* * *
—Poetry and Photos by Taylor Graham,
Placerville, CA
—And then scroll down for
Form Fiddlers’ Friday, with poetry by
Nolcha Fox, Stephen Kingsnorth,
Caschwa, Christina Chin, and
Marjorie Pezzoli
—Poetry and Photos by Taylor Graham,
Placerville, CA
—And then scroll down for
Form Fiddlers’ Friday, with poetry by
Nolcha Fox, Stephen Kingsnorth,
Caschwa, Christina Chin, and
Marjorie Pezzoli
UP & RUNNING
for the Pony Express Re-Riders
Head high, ears folded back
to hear me running behind him,
my dog’s a poor-man’s pony.
I think of the old Pony—
day & night ten days
crossing half the continent.
It’s a different world now,
asphalt under hooves
running with rush hour traffic.
We reach a country road,
I tell my dog “hustle!”
we’re safe on the other side.
That speeding truck
is heftier than any horse,
with a grille like flashing teeth.
Today our trail is earth
shaded by oaks and pines,
we travel light—no mailbags.
for the Pony Express Re-Riders
Head high, ears folded back
to hear me running behind him,
my dog’s a poor-man’s pony.
I think of the old Pony—
day & night ten days
crossing half the continent.
It’s a different world now,
asphalt under hooves
running with rush hour traffic.
We reach a country road,
I tell my dog “hustle!”
we’re safe on the other side.
That speeding truck
is heftier than any horse,
with a grille like flashing teeth.
Today our trail is earth
shaded by oaks and pines,
we travel light—no mailbags.
OPEN-AIR READING
in time of Covid
Might he remove his mask out-
of-doors? Poems dare not shout
so’s not to spread more than words.
No virus in can’t-be-heards,
his just-between-you-and-me’s
lost somewhere under the breeze.
in time of Covid
Might he remove his mask out-
of-doors? Poems dare not shout
so’s not to spread more than words.
No virus in can’t-be-heards,
his just-between-you-and-me’s
lost somewhere under the breeze.
NOTES OF AN EARLY JUNE WALK
An ecstasy of flowers along the trail—
elegant brodiaea lifting its purple goblets,
passionate pink peavine as a chorus
of open mouths singing the hallelujah
of bumblebees, and even golden salsify
gone from blossom to seed-fluff
shining crystal-silver in noonday sun.
And here’s the lowly bindweed, twining
its pure white trumpets ever higher.
THE WEIGHT OF SERENITY
It’s a bit muggy but not too
hot for walking this foot path down
thru blackberry bramble in bloom,
unnamed grasses high as my chest.
Trickle of creek water almost
lost among over-crowding green.
No hurry. Not a sound of the
world outside. And this trail narrows,
a plank bridge to side-paths over-
grown with bramble-vine whose blossoms
bode berries—later. So peaceful
the low mumble of creek, a song-
sparrow singing. I muse I could
stay here forever listening....
my legs getting heavier, air
weighing down my lungs. But the blue
dragonfly stirs a fragile breath
of cool air, suggesting I climb
back out, heart beating livelier
with every step by step, leaving.
WITHOUT LYRICS
Three-part harmony
greets me at gate coming home—
phoebe, nuthatch, finch.
Three-part harmony
greets me at gate coming home—
phoebe, nuthatch, finch.
MYSTERY ACROSS THE FENCE
I was out by the back fence, pulling
weeds, when I heard a voice break
the serenity of morning. A little doeling
was staring at me with deep brown eyes.
She spoke a word but I couldn’t catch
it. She said it again, mournfully.
She repeated. One short word—
what language? “Are you in trouble?”
I asked. The same word again, as answer.
This time it sounded a bit like “ma_”
but not quite. Then I noticed the buck
standing not far off, watching, listening,
not saying a word. The doeling
stopped talking and began nibbling weeds.
__________________
Today’s LittleNip:
ACROSS THE RAINBOW BRIDGE
for Janay
Your dog,
released at last
from all her sufferings,
is gone—so hard for you to bear.
