A Winnah

It was requested that Medusa print some of the Sacramento prize-winning poems from the Ina Coolbrith contest we hammered recently, so here are two from Don Feliz:


LIGHTING RUBE GOLDBURG'S FIRE
—Don Feliz, Sacramento

air cools at sundown,
shrinks balloon

which slips from tube,
releases cage door

for cat chased by dog,
that jumps off board

which falls and unwinds
string releasing weight

above cigar lighter
igniting paper fuse

igniting prepared
campfire kindling

_________________________

DINING OUT IN THE DARK CITY
(San Francisco 1950)

Friday after school I dress up in
slacks, a new shirt and sports coat.

Mom wears her best dress, high-
heeled shoes, white gloves. Dad

looks dapper in his suit and tie.
We drive through city streets

between the dark canyons of
tall buildings, parking before

dark. We walk past closed
offices, open bars and clubs,

to the International Settlement—
one block of night life and bright

lights, crowded with excitement-seekers
and sellers. Inside Lucca’s, candle-

light creates glowing islands at each
table. A tuxedoed waiter serves

antipasto. With an Italian accent
he describes specials and offers

menus listing pasta, veal scaloppini,
and chicken cacciatore. He pours wine,

even for me, and we pretend we are
in Naples, or Florence. Walking back

to our car in the now-dark alley, we
look into an open basement window

and see rows of Chinese women bent
over sewing machines, piles of cut-out

fabric pieces, stacks of finished shirts. A
single light bulbs swings in the smoky air.

___________________________

Thanks, Don!

—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. Previously-published poems are okay for Medusa’s Kitchen, as long as you own the rights. (Please cite publication.)