Taylor Graham has written a poem about the earthquake that rattled the eastern part of our state this weekend. She reports no damage. I think that, from now on, all news should be reported in poetic form:
4.8
—Taylor Graham, Somerset, CA
Did you hear it? That rattle
of door against sill
as if cloud heaped on storm-cloud
upcountry too high/far off
for thunder, or fingers over the black
keys not quite touching
music. Silence. Did you feel
it? A giddiness between
steps, the earth not easy
in its glide underfoot.
Something sticks, an inter-
stice, as if you saw
the leaving of the fox, and not
the creature herself.
_______________
In other news, also reporting from up that way is Phil Weidman, who sends us this:
TARGET PRACTICE
—Phil Weidman, Pollock Pines, CA
Around here abandoned cars
become senseless scapegoats.
How many days and nights
before a rock is bounced
off a window? If there’s no
intervention, this tired, two
tone Buick becomes a prime target.
More cracked and broken glass.
Tires vanish or get punctured.
Seats are torn loose and flung
aside. Hood’s sprung and twisted
into an odd configuration.
Dented doors and fenders
(one door hanging awkwardly
from a single hinge) are
riddled with bullet holes.
An undamaged headlight
dangles from its socket.
_______________
See what I mean? News could take on a whole different slant.
Interested in what poets in the Bay Area are up to? Sign up for Cynthia Bryant's free Literary List at poetslane@comcast.net. Cynthia (bless her) has taken it upon herself to become the poetry publicity hub of the Bay Area, sending out regular (several a week!) e-mails to list members about readings, workshops—all kinds of poetry-related news and events. I personally am not able to get down there for most of what goes on; still, it's interesting to know about it all and to be able to make the occasional choice based on what I see. Keep an eye on 'em, so to speak.
July 4th is coming; let's have another contest. Write about fireworks. The first three poets to send in poems about fireworks will receive a free copy of Mary Zeppa's new rattlechap, The Battered Bride Overture. On your mark...
—Medusa