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.)