Placerville, CA
—And then scroll down for
Form Fiddlers’ Friday, with poetry by
Joe Nolan, Nolcha Fox, Stephen Kingsnorth,
and Caschwa
IRIS FOR MEMORIAL DAY
Remember how we cruised the country roads
blooming with iris on that long-gone day
for honoring the dead, our live dogs
with their noses out the car windows, scenting
colors of flowers we never saw. Long ago
those dogs—veterans of so many searches—
joined the cadre of great old hero dogs
departed to a new dimension. This year
for all my iris, the season is past; just one
dog finding his way on his path to blooming.
Remember how we cruised the country roads
blooming with iris on that long-gone day
for honoring the dead, our live dogs
with their noses out the car windows, scenting
colors of flowers we never saw. Long ago
those dogs—veterans of so many searches—
joined the cadre of great old hero dogs
departed to a new dimension. This year
for all my iris, the season is past; just one
dog finding his way on his path to blooming.
ON MEMORIAL DAY
I visit a battlefield. Miles of soldiers
fallen or still standing, dead—
black skeleton conifers to the far horizon.
These ridges and canyons burned
summers ago. I come
not to plant flags by the graves
but looking for life. Sapling pines
and incense cedars sheltering
under charred mother-trees.
And wildflowers—rainbow iris,
woolly sunflower, diamond clarkia.
Deerbrush in bright white blossom
attended by countless tiny pollinating bees.
TRAILSIDE
peavine in the sun
is blooming passionate pink—
it must be summer
though it’s only May
by my human calendar—
peavine in the sun
lures me away from oak shade
for a pink-ruffled moment.
SAILING MY WEED-EATER
Green the grasses, bowing to wind. An ocean, a flowing vegetive river from creek to pasture, wild oats chest-high, foxtail, brome, understory of clover, batches of woolly vetch knitting all together with wildflowers. They say wild celery flourishes, salt or freshwater, a riverboat would founder.
green the puzzle
to solve, mowing piece by piece,
one day gaining ground
TO CATCH IT
I didn’t realize I was chasing a poem,
walking the chaparral hill trail
encroached on both sides by yerba santa
in full bloom, buzzing with tiny bees,
and a black-rimmed burnt-orange butterfly—
a sainted herb and its pollinators.
But now I see the For Sale sign
on this natural piece of earth. It has me
scribbling on my notepad almost illegibly step-by-
racing step to get it down before I forget,
while I still can feel its heartbeat pulse, its wing
song, its timeless meter.
__________________
STILL A MYSTERY
My tablet disappeared between the Geeks
and home. This quite jinxed me. Most carefully
I peeked, probed, pried in every corner, crack,
every crevice of the car. Again and
again. At last, an undiscovered slot—
a thin space I didn’t know existed
under the passenger seat and accessed
from the rear. How did my tablet get there,
with no one in my car but me, as I drove
my tech-repaired tablet from Geeks to home.
Today’s LittleNip:
ANYBODY HOME?
—Taylor Graham
So diligent a mother wren,
her house so filled with twigs for nest,
they reach the roof, they block the door—
where will the babies fit?
_____________________
Our thanks to Taylor Graham for the fine poetry she caught for us today! Forms she has used this week include a Haibun (“Sailing My Weed-Eater”); a Response Poem to Medusa’s recent Seed of the Weed, Chasing Poems (“To Catch It”); two Responses to our Triple-F Challenge, Memorial Day (“Iris for Memorial Day”; “On Memorial Day”); a Hainka (“Trailside”); a Pangrammatic Lipogram (“Still a Mystery”); and a Ryũka (“Anybody Home?”). The Lipogram/Pangrammatic Lipogram was our other Triple-F Challenge last week.
In El Dorado Country poetry this week, El Dorado County’s regular workshops are listed on Medusa’s calendar (if you scroll down on http://medusaskitchen.blogspot.com/p/wtf.html/). For more news about such events and about EDC poetry—past (photos!) and future—see Taylor Graham’s Western Slope El Dorado Poetry on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ElDoradoCountyPoetry. Or see Lara Gularte’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/382234029968077/. And you can always click on Medusa's UPCOMING NORCAL EVENTS (http://medusaskitchen.blogspot.com/p/wtf.html). Poetry is Gold in El Dorado County!
