Dreaming of Breadfruit & Po-Events, 6/5-11

PIGEONS
—Philip Larkin

On shallow slates the pigeons shift together,
Backing against a thin rain from the west
Blown across each sunk head and settled feather.
Huddling round the warm stack suits them best,
Till winter daylight weakens, and they grow
Hardly defined against the brickwork. Soon,
Light from a small intense lopsided moon
Shows them, black as their shadows, sleeping so.

_______________________

BREADFRUIT
—Philip Larkin

Boys dream of native girls who bring breadfruit,
Whatever they are,
As bribes to teach them how to execute
Sixteen sexual positions on the sand;
This makes them join (the boys) the tennis club,
Jive at the Mecca, use deodorants, and
On Saturdays squire ex-schoolgirls to the pub
By private car.

Such uncorrected visions end in church
Or registrar:
A mortgaged semi- with a silver birch;
Nippers; the widowed mum; having to scheme
With money; illness; age. So absolute
Maturity falls, when old men sit and dream
Of naked native girls who bring breadfruit,
Whatever they are.

_______________________

Alexa Mergen is facilitating a six-week series, "Peace in Poetry", at It's All Yoga, located at 2106 11th Ave., Sac. (11th Ave. and Freeport). The series runs from June 18-July 23, from 11 AM-1 PM. Series fee is $55; Drop-in fee is $12. Info: 916-444-8488.

This week’s calender of poetry events; please let me know if there are more or if there are corrections:

•••Tonight (Monday, 6/5), The Sacramento Poetry Center is helping to launch Kathleen Lynch's new book, Hinge, at the weekly poetry reading at 7:30 PM at HQ (25th & R Sts., Sac.). Hinge is the winner of the 2004 Black Zinnias Poetry Award, the journal published by the California Institute of Arts and Letters.

•••Also tonight (6/5): First Monday Poetry Series in Stockton presents Virgil Dughi at the new Java Aroma in The Empire Theatre (the theatre rooms), 1825 Pacific Ave, Stockton, 7 PM. Limited Open Mic hosted by Alan Satow. Free, but be sure to patronize Java Aroma. Info: 209-463-6058.

•••Thursday, 6/8: Poetry Unplugged at Luna's Cafe, 1414 16th St., Sac. presents an entire night of Open Mic (plus surprises, for sure), hosted by Geoffrey Neill (his hosting debut!), 8 PM. Info: 916-441-3931.

•••Saturday (6/10): Think Postcard! workshop from 6:30-8 PM at The Book Collector, 1008 24th St., Sac., facilitated by Poet (and rattlechapper) Mary Zeppa and Artist Claudia Smith. Info: 916-442-9295.

•••Also Saturday (6/10): Giant June Book Sale at Fair Oaks Library, 11601 Fair Oaks Blvd. (just south of Madison Av.) in Fair Oaks, 11 AM-4 PM. Books, videos, CDs, DVDs, cassettes, lots of books-on-tape. Half the proceeds go to their "adopted" library in Gulfport, LA, a victim of Hurricane Katrina.

•••Also Saturday (6/10), the fourth Youth Talent Show with host “Patricity” from 3-5 PM at Queen Sheba’s Fine Dining, 1537 Howe Av., Sac. They encourage youth of all ages to come on out and share their gifts in a positive and uplifting manner. It can be poems, essays, dance, a story, a song, a comedy. Let's encourage our youth with your presence. Free, but they do ask that you do at least purchase a soda or small item to support the restaurant for allowing them to use such a beautiful and warm spot. Info: 916-920-1020.

•••Sunday (6/11): Poet's Corner presents an Open Mike at Barnes and Noble, Stockton's Weberstown Mall, Pacific Ave/Yokuts Ave, Stockton. 7 PM. Free.

_______________________

THE MOON SAILS OUT
—Federico García Lorca

When the moon sails out
the church bells die away
and the paths overgrown
with brush appear.

When the moon sails out
the waters cover the earth
and the heart feels it is
a little island in the infinite.

No one eats oranges
under the full moon.
The right things are fruits
green and chilled.

When the moon sails out
with a hundred faces all the same,
the coins made of silver
break out in sobs in the pocket.

(translated from the Spanish by Robert Bly)

_____________________________

García Lorca would’ve been 108 years old today. Executed by Franco’s soldiers in 1936, his body was never found.

—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.)