But think,
she’s whole, young and strong again
running with the great pack
of good old dogs
you’ve lost.
___________________
Our thanks to Taylor Graham for today’s fine poetry and photos on this lucky Friday the 13th! Follow this year’s annual Pony Express Re-Ride at https://nationalponyexpress.org/re-ride/current-reride/,
Forms TG has used this week include a Triversen (“Up & Running”); a Barzelletta that uses Normative Syllabics (“Open-Air Reading”); a Haiku (“Without Lyrics”); a Response to our Tuesday Seed of the Week (Serenity) that also uses Normative Syllabics (“The Weight of Serenity”); a Butterfly Cinquain (“Across the Rainbow Bridge”); and a Response to a SOW (“Mystery Across the Fence”). The Barzelletta and the Butterfly Cinquain were last week’s Triple-F Challenges.
In El Dorado Country poetry this week, Poetic In Motion meets in Placerville next Monday, 6/16, at 10:30am. 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!
Again, our congratulations to El Dorado County's new Poet Laureate, Moira Magneson. Moira will be part of the Sixteen Rivers Press reading this coming Monday, June 16, in Napa at the Napa Book Mine, 6pm. Info: https://napabookmine.com/event/2025-06-16/sixteen-rivers-press-reading/.
And now it’s time for…
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!
* * *
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Travelling Artists Sketching An Arab Encampment, Cairo (1863)
Last Week’s Ekphrastic Photo
Last Week’s Ekphrastic Photo
Poets who sent responses to last week’s Ekphrastic photo were Nolcha Fox, Stephen Kingsnorth, and Caschwa:
OASIS
—Nolcha Fox, Buffalo, WY
Beneath a tree, the caravan rests.
They speak of high adventure,
of plodding through a nothingverse
of sand and blazing sun.
I wonder where these travellers go
when they are fully rested.
Although it looks romantic,
I’d rather stay at home.
How would I stand the pungent smell
of camels and their cud?
* * *
BUT LAUD THE TREE
—Stephen Kingsnorth, Coedpoeth, Wrexham, Wales
As if an auction catalogue,
long title in descriptive form.
It’s symptomatic, painter’s view,
‘travelling artists sketching’ sign—
encampment of the Arabs too.
But it’s this tree that dominates,
its shading, unexpected thrown,
to suit the focus, story told,
entitled artists spotlighted,
though western painters seek the shade.
It is that camel, canopy
which claim attention of the eye,
still life long-lasting in the sun
as bark to bark sounds as it should,
essential partners on the trek.
Sheen, luminous with chlorophyll,
thick ginger trunk, broad stretching branch;
this is oasis for the mind,
refreshing soul as body rests,
noteworthy as outstanding site.
As witness, conflict, centuries,
maybe a market, meeting place,
today acknowledge tree of life,
vitality, community,
see, bough before its majesty.
* * *
WAITING A WHILE
—Caschwa, Sacramento, CA
At high noon, the tree’s canopy offered generous
shade to all below it but now the sun’s orbit has
taken it to a lower point, letting some full sun reach
those resting under the tree
One cannot fathom how tired those people must be,
trying to second-guess the rituals of the sky, they
can only wait a while right there under the tree while
rays of sunlight dart in, dart out, and play games
lighting up their faces
* * *
Here are three Haiku from Carl: one that’s true, he says, and one that’s not (Haiku Hyperbole) and one that’s, well, whatever:
RANKING
—Caschwa
I am at best a
mediocre chess player
on timer, the worst
~ ~ ~
UNTIE ME
—Caschwa
Knots are trouble when
right in front of me, behind
me, impossible
~ ~ ~
THE GOOD OL’ DAYS
—Caschwa
Used to be that the
Customer was king, not the
Board of Director
* * *
Carl also sent a List Poem:
—Caschwa
I am at best a
mediocre chess player
on timer, the worst
~ ~ ~
UNTIE ME
—Caschwa
Knots are trouble when
right in front of me, behind
me, impossible
~ ~ ~
THE GOOD OL’ DAYS
—Caschwa
Used to be that the
Customer was king, not the
Board of Director
* * *
Carl also sent a List Poem:
FULL CIRCLE
—Caschwa
The first car I bought was a 1963
Dodge Dart, GT. It had a slant 6
engine, push button transmission,
license plate ending in “063” and
it brought me a greater feel of
freedom than I had experienced before.