And now it’s time for…
FORM FIDDLERS’ FRIDAY!
ANYBODY HOME?
—Taylor Graham
So diligent a mother wren,
her house so filled with twigs for nest,
they reach the roof, they block the door—
where will the babies fit?
_____________________
Our thanks to Taylor Graham for the fine poetry she caught for us today! Forms she has used this week include a Haibun (“Sailing My Weed-Eater”); a Response Poem to Medusa’s recent Seed of the Weed, Chasing Poems (“To Catch It”); two Responses to our Triple-F Challenge, Memorial Day (“Iris for Memorial Day”; “On Memorial Day”); a Hainka (“Trailside”); a Pangrammatic Lipogram (“Still a Mystery”); and a Ryũka (“Anybody Home?”). The Lipogram/Pangrammatic Lipogram was our other Triple-F Challenge last week.
In El Dorado Country poetry this week, El Dorado County’s regular workshops are listed on Medusa’s calendar (if you scroll down on http://medusaskitchen.blogspot.com/p/wtf.html/). For more news about such events and about EDC poetry—past (photos!) and future—see Taylor Graham’s Western Slope El Dorado Poetry on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ElDoradoCountyPoetry. Or see Lara Gularte’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/382234029968077/. And you can always click on Medusa's UPCOMING NORCAL EVENTS (http://medusaskitchen.blogspot.com/p/wtf.html). Poetry is Gold in El Dorado County!
And now it’s time for…
FORM FIDDLERS’ FRIDAY!
Check out our recently-refurbed page at the top of Medusa’s Kitchen called, “FORMS! OMG!!!” which expresses some of my (take ‘em or leave 'em) opinions about the use of forms in poetry writing, as well as listing some more resources to help you navigate through Form Quicksand and other ways of poetry. Got any more resources to add to our list? Send them to kathykieth@hotmail.com for the benefit of all man/woman/poetkind!
* * *
Sovende mor med barn 1883
Painting by Christian Krohg (v. 1)
Painting by Christian Krohg (v. 1)
Last Week’s Ekphrastic Photo
Poets who sent responses to last week’s Ekphrastic photo were Joe Nolan, Nolcha Fox, and Stephen Kingsnorth:
NAP-TIME
—Joe Nolan, Stockton, CA
A look of contentment
A look of exhaustion
Orange
Much more lively
Than drab gray.
Comes the time
When slumber
Turns to rumbles
A man must rise
And duty-fill the day.
* * *
LOVE AND DEATH
—Nolcha Fox, Buffalo, WY
She didn’t answer hubby’s yell.
The dinner wasn’t ready.
The drawers and cupboards’ contents
laid in pieces on the floor.
He found her limp next to the bed.
The baby was still sleeping.
The policeman said the woman
must have died from sheer exhaustion.
The judge decreed the baby must
have murdered his own mother,
and required the poor infant
to go without a bottle
until his mother finally got her rest.
* * *
Stephen Kingsnorth’s response is also an Ars Poetica:
POSING?
—Stephen Kingsnorth, Coedpoeth, Wrexham, Wales
Which first appeared in artist’s oeuvre?
Cloth folded, over shoulder laid
with puff piled pillows for her head,
a close packed room of furniture;
or plainer dress of navy wool, ,
sheet blanket cover overlaid
with bedpost jutting into chin?
The first, more detailed, fabric sewn,
or second, real discomfort known?
She drifts, like I, shut-eye unplanned,
for sheer exhaustion of her charge;
does rhythmic rock play hand in it,
or is the cradle solid legged?
The Nordic clime requiring thick—
the woolly hat for baby’s head—
as artists merge what’s seen, with dream,
like photograph, with what they will,
the history of art is changed.
So what inspires this Christian Krohg?
Commission by famed patronage;
desire to canvas market place?
Concern, conditions that obtain,
or mother and a child well known?
Do these two versions lend a clue?
Does first leave much dissatisfied?
His question posed—why did I paint?
What is the answer we might give?
