Kisses Flown to Darkness (& Po-Events 8/7-13)

HEART TROUBLE
—David Humphreys, Stockton

This is what will take it all away flown
in to death's hot oasis after day's serious
heat like black bullet birds and bats swarming
to the insect feeding frenzy. It will catch in
the throat and stab a knife in the breast bone
of a simple instant, slam a sledge hammer into
the end of all things. It is coming as inevitable
as the rolling globe will raise the light of day.
Oh God, forgive me. It will be just you and me
and all the loveliness of friends will pass away,
kisses flown to darkness.

________________________

Thanks, David! David Humphreys will host an open mic at Barnes & Noble in Stockton this coming Sunday, Aug. 13, Weberstown Mall, 7 PM. Info: poetscornerpress.com.

Also this week:

•••There will be no reading at the Sacramento Poetry Center tonight.

•••Wednesday (8/9), 7:30 PM: Irene Lipshin will be releasing her chapbook, Shadowlines, from Rattlesnake Press. Irene is a member of the Red Fox Underground Poetry Workshop in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Come hear her read, and celebrate with us the release of her chapbook, along with the release of Norma Kohout's littlesnake broadside, Out the Train Window, at The Book Collector, 1008 24th St., Sac. Refreshments and a read-around will follow; bring your own poems or somebody else's. Info: 916-442-9295. And see last week's posts for bios and poetry from these two wonderful poets.

•••Also Wed. (8/9), 10 PM-Midnight: Mahogany Poets presents Mics and Moods at Capitol Garage, 1500 K St., Sac. Features & Open Mic hosted by Khiry Malik. Info: www.malikspeaks.com or 916-492-9336. Ages 21 and over; $5 cover.

•••Thursday (8/10), 8 PM: Poetry Unplugged, TBA. Open mic before/after. Luna’s Café, 1414 16th St., Sac. Info: 916-441-3931 or www.lunascafe.com. Free.

•••Also Thurs. (8/10), 8-11 PM: Open Mic for comedians, singers, poets at Cobbler Inn, 3520 Stockton Blvd. (next to Colonial Theater), Sac. Hosted by Flo Real and Malikspeaks. All ages, $5. Info: www.malikspeaks.com.

•••Friday (8/11), 6 PM: Bob Garner hosts “A Midsummer Night’s Read” with poet friends Patricia Wellingham-Jones, Marilyn Ringer, Audrey C. Small, Mark Clarke and Kathleen McPartland at Avenue 9 Gallery in Chico. The Gallery also presents Fibers 2006, an exhibit of talented fiber artists curated by Dr. Eva Henneberry, who grounds the show with her fine-art quilts. Attendees for the reading are encouraged to bring knitting, quilting, etc. and create as they listen. Directions: 180 East 9th Avenue, Suite 3, Chico (just off the Esplanade, ‘kitty-corner’ from Big Al’s on 9th Ave). Info: 530-879-1821. [See below for a sample of Patricia Wellingham-Jones' poetry.]

•••Saturday (8/12), 2 PM: Summer Issue of Song of the San Joaquin will be read at the McHenry Museum downstairs theater, 1402 I St., Modesto. This reading features work from poets of the valley as well as across the US. Refreshments.

•••Also Sat. (8/12), 3 PM: Patricity's "In Spirit and Truth Series" features Terry Moore and Heather Christian-Arlington. Queen Sheba's Restaurant, 1537 Howe Av., Sac. Info: 916-920-1020.

•••Also Sat. (8/12), 8 PM: Poems-For-All Second Saturday Series presents frank andrick, Becca Costello, Rachel Liebock, and others at The Book Collector, 1008 24th St., Sac. Info: 916-442-9295.

•••Speaking of frank andrick, tune into KUSF (90.3 FM) this Sunday (8/13) at 2 PM for his Pomo Literati radio program, or www.kusf.edu for the global streaming broadcast. Live in studio: Becca Costello, Rachel Leibrock, Gene Bloom, Barbara Noble, Richard Hansen, LOB Instagon. ‘Sativa Rose’ text by frank andrick w/ sounds by The Germ and more. Soundscapes and Wordscapes. Pre-recorded rarities by Patti Smith, Tom Verlaine, Lee Ranaldo, The Haints and Hidros 3 (a sonic sideshow).

•••Want to stay home and still get your poetry fix? In addition to frank's radio show this Sunday, listen to Dr. Andy's Poetry and Technology Hour, hosted by Andy Jones at 5 PM on Wednesdays on KDVS-90.3 FM, or subscribe to podcast at www.kdvs.org, www.culturelover.com. And be sure to tune in to:

•••Moore Time for Poetry, Terry Moore's Access TV Show, 1st and 3rd Weds., at 9 PM, co-hosted by Tyra Moore. Access Sacramento, Channel 17. Updates: tvguide.com; 916-208-7638.

•••Sunday (8/13), 3 PM: Jim Nolt reads at McBean Perk (coffee house), 427 A St., Suite 400, Lincoln. [For more info on the Lincoln poetry scene, watch for the up-coming feature in Rattlesnake Review 11, due out in September.]

•••Also Sunday (8/13), 7 PM: David Humphreys, as I said, will host an open mic at Barnes & Noble in Stockton, Weberstown Mall, 7 PM. Info: poetscornerpress.com.

_______________________

COMMON THREADS
—Patricia Wellingham-Jones, Tehama

Afghani woman sits on sand,
legs outstretched. Her backstrap loom
strains from body to tent pole, weaves
a prayer rug in rich red on natural-wool white.

In Japan, a woman soaks then shreds
cocoons. Another spins filaments
finer than spider dreams, destined
for a silk kimono in night blue.

In a jungle stained brown by bombs,
an old Hmong shows a young woman how to snip,
fold, stitch her village tale to a story panel,
primary colors in reverse applique.

On a Caribbean island
a Kuna mother and daughter sit cross-legged,
snip, fold, stitch their orange and red cotton
mola, telling the story of their lives.

American women bend heads over frames,
cut old clothes into intricate shapes,
piece their pink and yellow
flowered histories into quilts.

Needle in fingers,
unbleached linen on my lap,
I knot my story to the threads
of women weaving the world.

(Published in Chantarelle’s Notebook, 2006)

_______________________

Thanks, Patricia!

Yesterday, August 6, Alfred, Lord Tennyson would've been 197 years old.

THE EAGLE
—Alfred, Lord Tennyson

He clasps the crag with crooked hands;
Close to the sun in lonely lands,
Ring'd with the azure world, he stands.

The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls;
He watches from his mountain walls,
And like a thunderbolt he falls.

_______________________

—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.)