—Public Domain Photos Courtesy of James Lee Jobe
110 degrees. August. The valley bakes
Like a loaf of bread in a brick oven.
Tomorrow is a whisper and today is sweat.
Standing under a harsh sun,
I say my name aloud
To remind the valley of who I am,
And who I am not.
It’s a ghost, it comes and goes at random times,
You cannot predict, and you cannot request.
Something will happen and I just know it is there.
It might be with me when I sleep
Or when I take a walk where tall pines grow.
I am glad for the company.
This is, of course, all in my mind.
The ghost of my son, checking in on me.
I am wondering if I might find a tomb that I can rent.
I just want to lie down on a marble slab for a few nights
And whisper my secrets to Death.
I really don’t need to move in and live there.
Don’t we all have a secret or two to tell?
Don’t we all have something to get off our chest?
Something only Death should hear?
Oh well, the evening breeze is cool tonight.
It’s refreshing. Perhaps I’ll just lie down right here.
____________________
You can walk or run, but there is really no need to go. Wherever you go, you will still be stuck with yourself. Sit down, fool. Do nothing. The moon is rising even while you worry.
If I knew what living meant,
I would have told you.
And if I cared what living meant,
I would have tried to find out.
No matter.
My sunflowers are now all in bloom,
And one of them is seven feet tall.
That’s enough for me.
_____________________
Today’s LittleNip:
The summer caws of a magpie are a reminder
that death is near. That’s alright, friend, life is also near.
—James Lee Jobe
_____________________
Thank you, James Lee Jobe, and a giant bouquet of Fall sunflowers to you for brightening up our day with your poetry and these beautiful photos! Don’t forget Fridays, 7pm: Video poetry readings on Facebook by Davis Poet Laureate James Lee Jobe at james-lee-jobe.blogspot.com or youtube.com/jamesleejobe. Yesterday’s reading of Tu Fu is still available on these links, along with poetry from other past readings.
Tomorrow (Sunday, Nov. 22, 5pm), William O’Daly will be reading in the Writing For Peace Live Readings series on Zoom at us02web.zoom.us/j/82898977722 and talking with host Brad Wetzler about William’s work, process, and various commitments. Also go to Copper Canyon Press (coppercanyonpress.org) for info about their new program, Read Generously for Racial Equity (www.coppercanyonpress.org/donate/read-generously), for info about their generous new donation/holiday-giving program.
______________________
—Medusa
Photos in this column can be enlarged by
clicking on them once, then clicking on the x
in the top right corner to come back to Medusa.
Would you like to be a SnakePal?
All you have to do is send poetry and/or
photos and artwork to
kathykieth@hotmail.com. We post
work from all over the world, including
that which was previously-published.
Just remember:
the snakes of Medusa are always hungry—
for poetry, of course!