* * *
Caschwa (Carl Schwartz) took up the Triple-F Challenge of the Pangrammatic Lipogram, using all vowels except “e”:
BUILT TO LAST
—Caschwa, Sacramento, CA
Old socks from young days
put on daily, wash, dry, again,
still fit, wish I could buy such
pairs today.
China, Japan, all of Asia put a
stop on production of socks that
fit my footsy whilst I could not
wait. Socks for my town must
transport as quickly as a fast
train.
Viola! Axiomatic buzz from my
brain, try shopping in daylight.
Helps spirits stay high
* * *
Here are some Duas from Carl:
—Caschwa, Sacramento, CA
Old socks from young days
put on daily, wash, dry, again,
still fit, wish I could buy such
pairs today.
China, Japan, all of Asia put a
stop on production of socks that
fit my footsy whilst I could not
wait. Socks for my town must
transport as quickly as a fast
train.
Viola! Axiomatic buzz from my
brain, try shopping in daylight.
Helps spirits stay high
* * *
Here are some Duas from Carl:
My first time riding a horse, I had a little help
getting up, but then I was 100% successful
That was my first and only time
**
Aliens landed and said “Take Me to Your Leader”
I told them honestly we don’t have one
**
I was a master at remembering details of ancient
history
Then the birthing process seemed to pull those out
of my mind
**
We learned how to decline nouns and conjugate
verbs
Now we tell our grandchildren about those lost
arts
**
Laser beam pierced the ship, made it sink in the
middle of the sea
That was the origin of our ¢ sign
—Caschwa
* * *
Carl also sent a Nonce: his is Three 6-line stanzas; Rhyme Scheme abcabc, defdef, ghighi; Variable syllable counts:
getting up, but then I was 100% successful
That was my first and only time
**
Aliens landed and said “Take Me to Your Leader”
I told them honestly we don’t have one
**
I was a master at remembering details of ancient
history
Then the birthing process seemed to pull those out
of my mind
**
We learned how to decline nouns and conjugate
verbs
Now we tell our grandchildren about those lost
arts
**
Laser beam pierced the ship, made it sink in the
middle of the sea
That was the origin of our ¢ sign
—Caschwa
* * *
Carl also sent a Nonce: his is Three 6-line stanzas; Rhyme Scheme abcabc, defdef, ghighi; Variable syllable counts:
PREPUBESCENT PORNOGRAPHIC POETRY
POLICE
—Caschwa
Be warned, if you get caught enjoying an open-
face
sandwich, you may get accused of showing too
much
interest in viewing things that are uncovered,
as if that was an antisocial kind of disgrace
warranting surrender of those images from your
clutch
barring you from viewing all those things over
which you hover
But it is just lunch, just a mere sandwich
nothing that should disturb the social calm
No! say the prepubescent pornographic poetry
police
your mind is as evil as the most hideous kind of
witch
holding for ransom a healing, soothing balm
even upsetting the Sheriff, who is immodestly
obese
Close that sandwich. Do no fight the public will,
you can never, ever win that argument
they will burn you at the stake, praise your demise,
and blindside all with preaching, you’re the target
for a kill
the best logic and reason won’t make any dent
that’s the very last sandwich you will see with
your eyes
POLICE
—Caschwa
Be warned, if you get caught enjoying an open-
face
sandwich, you may get accused of showing too
much
interest in viewing things that are uncovered,
as if that was an antisocial kind of disgrace
warranting surrender of those images from your
clutch
barring you from viewing all those things over
which you hover
But it is just lunch, just a mere sandwich
nothing that should disturb the social calm
No! say the prepubescent pornographic poetry
police
your mind is as evil as the most hideous kind of
witch
holding for ransom a healing, soothing balm
even upsetting the Sheriff, who is immodestly
obese
Close that sandwich. Do no fight the public will,
you can never, ever win that argument
they will burn you at the stake, praise your demise,
and blindside all with preaching, you’re the target
for a kill
the best logic and reason won’t make any dent
that’s the very last sandwich you will see with
your eyes
__________________
Many thanks to today’s writers for their lively contributions! Wouldn’t you like to join them? 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!
__________________
TRIPLE-F CHALLENGES!
