—Poetry and Photos by Taylor Graham, Placerville, CA
—And scroll down for Form Fiddlers' Friday!!
DROUGHT’S RAG MOP
What’s this?
in my wet-mop
hung out on deck to dry,
tiny claws gripping damp mop strings—
lizard!
What’s this?
in my wet-mop
hung out on deck to dry,
tiny claws gripping damp mop strings—
lizard!
OWL’S VIEW
from 4 lines of Virginia Adair’s “Too Small for Words”
Who are these winged visitors—
this owl that’s part of the trunk
of a tree, grasping a limb that isn’t
limb but appendage of the bird
Into whose thousand eyes—
but those eyes are scars
of the tree’s limbs broken off
by snow fallen from the heavens.
We dare not look?
The sign says No Trespassing
as if woods were owned but
the land knows nothing of title.
One alights on the unfinished poem
as a bird lands on the branch,
as an owl pauses on aspen skin,
as the artist moves on with his sheep.
from 4 lines of Virginia Adair’s “Too Small for Words”
Who are these winged visitors—
this owl that’s part of the trunk
of a tree, grasping a limb that isn’t
limb but appendage of the bird
Into whose thousand eyes—
but those eyes are scars
of the tree’s limbs broken off
by snow fallen from the heavens.
We dare not look?
The sign says No Trespassing
as if woods were owned but
the land knows nothing of title.
One alights on the unfinished poem
as a bird lands on the branch,
as an owl pauses on aspen skin,
as the artist moves on with his sheep.
OUTLIVING US
High-
fly
skull
in tree
might be
carved
by a man,
if you can
interpret it
whether grinning
or grimacing
far up above
our mortal questions
and poor suggestions
on what it all means
on this last-of-June day
as we’ve gone far astray
wondering about art
cut in a tree long ago
surviving summer and snow,
grinning condescendingly.
High-
fly
skull
in tree
might be
carved
by a man,
if you can
interpret it
whether grinning
or grimacing
far up above
our mortal questions
and poor suggestions
on what it all means
on this last-of-June day
as we’ve gone far astray
wondering about art
cut in a tree long ago
surviving summer and snow,
grinning condescendingly.
DRY LAUNCH
Shall we have a butterfly garden in dry-stubble hardpan field? Last year I spared the milkweed in my mowing, not knowing what it was—admiring its green, though dusty-dry. And then, pale pink-mauve blossoms lacy as an old-lady shawl. And then, a pale brown, lacy butterfly as if forever in love with pink-mauve buds launching tiny white flower-stars. This year the plant extends its range, down rocky dry creekbank and over the right-of-way fence. And now, as tiny buds begin to open,
pollinator bees—
and soon a launch, pink blooming
of brown butterflies?
Shall we have a butterfly garden in dry-stubble hardpan field? Last year I spared the milkweed in my mowing, not knowing what it was—admiring its green, though dusty-dry. And then, pale pink-mauve blossoms lacy as an old-lady shawl. And then, a pale brown, lacy butterfly as if forever in love with pink-mauve buds launching tiny white flower-stars. This year the plant extends its range, down rocky dry creekbank and over the right-of-way fence. And now, as tiny buds begin to open,
pollinator bees—
and soon a launch, pink blooming
of brown butterflies?
SKUNK GIFTS
Black flag unfurled bushy against the pale
of summer-dead grass. She slo-mo slips—then
a leap like breeze to show her stripe. There is
no breeze this early morning. I’ll spare her
wild north corner with my mowing—motor-
scythe just risen from the dead, new bushing.
By the time skunk moves on, it’ll be too
late, headed for a record, 109
degrees? Skunk progresses with her work, her
living, grubbing for insects, seeds—
flammable annual grasses?—maybe a nest of
ants. Ants invade my kitchen. Now this gift
of skunk—living skunk I stand observing,
weed-eater in hand, the only moving
sign of life on desiccated landscape.
Black flag unfurled bushy against the pale
of summer-dead grass. She slo-mo slips—then
a leap like breeze to show her stripe. There is
no breeze this early morning. I’ll spare her
wild north corner with my mowing—motor-
scythe just risen from the dead, new bushing.
By the time skunk moves on, it’ll be too
late, headed for a record, 109
degrees? Skunk progresses with her work, her
living, grubbing for insects, seeds—
flammable annual grasses?—maybe a nest of
ants. Ants invade my kitchen. Now this gift
of skunk—living skunk I stand observing,
weed-eater in hand, the only moving
sign of life on desiccated landscape.
THE MASK MAKER
She won’t go out in public. Why would she need a mask? Design intrigues her: the perfect fit, breathable, filtered, sleek. The economy and exactitude of it. The textures, the colors! She allows nothing pernicious to pass through fabric. How could she be lonely or bored, or feel like a prisoner in her home? Her masks are works of art. She can sell them, maybe save lives; donate the proceeds to research and fighters on the virus-line. She’s as happy as she’s ever been, letting thoughts fly to a new, improved, more beautiful design.
