Spring? As IF!

SPRING STORM
—William Carlos Williams

The sky has given over
its bitterness.
Out of the dark change
all day long
rain falls and falls
as if it would never end.
Still the snow keeps
its hold on the ground.
But water, water is seething
from a thousand runnels.
It collects swiftly, dappled with black
cuts a way for itself
through green ice in the gutters.
Drop after drop it falls
from the withered grass stems
of the overhanging embankment.

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Spring? As IF! Content yourself with poetry; there's plenty to do this week, as ever (let me know if there's more):

•••Tonight, the second workshop of THINK POSTCARD! takes place at the Sacramento Poetry Center at Headquarters for the Arts, 25th & R Sts., Sacramento, 7:30 pm. The Mail Arts Project, one of Sacramento Poet Laureate Julia Connor’s projects, is part of the Poet Laureate program under the auspices of the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission. This event involves multi-artist and multi-media makings of unique Postcard Art, culminating in collaborative works that represent individual and collective efforts, with some to be part of a curated exhibition at a later date. But the real treasure is in the act of creating together. So please bring materials of a personal nature—small mementos, photos, found stuff, lists, receipts, yarn, special pens, etc. that can be used or affixed to the post card and sent through the U.S. mail—and basic supplies will also be provided on site. Bring an art partner or meet one there and create a one-of-a-kind art piece to be mailed to The Sacramento Arts Commission, 2030 Del Paso Blvd., Sac. 95815.

•••Come hear Straight Out Scribes (before Staajabu moves to New Jersey!) at the SECOND ANNUAL RATTLESNAKE PRESS BIRTHDAY BASH this Wednesday (4/12) at The Book Collector, 1008 24th St., Sac., 7:30 pm. Free littlesnake broadsides from both gals and a serious, industrial-strength buffet. The Scribes' own books will also be on sale.

•••Thursday (4/13), take your choice of (1) the intriguing-sounding Liars contest, The Sacramento Storyteller's Guild's "over-18" event of "boastful tales" at the Hart Center, 27th & J Sts., Sac., 7:30 pm. Free admission to listen; $10 to participate. Info: 916-424-0532. OR—

•••Head on down to Luna's Cafe for Poetry Unplugged, featuring Rachel Liebrock this Thursday (4/13): 1414 16th St., Sac., 8 pm. Free; info: 916-441-3931.

•••Friday (4/14) in San Francisco: Baby Beat/Beatitute poetry event with readers/contributors San Francisco Poet Laureate Jack Hirschman, David Meltzer, Sharon Doubiago, Neeli Cherkovski, Thomas Rain Crowe, Kaye McDonough, Kristen Wetterhahn, Janice Blue, H.D. Moe, Luke Breit, James Dalessandro (and more) reading to celebrate the Baby Beat anthology published in a French-English edition: poetry from the second San Francisco Poetry Renaissance of the 1970s. New College Theater, 777 Valencia, San Francisco, 7 pm.

•••Saturday (4/15), the Underground Poetry Series will feature Khiry Malik Moore and Laura Cook at Underground Books, 2814 35th St., Sac., 7 pm. $3. Info: 916-737-3333.

•••The Pomo Literati presents Poets and Writers on Sunday (4/16), 2-4 pm. This is a two-hour quarterly radio program that spotlights the spoken word. This week, Bill Pieper will read from Gomez, a novel that sets Anais Nin and Henry Miller together in San Francisco in the swingin’ 70’s. Check out the characters and the locations! Author Bill Pieper was the winner of Best Fiction/Drama Book Award 2003-04 by the Northern California Publishers and Authors and Association. Also: LadyMonster brings poems and news of the May 12th Benefit in support of the Memphis 3 travesty, which will feature Henry Rollins, Jonathon Richmond and others in performance, plus artwork available for sale on site. Prerecorded works by Diane di Prima, Henry Rollins, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Philip Lamantia, The Germ and frank andrick (Aurelia Occultica Lamantia, published by Rattlesnake Press), plus Patti Smith w/Television. Available on the airwaves at 90.3 FM or go global via internet: www.live365.com/stations/kusf questions. Info: fandrickfabpub@hotmail.com or 209-727-5179.

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In other news: a gaggle of Sacramento poets and friends flew down Interstate 80 last Saturday for the 80th Annual Poets' Dinner in Berkeley, a luncheon and poetry contest which has been going on annually for, well, 80 years! As usual, we poetry carpetbaggers from Sac and environs cleaned up: coming away with prizes were Pat Nichol, Allegra Silberstein, Katy Brown, Stephen Sadler and Kathy Kieth—in addition to which, coming away with TWO PRIZES EACH were Carol Frith and Theresa McCort. Snake-pals from other areas won prizes, too, including Ellaraine Lockie.

That day, we also got to take a peek at the lovely first issue of Hardpan: A Journal of Poetry, which some of you have contributed to, and which is now available. Area poets we recognize include Robert Roden, Brad Buchanan, Taylor Graham, and Patricia Wellingham-Jones. Hardpan is edited in Modesto by Rattlechappers debee loyd and Karen Baker, along with Gordon Preston and Contributing Editor Sandy Stark, and it is very nicely done. Check out hardpanpoetry@sbcglobal.net to order a copy, or subscriptions are $15 for the semi-annual journal: Box 1065, Modesto, CA 95353. Next deadline for poetry submissions is 8/15.

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BLIZZARD
—William Carlos Williams

Snow:
years of anger following
hours that float idly down—
the blizzard
drifts its weight
deeper and deeper for three days
or sixty years, eh? Then
the sun! a clutter of
yellow and blue flakes—
Hairy looking trees stand out
in long alleys
over a wild solitude.
The man turns and there—
his solitary track stretched out
upon the world.

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THE SHADOW
—William Carlos Williams

Soft as the bed in the earth
Where a stone has lain—
So soft, so smooth and so cool,
Spring closes me in
With her arms and her hands.

Rich as the smell
Of new earth on a stone,
That has lain, breathing
The damp through its pores—
Spring closes me in
With her blossomy hair;
Brings dark to my eyes.

_______________________

Well, we can hope, anyway...

—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.)