Special Rattle-Read!

Rattlesnake Press is proud to announce the release of An Ocean-Front Hotel Room by Ron Tranquilla of Grass Valley, which will be celebrated with a SPECIAL RATTLE-READ at The Book Collector, 1008 24th St., Sac., on AUGUST 31 at 7:30pm. (Could I possibly get more red into one paragraph?) Please come join us for this very special Snake event. (In case the name, "Tranquilla," rings a bell with you, it may be because Ron's son, Ryan, was previously Director of California Poets and Writers.) More about Ron's book to come.

This Monday, Rhony Bhopla will host Tryst With Destiny 2: Poets Celebrate the Beauty of India, which will be held at HQ, 25th & R Streets, Sac., 7:30pm. The event is sponsored by Sacramento Poetry Center. Rhony says:

Tryst with Destiny 2 will highlight the performances of several young dancers, and also a reading by Rhony Bhopla. There will be some selections from Poets of the Past, and gift give-aways. "Tryst with Destiny" was the speech given by the first Prime Minister of India (Nehru) at the liberation of India in 1947.

Here's a poem by Rhony:


BINDIS AND BANGLES
—Rhony Bhopla, Sacramento

India seeps through kajal
lined lotus petal eyes

I feel her henna oiled hands bend me
towards men that disguise

my earlobes, swinging gold loops
resonant of flutes and tabla pounding

Indian Ocean tides wishing away
dirty crowds, and the tsunami ravaged south

she undulates under the sting of mosquito nights
sequined in saris by master tailors unnoticed

rotis and dalls pour like the Ganges
for the last Untouchable quivering at the temple

bindis and kum kum silt on foreheads
of matriarchs, unrelenting in desire and power

silver toe rings shine like the glistening collapsing air
between a new bride and her husband

her struggle begins in the bazaar
with bindis and bangles.


kajal = eyeliner
tabla = drums
sari = 6 yard wrap
roti = flat bread
dalls = lentils
bindis = decorative dots or designs centered in forehead
kum kum = red powder used in hair part or forehead

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Thanks, Rhony, for your evocative and exotic poem. (Mosquitos, even!) Those of you who attended last year's Tryst remember how elegant and beautiful it was.

And don't forget the reading at La Raza tonight by Joe Finkleman and Susan Hennies. The two of them have written many interesting poems for two voices. 7:30pm.

—Medusa


Medusa encourages poets of all ilk and ages to send their poetry and announcements of Northern California poetry events to kathykieth@hotmail.com for posting on this daily Snake blog. Rights remain with the poets.