At her old Singer
she’s a study by Vermeer—
patient, absorbed, blest.
Today’s LittleNip:
FLICKER!
—Taylor Graham
Red-shaft flash of sun—
white-patch dazzle—from oak shade
into blaze of sky.
You leave one feather behind.
__________________
Gratitude today to Taylor Graham for bringing us hot, sunny poems of skunks and lizards and owls and other denizens of the forest! She brings forms, too: the Glosa (“Owl's View”); a Bits & Pieces (“Outliving Us”); a Cinquain (“Drought's Rag-Mop”); some Blank Verse (“Skunk Gifts”); and a couple of Haibuns (“The Mask Maker” and “Dry Launch”). She says that “Flicker!” is just alternating 5-7 lines, as far as she knows.
And now it’s time for…
FORM FIDDLERS’ FRIDAY!
FLICKER!
—Taylor Graham
Red-shaft flash of sun—
white-patch dazzle—from oak shade
into blaze of sky.
You leave one feather behind.
__________________
Gratitude today to Taylor Graham for bringing us hot, sunny poems of skunks and lizards and owls and other denizens of the forest! She brings forms, too: the Glosa (“Owl's View”); a Bits & Pieces (“Outliving Us”); a Cinquain (“Drought's Rag-Mop”); some Blank Verse (“Skunk Gifts”); and a couple of Haibuns (“The Mask Maker” and “Dry Launch”). She says that “Flicker!” is just alternating 5-7 lines, as far as she knows.
And now it’s time for…
FORM FIDDLERS’ FRIDAY!
Today we start with three Rondelets from Carol Louise Moon:
CARTOGRAPHER
—Carol Louise Moon, Placerville, CA
our midday moon
so round and pale—a lacy disc
our midday moon
looks down on us this day at noon,
studies browns and blues of earth, is
mapping us—a cartographer?
or midday moon?
* * *
GARDEN LION’S EYE
our midday moon
so round and pale—a lacy disc
our midday moon
looks down on us this day at noon,
studies browns and blues of earth, is
mapping us—a cartographer?
or midday moon?
* * *
GARDEN LION’S EYE
—Carol Louise Moon
This lion’s eye
has no dark pupil. His heart and
this lion’s eye
so granite, gray--his face so wry.
His stance no threat on garden stand
cemented there, his gaze so bland—
this lion’s eye.
This lion’s eye
has no dark pupil. His heart and
this lion’s eye
so granite, gray--his face so wry.
His stance no threat on garden stand
cemented there, his gaze so bland—
this lion’s eye.
* * *
STONES
STONES
—Carol Louise Moon
Stone upon stone
this one builds herself a fortress…
stone upon stone.
She builds up walls where shrubs had grown
and fills her rooms with emptiness,
and builds her heart with nothing less—
stone upon stone.
Caschwa (Carl Schwartz) sends three poems, starting with a Double Exposure:
Stone upon stone
this one builds herself a fortress…
stone upon stone.
She builds up walls where shrubs had grown
and fills her rooms with emptiness,
and builds her heart with nothing less—
stone upon stone.
Caschwa (Carl Schwartz) sends three poems, starting with a Double Exposure:
TELEPHONE CALLS,
LET THE MACHINE GET IT
LET THE MACHINE GET IT
—Caschwa, Sacramento, CA
we get telephone calls from “restricted”
as a general rule, we don’t answer
and “anonymous” adds to inflicted
the telephone, treat it like a cancer
robo calls will probably top the list
blood relatives are welcome receptions
our answering machine saves what we missed
a few business calls rate as exceptions
we answer the calls from people we know
we’ve gotten so very particular
check numbers online as suspicions grow
to help stay within our vernacular
phishing and spamming do not reach our ear
so many rings do not a message sing
caller ID lets us know what to hear
“Let the machine get it” saves us the sting
Next, we have an Englyn Milwr from Carl:
THIS TOO WILL PASS
we get telephone calls from “restricted”
as a general rule, we don’t answer
and “anonymous” adds to inflicted
the telephone, treat it like a cancer
robo calls will probably top the list
blood relatives are welcome receptions
our answering machine saves what we missed
a few business calls rate as exceptions
we answer the calls from people we know
we’ve gotten so very particular
check numbers online as suspicions grow
to help stay within our vernacular
phishing and spamming do not reach our ear
so many rings do not a message sing
caller ID lets us know what to hear
“Let the machine get it” saves us the sting
Next, we have an Englyn Milwr from Carl:
THIS TOO WILL PASS
—Caschwa
the dental office keeps on
pushing me like I’m a pawn
pull my teeth till all are gone
that surgery for implants?
on my budget, not a chance!
uppers, lowers, do their dance
if I have to chew with gums
I’ll just take whatever comes
all in all, my tummy hums
the dental office keeps on
pushing me like I’m a pawn
pull my teeth till all are gone
that surgery for implants?
on my budget, not a chance!