See what you can make of these challenges, and send your results to kathykieth@hotmail.com/. (No deadline.) How much of a punch can you pack into the tiny Atom?
•••Atom: https://poetscollectivepoetryforms.wordpress.com/2014/12/22/atom-2
•••AND/OR, bug season is here! Write an American 767 and talk about bugs:
•••American 767: https://poetscollective.org/poetryforms/3223
•••See also the bottom of this post for another challenge, this one an Ekphrastic one.
•••And don’t forget each Tuesday’s Seed of the Week! This week it’s “Fences”.
____________________
MEDUSA’S FORM FINDER: Links to poetry terms mentioned today:
•••Ars Poetica: www.poetryfoundation.org/learn/glossary-terms/ars-poetica
•••Atom: https://poetscollectivepoetryforms.wordpress.com/2014/12/22/atom-2
•••Dua (devised by Ai Li): a two-line poems with two spaces between each line, no periods and no titles
•••Ekphrastic Poem: notesofoak.com/discover-literature/ekphrastic-poetry
•••Haibun: www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/haibun-poems-poetic-form
•••Hainka: www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/hainka-haiku-tanka-new-genre-of-poetic-form
•••Lipogram/Pangrammatic Lipogram: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lipogram
•••Nonce Poetry Forms: www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/poetic-asides/nonce-forms-what-they-are-and-how-to-write-them
•••Response Poem: creativetalentsunleashed.com/2015/11/18/writing-tip-response-poems
•••Ryūka: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryūka
•••Tuesday's Seed of the Week: a prompt listed in Medusa’s Kitchen every Tuesday; poems may be any shape or size, form or no form. No deadlines; past ones are listed at http://medusaskitchen.blogspot.com/p/calliopes-closet.html/. Send results to kathykieth#hotmail.com/.
__________________
—Medusa
Today's Ekphrastic Challenge!
Make what you can of today's
picture, and send your poetic results to
kathykieth@hotmail.com/. (No deadline.)
* * *
—Photo Courtesy of Public Domain
Make what you can of today's
picture, and send your poetic results to
kathykieth@hotmail.com/. (No deadline.)
* * *
—Photo Courtesy of Public Domain
For info about
future poetry happenings in
Northern California and otherwheres,
click on
UPCOMING NORCAL EVENTS
(http://medusaskitchen.blogspot.com/p/wtf.html)
in the links at the top of this page—
and keep an eye on this link and on
the daily Kitchen for happenings
that might pop up
—or get changed!—
during the week.
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.
Poets’ bios appear on their first MK visit.
To find previous posts, type the name
of the poet (or poem) into the little
beige box at the top left-hand side
of this column. See also
Medusa’s Rapsheet at the bottom
of the blue column on the right
side of this column to find
any date you want.
Miss a post?
You can find our most recent ones by
scrolling down under this daily one.
Or there's an "Older Posts" button
at the bottom of this column.
(Please excuse typos in older posts!
Blogspot has been through a lot of
incarnations in 20 years!)
Would you like to be a SnakePal?
Guidelines are at the top of this page
at the Placating the Gorgon link;
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—
and collaborations are welcome.
Just remember:
the snakes of Medusa are always hungry—
for poetry, of course!
future poetry happenings in
Northern California and otherwheres,
click on
UPCOMING NORCAL EVENTS
(http://medusaskitchen.blogspot.com/p/wtf.html)
in the links at the top of this page—
and keep an eye on this link and on
the daily Kitchen for happenings
that might pop up
—or get changed!—
during the week.
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.
Poets’ bios appear on their first MK visit.
To find previous posts, type the name
of the poet (or poem) into the little
beige box at the top left-hand side
of this column. See also
Medusa’s Rapsheet at the bottom
of the blue column on the right
side of this column to find
any date you want.
Miss a post?
You can find our most recent ones by
scrolling down under this daily one.
Or there's an "Older Posts" button
at the bottom of this column.
(Please excuse typos in older posts!
Blogspot has been through a lot of
incarnations in 20 years!)
Would you like to be a SnakePal?
Guidelines are at the top of this page
at the Placating the Gorgon link;
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—
and collaborations are welcome.
Just remember:
the snakes of Medusa are always hungry—
for poetry, of course!
