises
my belly craves yellow egg yolks poached in butter
my skin, the fresh cold breeze

unable to walk or sleep, I perch on my stool
ice pack pressed to swollen hip
strained, arthritic, degenerative

I take measured deep breaths
in and longer out
filled with joy, despite pain
to live one more day on this precious Earth

Two Small Birds

—Photo by Katy Brown

FOR THE MUSIC
—Ann Wehrman

excitement bubbles in my veins
like frying eggs on the sidewalk
hot August afternoon

at the bus stop, I squint at the sun
through oversized solar shades
backpack weighs heavy with
flute, music stand, scores

I play with a local community college orchestra
sit in with students, adult volunteers

like me, far past the age and allure of industry’s darlings—
yet as Casals confided, “…I think I’m getting better,”
and I come for the music

with arthritis, older eyes and ears, stomach trouble,
I feel close to the aging, ailing Beethoven,
who wrote ever more glorious works
his heart and body broken
his spirit blazing white fire, free

Sac State Ginkgo Leaves in the Fall
—Photo by Ann Wehrman

AUTUMN LEAVES

and a muffled sob escapes my lips, held in place
by my will to make it through one more winter
living alone, though surrounded by people

warmth, melting safety, holding and being held closely
all wane toward a pinprick of memory
to be stored in a mason jar, grow dusty on a shelf

wild flower mowed, blood red climbing rose pruned
tighten muffler around my throat, pull cap
over my eyes, tie on winter boots, resolution

autumn leaves and tears my heart from my breast as he goes
keeps it under his wing, cycling around the sun
leaving me open-mouthed under my scarf, crying for love’s return


—Ann Wehrman

___________________

Today’s LittleNip:

A kestrel can and does hover in the dead calm of summer days, when there is not the faintest breath of wind. He will, and does, hover in the still, soft atmosphere of early autumn, when the gossamer falls in showers, coming straight down as if it were raining silk.

—Richard Jefferies

__________________

Many thanks to these two graceful artists today with their fine poems and pix! The emu that Katy Brown has been photographing lives near Wakamatsu Farm in Placerville, where Katy and Taylor Graham have been presenting workshops recently. Watch Medusa’s Kitchen for the next one.

There will be poetry readings almost every evening in our area this week, starting at Sac. Poetry Center tonight with Marie Reynolds and Jan Vernon, plus open mic, 7:30pm. Poetry Off-the-Shelves poetry read-around will meet in El Dorado Hills on Tuesday night and Placerville on Wednesday night, both at the libraries and both from 5-7pm.

Thursday’s Poetry in Davis will present An Evening with Writer/Actor Peter Coyote at John Natsoulas Gallery, 8pm. Also on Thursday night, Winters Out Loud Poetry Open Mic meets at 7pm, and Poetry Unplugged at Luna’s Cafe meets in Sacramento, 8pm. And on Saturday, the Second Saturday Reception at Sac. Poetry Center will present a showing of "Under the Giving Sun", featuring the artwork of Paul Anderson, 5-8pm. Scroll down to the blue column (under the green column at the right) for info about these and other upcoming poetry events in our area—and note that more may be added at the last minute.

—Medusa

 Two Piggies

—Photo by Katy Brown
Celebrate poetry!

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