Placerville, CA
—And then scroll down for
Form Fiddlers’ Friday, with poetry by
Joe Nolan, Lynn White, Nolcha Fox,
Stephen Kingsnorth, Cristina Chin,
Jerome Berglund, and Caschwa
THE RED FIREPLUG
After William Carlos Williams, in the style of and
response to “The Red Chair” by Katy Brown,
Medusa’s Kitchen, 1/20/25 (https://medusaskitchen.blogspot.com/2025/01/those-wacky-winds-of-warning.html)
So much depends upon
a red fireplug beside an industrial
road lining itself
with large gray structures
for making goods and money
on what was
empty weedy fields
for making O2
and nurturing furtive homeless
camps
and feeding pesky varmints
as well as songbirds
and flowers like poppies
that in their season explode
in golden flame.
After William Carlos Williams, in the style of and
response to “The Red Chair” by Katy Brown,
Medusa’s Kitchen, 1/20/25 (https://medusaskitchen.blogspot.com/2025/01/those-wacky-winds-of-warning.html)
So much depends upon
a red fireplug beside an industrial
road lining itself
with large gray structures
for making goods and money
on what was
empty weedy fields
for making O2
and nurturing furtive homeless
camps
and feeding pesky varmints
as well as songbirds
and flowers like poppies
that in their season explode
in golden flame.
IT’S YEAR-ROUND NOW
We’re burning brush piles,
always clearing for wildfire
season that’s always.
SILENT FLIGHT MACHINES
from “Are all owls night owls?”
Interesting Facts email (Jan. 24, 2025)
Centuries have looked to symbols
of spooky death, captivating their stares
on a poet, as popular myth suggests
adaptations allow heads to turn
without cutting off brains like rodents
scratching in leaf litter, riffing
on a poem that gathers birds
to define a dictionary.
Centuries have looked to symbols
of spooky death, captivating their stares
on a poet, as popular myth suggests
adaptations allow heads to turn
without cutting off brains like rodents
scratching in leaf litter, riffing
on a poem that gathers birds
to define a dictionary.
WOODS AND FIELD
Those old bedtime walks
our dogs scouting dark corners—
midwinter moonlight.
Statue up ahead
the dogs circling uncertain—
midwinter moonlight
it’s the great buck standing ground—
dogs come to your call: bedtime.
Those old bedtime walks
our dogs scouting dark corners—
midwinter moonlight.
Statue up ahead
the dogs circling uncertain—
midwinter moonlight
it’s the great buck standing ground—
dogs come to your call: bedtime.
FROST ON THE RAILROAD
The midwinter moon has left its silver
brushed across the weathered ties
keeping rails from dancing.
The midwinter moon has left its silver
brushed across the weathered ties
keeping rails from dancing.
SHORT WALK ALONG RR TRACK
As we start the trail
a young lady walks her phone—
waiting for someone?
Four Sheriff’s cars
pull up at the closed diner
across the road.
Police car stops at ranch gate,
drives away, comes back &
then leaves again—why?
Two ladies with 2-way radio
in chest harness
pass us, walking the track.
I’m in orange SAR vest
& hardhat because
of my rambunctious dog.
Are we all part of a story
or nine separate stories
plus the dog’s tale?
___________________
Today’s LittleNip:
USE YOUR NOSE
—Taylor Graham
A skunk had passed this way before
and left his mark along the fence.
I’ve studied tracks and scat, but swore
a skunk had passed this way before
without the teaching of a score
of experts. It’s just common scents.
A skunk had passed this way before
and left his mark along the fence.
___________________
When Taylor Graham sent her poems to me this week, she wrote “I’ll soon be off to Denny's to hear a talk on what to do if I meet a cougar.” Those who walk the woods of the foothills need to be concerned about such things… Anyway, we’re grateful for TG’s fine poetry and photos, as always—but watch out for those pesky cougars!
