Silver Apples of the Moon

THE SONG OF WANDERING AENGUS
—William Butler Yeats

I went out to the hazel wood,
Because a fire was in my head.
And cut and peeled a hazel wand,
And hooked a berry to a thread;
And when white moths were on the wing,
And moth-like stars were flickering out,
I dropped the berry in a stream
And caught a little silver trout.

When I had laid it on the floor
I went to blow the fire aflame,
But something rustled on the floor,
And some one called me by my name:
It had become a glimmering girl
With apple blossom in her hair
Who called me by my name and ran
And faded through the brightening air.

Though I am old with wandering
Through hollow lands and hilly lands,
I will find out where she has gone,
And kiss her lips and take her hands;
And walk among long dappled grass,
And pluck till time and times are done
The silver apples of the moon,
The golden apples of the sun.

_______________________

Today, Yeats would've been 141 years old.

Congratulations to new SPC Board President Bob Stanley!

Last night's Sacramento Poetry Center Annual Board Meeting was well-attended and deftly run by out-going SPC President Mary Zeppa and New President Bob Stanley. It was good to see that quite a few members supported this historic event, in which SPC took a further step into adulthood by electing its Board members, rather than having them appointed. And a huge thank-you to Mary Zeppa, who ably shepherded SPC through another year! Mary will remain on the Board, as will the other eight members; last night's only addition was Judy Halebsky, bringing the number of Board members to ten.

In other SPC news, Poetry Now will be out in July; get calendar announcements to Bob Stanley ASAP. Regular calendar deadline will be the 18th of each month, but this month Bob is going on vacation on the 15th, so get them to him now. Brad Buchanan and friends have resurrected Tule Review; send poetry to them care of SPC/HQ, 1719 25th St., Sac., 95816. And—bless her—Sandra Senne has agreed to take over Office Manager duties, a crucial SPC job for keeping things organized.

Summer Writing Workshops:

This Thursday (6/15) is the Early Registration deadline for the California Association of Teachers of English (CATE) conference, to be held at Asilomar from September 29-October 1. This conference of writers of all genres will include poets James Galvin and Nathalie Handal, but the general format is based on "sustained group discussions. The chair and one or more resource persons in each group do not function as lecturers. Rather, participants share information and insights as the discussions evolve." Some of the poetry discussions will included "Robinson Jeffers and Tor House: Place and Poetry" (including a tour of Tor House); "Poetry and Politics: Expansions and Difficult News" (writing about social commentary); and "Finding the Landscape of Poetry: Capturing the Essence of Place" (narrative poetry). James Galvin will speak on the final day; evenings include Jazz and Poetry on the Sands with Ray Skjelbred. Registration fees begin at $130 for non-CATE members, provided you stay on the grounds at one of the various accommodations there; early reg. is $190 if you stay off-grounds. Info: www.curriculumstudy.org/ or if you want to hear a voice, Conference Registrar Dan Wolter, 707-253-9397 (dwolter@napanet.net). Several local writers have attended this conference over the years, and have found it very rewarding. And of course the setting is gorgeous!

Another conference coming up this August (18-20) is the Sacramento State Summer Writers' Conference at CSUS. Poetry workshops, led by Al Garcia, Josh McKinney, and Mary Mackey, include "The Publishable Poem"; "Invoking the Muse"; "The Sonnet & Its Variations"; "Pitfalls of the Novice Poet"; and "Accident as Method/Nuts & Bolts". Early reg. (by July 21) is $245; after that, it's $285. For an additional (optional) $50, you can reserve an individual 15-min. feedback session with a workshop leader on work you have submitted in advance. Info/reg: www.cce.csus.edu/writersconference or 916-278-4433 (x0), or find one of the many flyers that are traveling around the community.

And of course the Marathon:

Bari Kennedy reminds us to sign up for this year’s Poetry Marathon at Java City Café on 18th St. in Sac., which will start Friday, July 28 at noon and end Monday, July 31 at 1 PM. Those who want to participate can sign up by calling (916) 452-5493 until all spots are filled. Info: B.L. Kennedy (bk418@pacbell.net). Bari says the spots are filling up fast, so contact him NOW if you're interested.

_______________________

IN THE DEAD AFTERNOON'S GOLD MORE
—Fernando Pessoa

In the dead afternoon's gold more—
The no-place gold dust of late day
Which is sauntering past my door
And will not stay—

In the silence, still touched with gold,
Of the woods' green ending, I see
The memory. You were fair of old
And are in me...

Though you're not there, your memory is
And, you not anyone, your look.
I shake as you come like a breeze
And I mourn some good...

I've lost you. Never had you. The hour
Soothes my anguish so as to leave,
In my remembering being, the power
To feel love,

Though loving be a thing to fear,
A delusory and vain haunting,
And the night of this vague desire
Have no morning.

______________________

Today, Fernando Pessoa would've been 118 years old.

—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.)