TO A FUGITIVE
—James Wright
The night you got away, I dreamed you rose
Out of the earth to lean on a young tree.
Then they were there, hulking the moon away,
The great dogs rooting, snuffing up the grass.
You raise a hand, hungry to hold your lips
Out of the wailing air; but lights begin
Spidering the ground; oh they come closing in,
The beam searches your face like fingertips.
Hurry, Maguire, hammer the body down,
Crouch to the wall again, shackle the cold
Machine guns and the sheriff and the cars:
Divide the bright bars of the cornered bone,
Strip, run for it, break the last law, unfold,
Dart down the alley, race between the stars.
________________________
It's Friday the 13th! Need to get away? Selene Steese writes: Imagine the writing that will result from eight glorious days in the South of France! Give your writing spirit the chance to soar, and join us in 2007. I've been given the opportunity of a lifetime to teach a writing workshop in the beautiful countryside near the French Alps, and I would love to have you join me! This magical trip will take place May 5-12, 2007, and the cost includes accommodations at a lovely 19th century home with a large garden and a view of Mont Blanc and Virieu castle. Also included in the cost are daily gourmet breakfasts and dinners, two tours each day, plus snacks and drinks while on tour. Lunches, airfare, and personal expenses are not included. There are three double-occupancy rooms available, which means there is space on the tour for a total of six people. For more information, please visit www.frenchescapade.com. (The photo gallery is a must!) If you are intrigued and want to know the total cost, as well as get further details on how to sign up, please email selene@matchlessgoddess.com or call (510) 872-0928. And check out my website at www.matchlessgoddess.com/frenchescapade.htm for more details.
Closer to home, here is a bibliophile alert: Friends of the Sacramento Public Library will hold their first bargain clearance sale at the Book Den Warehouse, 8250 Belvedere Av., Ste. 8, Sacramento, from 12-5 pm Saturday (1/14) and from 10-4 on Sunday (1/15). Members of "Friends" can also shop from 9-noon on Saturday.
DEPRESSED BY A BOOK OF BAD POETRY,
I WALK TOWARD AN UNUSED PASTURE
AND INVITE THE INSECTS TO JOIN ME
—James Wright
Relieved, I let the book fall behind a stone.
I climb a slight rise of grass.
I do not want to disturb the ants
Who are walking single file up the fence post,
Carrying small white petals,
Casting shadows so frail that I can see through them.
I close my eyes for a moment, and listen.
The old grasshoppers
Are tired, they leap heavily now,
Their thighs are burdened.
I want to hear them, they have clear sounds to make.
Then lovely, far off, a dark cricket begins
In the maple trees.
_________________
BY A LAKE IN MINNESOTA
—James Wright
Upshore from the cloud—
The slow whale of country twilight—
The spume of light falls into valleys
Full of roses.
And below,
Out of the placid waters,
Two beavers, mother and child,
Wave out long ripples
To the dust of dead leaves
On the shore.
And the moon walks,
Hunting for hidden dolphins
Behind the darkening combers
Of the ground.
And downshore from the cloud,
I stand, waiting
For dark.
___________________
—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.)