Forms TG has used this week include a Haiku (“It's Year-Round Now”); a Response Poem (“The Red Fireplug”); a Hainka (“Woods and Field”); a Triversen (“Short Walk Along RR Track”); a Kimo (“Frost on the Railroad”); a Triolet in response to a recent Ekphrastic photo on MK (“Use Your Nose”); and a Found Poem (“Silent Flight Machines”). The Triolet and the Found Poem were last week’s Triple-F Challenges; a recent Tuesday Seed of the Week was “Midwinter Moonlight”; and, well, what can you say about skunks? Always charmers, they are…
Taylor’s response to Katy Brown’s “The Red Chair” has the two of them teamed up again after a long hiatus, and we’re so glad to see it! Time was when the two of them and D.R. Wagner formed The Meduskateers, three fine poets writing responses back and forth. Of course, D.R. is gone now, but there’s no reason the other two can’t reunite—and we’d be all the better for it. By the way, Katy and TG will facilitate another Capturing Wakamatsu workshop on Feb. 9, a week from this Sunday. Check it out and reserve your spot at https://www.arconservancy.org/wakamatsu/.
In El Dorado County’s poetry events this week, there will be a Poet Laureate Trail reading by El Dorado County Poet Laureate Stephen Meadows in El Dorado Hills on Wednesday, 1/29, 5:30pm. Plus, 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 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!
As we start the trail
a young lady walks her phone—
waiting for someone?
Four Sheriff’s cars
pull up at the closed diner
across the road.
Police car stops at ranch gate,
drives away, comes back &
then leaves again—why?
Two ladies with 2-way radio
in chest harness
pass us, walking the track.
I’m in orange SAR vest
& hardhat because
of my rambunctious dog.
Are we all part of a story
or nine separate stories
plus the dog’s tale?
___________________
Today’s LittleNip:
USE YOUR NOSE
—Taylor Graham
A skunk had passed this way before
and left his mark along the fence.
I’ve studied tracks and scat, but swore
a skunk had passed this way before
without the teaching of a score
of experts. It’s just common scents.
A skunk had passed this way before
and left his mark along the fence.
___________________
When Taylor Graham sent her poems to me this week, she wrote “I’ll soon be off to Denny's to hear a talk on what to do if I meet a cougar.” Those who walk the woods of the foothills need to be concerned about such things… Anyway, we’re grateful for TG’s fine poetry and photos, as always—but watch out for those pesky cougars!
Forms TG has used this week include a Haiku (“It's Year-Round Now”); a Response Poem (“The Red Fireplug”); a Hainka (“Woods and Field”); a Triversen (“Short Walk Along RR Track”); a Kimo (“Frost on the Railroad”); a Triolet in response to a recent Ekphrastic photo on MK (“Use Your Nose”); and a Found Poem (“Silent Flight Machines”). The Triolet and the Found Poem were last week’s Triple-F Challenges; a recent Tuesday Seed of the Week was “Midwinter Moonlight”; and, well, what can you say about skunks? Always charmers, they are…
Taylor’s response to Katy Brown’s “The Red Chair” has the two of them teamed up again after a long hiatus, and we’re so glad to see it! Time was when the two of them and D.R. Wagner formed The Meduskateers, three fine poets writing responses back and forth. Of course, D.R. is gone now, but there’s no reason the other two can’t reunite—and we’d be all the better for it. By the way, Katy and TG will facilitate another Capturing Wakamatsu workshop on Feb. 9, a week from this Sunday. Check it out and reserve your spot at https://www.arconservancy.org/wakamatsu/.
In El Dorado County’s poetry events this week, there will be a Poet Laureate Trail reading by El Dorado County Poet Laureate Stephen Meadows in El Dorado Hills on Wednesday, 1/29, 5:30pm. Plus, 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 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!
* * *
Last Week’s Ekphrastic Photo
Poets who sent responses to last week’s Ekphrastic photo included Joe Nolan, Lynn White, Nolcha Fox, and Stephen Kingsnorth:
ENIGMATIC SWIRLS
—Joe Nolan, Stockton, CA
These enigmatic, emblematic swirls
Could be so many things—
We can see the shape of cellos
The binding of the Tango
The swirling of galaxies
The rising of a sun,
All so colorful,
So hopeful of life,
Maybe an archetype
Of the marriage of
Husband and wife?
* * *
SWIRLS AND CURLS
—Lynn White, Blaenau Ffestiniog, North Wales
Colours of psychedelia
transcending
summer sunshine
swirling and curling
like creamy ringlets
of tie dyed hair
unbraided and free.
Psychedelia in waiting
for the spikes and razors
of punk to come.