What it didn’t have was:
power steering
power brakes
power windows
right side mirror
passenger seat belts
FM radio or stereo
radial tires
air conditioning
Compare to the 2014 model car I
bought more recently, which has all
of those things the GT didn’t have
now as standard features.
* * *
And here’s a Renga from Christina Chin (Malaysia) and Marjorie Pezzoli (San Diego, CA):
—Caschwa
The first car I bought was a 1963
Dodge Dart, GT. It had a slant 6
engine, push button transmission,
license plate ending in “063” and
it brought me a greater feel of
freedom than I had experienced before.
What it didn’t have was:
power steering
power brakes
power windows
right side mirror
passenger seat belts
FM radio or stereo
radial tires
air conditioning
Compare to the 2014 model car I
bought more recently, which has all
of those things the GT didn’t have
now as standard features.
* * *
And here’s a Renga from Christina Chin (Malaysia) and Marjorie Pezzoli (San Diego, CA):
RAW DEAL
—Christina Chin (plain text) and
Marjorie Pezzoli (italic)
whiskey on the table
a drunk man should
not bet
mixed signals
telephone game
someone's got to lose
be that winner when you
play smart
on hold
bottoms up
couldn't read
his cards but it's written
all over his face
rigged deck
the joker’s wild
counting
the aces hoping
for a trump card
fifty-two card shuffle
forty-seventh bluffs again
the dealing is done
he has a good hand
and walks away
__________________
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!
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.) In honor of Friday the 13th, we shall do HexSonnettas:
•••HexSonnetta: http://www.shadowpoetry.com/resources/wip/hexsonnetta.html
•••AND/OR since nobody has any time for anything these days, we’ll have to be satisfied with The Brevette:
•••Brevette: www.shadowpoetry.com/resources/wip/brevette.html
•••See also the bottom of this post for another challenge, this one an Ekphrastic one.
•••And don’t forget each Tuesday Seed of the Week! This week it’s “Bedlam”.
____________________
MEDUSA’S FORM FINDER: Links to poetry terms mentioned today:
•••Barzelleta: https://poetscollectivepoetryforms.wordpress.com/2014/11/17/barzelletta
•••Brevette: www.shadowpoetry.com/resources/wip/brevette.html
•••Butterfly Cinquain: https://poetscollectivepoetryforms.wordpress.com/2014/02/21/butterfly-cinquain
•••Ekphrastic Poem: notesofoak.com/discover-literature/ekphrastic-poetry
•••Haiku: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/learn/glossary-terms/haiku-or-hokku AND/OR www.shadowpoetry.com/resources/haiku/haiku.html
•••HexSonnetta: http://www.shadowpoetry.com/resources/wip/hexsonnetta.html
•••Normative Syllabics: hellopoetry.com/collection/108/normative-syllabic-free-verse AND/OR lewisturco.typepad.com/poetics/normative-syllabic-verse
•••Renga: www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/poetic-asides/renga-poetic-forms
•••Response Poem: creativetalentsunleashed.com/2015/11/18/writing-tip-response-poems
•••Triversen: www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/triversen-poetic-form
•••Tuesday 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
A reminder that
Round-Up @ The Rink
Father’s Day Variety Show
takes place tonight in Sacramento,
7pm and 10pm.
For info about this and other
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!
Round-Up @ The Rink
Father’s Day Variety Show
takes place tonight in Sacramento,
7pm and 10pm.
For info about this and other
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!
