Dale "Crawdad" Nelson reads at Luna's Cafe tomorrow night at 8pm; here's a tasty sample of his work:
MOONSHINE
—Dale Nelson, Sacramento
There are only so many stars
many of them owned already,
and just a little light
that can really be called yours
out of all that pours through heaven.
Let's call tonight's moon property.
That makes us thieves
who lie out aching
or hungry, sick of being clay
pieces with that angry illumination.
Can't be fed without driving a knife
into something and can't get home
without burning that last bucket
of fat cut from the land.
Always hard to be alive
I mean hard
and when the old folks
lean under the moon to take a drink
they can never get enough
of that moonshine passing
through carved hands.
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Don't forget the fireworks contest: send in a poem about fireworks and receive a free copy of Mary Zeppa's book, The Battered Bride Overture. We already have one winner, but room for at least two more. (We'll save up the poems, let 'em all explode on the 4th.)
Also on the 4th is the picnic/Whitman reading at Crocker Park, hosted by Art and Christina Mantecon. Picnic starts at 3, reading from 4-6pm: many local poets of note will read Leaves of Grass and Song of Myself. Free; bring food, drink, blankets to sit on; no fireworks or booze.
—Medusa