* * *
DANCER
—Nolcha Fox, Buffalo, WY
She is a dancer swirling,
twirling in her rainbow skirts.
She’s kaleidoscopic wind,
a blur of flowers and autumn leaves.
She’s a dark seducer
disguised as lust and drugs.
* * *
MAGNET TEST
—Stephen Kingsnorth, Coedpoeth, Wrexham, Wales
Imagine scroll of violin,
viola, cello, woodwind, strings,
it being knurl of wood I see,
a treble clef, chromatic scale;
light orchestra, Palm Court perhaps,
beneath stained glass at Tiffany’s.
Maybe a hint of Northern Lights,
denied—though spiral twists be scene—
no trip the light fantastic dance,
for whirl and twirl or spin are seen,
but still, flat, -footed as AI,
no shimmer, shimmy, mystery.
I like perspective, groovy curls,
as if spokeshaved in awkward space,
too soon to be split-ends I fear—
that final judgement, crafted art.
With meagre serifs, what the plot,
the programmed plan or strategy?
From a grey world, or black and white,
its colours, shapes bringing appeal,
but do we question of what depth,
as we would ask of stroking brush?
Does this pass fridge-door magnet test,
as would the children’s fibre pen?
Exhibit place not masterpiece,
but Voice, his Master, grandchild crèche;
like snowflake—of unique design,
a comfort blanket in the wastes—
for grandpas’ tastes, gallery space,
what’s priceless, bloom of family.
Forget the psychedelia,
that mourning rise of mushroom cloud,
but trust in thrusting morning ring,
the web established underground
of mycorrhiza, and the child—
out mouths of sucklings prophesied.
* * *
Jerome Berglund and Christina Chin have spent us a Split Sequence:
Queen of the Night
QUEEN OF THE NIGHT
—Jerome Berglund, Minneapolis (plain text)
and Christina Chin, Malaysia (italics)
Tan Hua viewing
hosting party
the anticipation
at midnight
less screen time they get
dance of the
sugar plum fairy
posh spice
the better performance seems
lucky
first teen love
he's honey for my tea
(Christina and Jerome say: “The Queen of the Night flower symbolism is derived from its short flowering time [of one night]. The flower's meaning is to enjoy the small moments because they do not last. A person that views an open flower will have good luck.”)
* * *
And here is a Found poem by Carl Schwartz:
RULES BY WHICH TO LIVE
—Caschwa
After you drive and use machines
for shopping errands, you should
not donate sperm for 90 days
Watching TV will expose you to
drowsiness, confusion, and dizziness
this is most common from 1 month
to 6 months after your tax return has
been submitted
Check with your union to see if they
have an active program to fight against
discrimination using signs of protest so
you have a higher chance of getting
noticed
what is the most important information
you should know about your cellmate?
Tell your guard about unexpected bruising
or fainting when they come around to do
their cell counts
____________________
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!
•••Kimo: www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/kimo-poetic-form AND/OR poetscollective.org/poetryforms/kimo
•••AND/OR a Response Poem using the “Queen of the Night” theme (see poem and definition above):
•••Response Poem: creativetalentsunleashed.com/2015/11/18/writing-tip-response-poems
•••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 “Down the Basement Stairs”.
____________________
MEDUSA’S FORM FINDER: Links to poetry terms mentioned today:
•••Ekphrastic Poem: notesofoak.com/discover-literature/ekphrastic-poetry
•••Found Poem: www.writersdigest.com/personal-updates/found-poetry-converting-or-stealing-the-words-of-others AND/OR poets.org/glossary/found-poem
•••Haiku: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/learn/glossary-terms/haiku-or-hokku AND/OR www.shadowpoetry.com/resources/haiku/haiku.html
•••Hainka: www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/hainka-haiku-tanka-new-genre-of-poetic-form
•••Kimo: www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/kimo-poetic-form AND/OR poetscollective.org/poetryforms/kimo
•••Response Poem: creativetalentsunleashed.com/2015/11/18/writing-tip-response-poems
•••Split Sequence: http://www.hsa-haiku.org/frogpond/2022-issue45-1/essay.html
•••Triolet: www.writersdigest.com/personal-updates/triolet-an-easy-way-to-write-8-lines-of-poetry
•••Triversen: www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/triversen-poetic-form
__________________
—Medusa
Guardians of the Woods
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 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!
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!
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