uppers, lowers, do their dance
if I have to chew with gums
I’ll just take whatever comes
all in all, my tummy hums
And a Catena Rondo “to round out the week”, he says:
OKAY, KIDS
—Caschwa
it’s time to take out your decoder rings
set them to “Top Secret’
we don’t know yet what you’ll get
it’s time to take out your decoder rings
set them to “Top Secret’
money trails from over the border
are under review by judges of high order
set them to “Top Secret’
money trails from over the border
some German, some Russian
high brass with percussion
money trails from over the border
some German, some Russian
stealing our democracy
big money in hypocrisy
some German, some Russian
stealing our democracy
it’s time to take out your decoder rings
and wait to see which witness sings
stealing our democracy
it’s time to take out your decoder rings
set them to “Top Secret’
we don’t know yet what you’ll get
it’s time to take out your decoder rings
__________________
Many thanks to our SnakePals for their brave fiddling! Would you like to be a SnakePal? All you have to do is send poetry—forms or not—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!
__________________
FIDDLERS’ CHALLENGE!
See what you can make of this week’s poetry form, and send it to kathykieth@hotmail.com! (No deadline.) This week's challenge:
Balada: poetscollective.org/poetryforms/balada
__________________
MEDUSA’S FORM FINDER: Links to poetry forms mentioned today:
•••Balada: poetscollective.org/poetryforms/balada
•••Bits & Pieces: seven 3-line stanzas; the first is 3 lines of 1 syllable per line, each stanza growing by 1 syllable until the last one has 7 syllables per line. (The more adventurous can add more stanzas.) The first 2 lines of each stanza rhyme, and for stanzas 1-6, at least the last word of line 3 enjambs with what follows. (Carl Schwartz)
•••Blank Verse: literarydevices.net/blank-verse OR www.masterclass.com/articles/poetry-101-what-is-the-difference-between-blank-verse-and-free-verse#quiz-0
•••Catena Rondo: poetscollective.org/poetryforms/catena-rondo OR www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/catena-rondo-poetic-forms
•••Cinquain: poets.org/glossary/cinquain OR www.poewar.com/poetry-in-forms-series-cinquain
•••Double Exposure: www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/double-exposure-poetic-forms
•••Englyn Milwr: www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/englyn-milwr-poetic-forms
•••Glosa, Glose, Gloss: poetscollective.org/poetryforms/glosa-glose-or-gloss OR www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/glose-or-glosa-poetic-forms
•••Haibun: www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/haibun-poems-poetic-form
•••Rondelet: www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/rondelet-poetic-forms
__________________
—Medusa
it’s time to take out your decoder rings
set them to “Top Secret’
we don’t know yet what you’ll get
it’s time to take out your decoder rings
set them to “Top Secret’
money trails from over the border
are under review by judges of high order
set them to “Top Secret’
money trails from over the border
some German, some Russian
high brass with percussion
money trails from over the border
some German, some Russian
stealing our democracy
big money in hypocrisy
some German, some Russian
stealing our democracy
it’s time to take out your decoder rings
and wait to see which witness sings
stealing our democracy
it’s time to take out your decoder rings
set them to “Top Secret’
we don’t know yet what you’ll get
it’s time to take out your decoder rings
__________________
Many thanks to our SnakePals for their brave fiddling! Would you like to be a SnakePal? All you have to do is send poetry—forms or not—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!
__________________
FIDDLERS’ CHALLENGE!
See what you can make of this week’s poetry form, and send it to kathykieth@hotmail.com! (No deadline.) This week's challenge:
Balada: poetscollective.org/poetryforms/balada
__________________
MEDUSA’S FORM FINDER: Links to poetry forms mentioned today:
•••Balada: poetscollective.org/poetryforms/balada
•••Bits & Pieces: seven 3-line stanzas; the first is 3 lines of 1 syllable per line, each stanza growing by 1 syllable until the last one has 7 syllables per line. (The more adventurous can add more stanzas.) The first 2 lines of each stanza rhyme, and for stanzas 1-6, at least the last word of line 3 enjambs with what follows. (Carl Schwartz)
•••Blank Verse: literarydevices.net/blank-verse OR www.masterclass.com/articles/poetry-101-what-is-the-difference-between-blank-verse-and-free-verse#quiz-0
•••Catena Rondo: poetscollective.org/poetryforms/catena-rondo OR www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/catena-rondo-poetic-forms
•••Cinquain: poets.org/glossary/cinquain OR www.poewar.com/poetry-in-forms-series-cinquain
•••Double Exposure: www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/double-exposure-poetic-forms
•••Englyn Milwr: www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/englyn-milwr-poetic-forms
•••Glosa, Glose, Gloss: poetscollective.org/poetryforms/glosa-glose-or-gloss OR www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/glose-or-glosa-poetic-forms
•••Haibun: www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/haibun-poems-poetic-form
•••Rondelet: www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/rondelet-poetic-forms
__________________
—Medusa
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