Ouch—Ouput!

I kept staring at it. It was only 6 AM, so maybe my eyes were playing tricks, or I was still asleep. The Sacramento Bee had a headline: "Ford making deep cuts in ouput". That's right, ouput. Big headline, upper right. Ouch. In Japanese gardens, something is always left amiss to remind us we are fallible. No need to do that deliberately in publishing; reminders are everywhere.

Good day for Ogden Nash; Today would've been his 104th birthday.

THE SHRIMP
—Ogden Nash

A shrimp who sought his lady shrimp
Could catch no glimpse
Not even a glimp.
At times, translucence
Is rather a nuisance.

_______________________

THE TERMITE
—Ogden Nash

Some primal termite knocked on wood
And tasted it, and found it good!
And that is why your Cousin May
Fell through the parlor floor today.

_______________________

THE WASP
—Ogden Nash

The wasp and all his numerous family
I look upon as a major calamity.
He throws open his nest with prodigality,
But I distrust his waspitality.

_______________________

Ow ow ow—Enough, already!

Singing Tree Press Honors Foothill Winners Tonight:

Yesterday's post listed the poetry events that I know about for this weekend, but I just found out about another one that will take place in Auburn tonight, and it features some rattlechappers and other Snake pals! Singing Tree Press will be having a reading tonight to honor the winners of its 2006 Sierra Foothill Poetry Contest, which include William S. Gainer (twice), Cleo Kocol, Marnelle R. White, Theresa Allen (twice), David Anderson, John Scofield, Barbara Lackovic, Irene Lipshin, Craig Steiger (twice), Sandra Bozarth, Lorell Long, and Suzanne Chaves, in addition to several youngsters who have also won. All of these poets will be published in an anthology, and profits will be directed to the Arts Council of Placer County. Tonight's reading will take place from 6-8 PM at The Arts Building, 808 Lincoln Way, Auburn. Directions/Info: singingtreepress.com/PoetryContest/Results.htm or editor@singingtreepress.com or 530-823-9284. Congrats to the familiar and hopefully-to-become-familiar names on the winners' list!

Poet's Espresso:

The new edition of Poet's Espresso is out and in print! Poet’s Espresso is a Stockton poetry newsletter which can be found around Stockton, or you can find it online at http://www.rainflowers.org/featured.html OR http://www.rainflowers.org/aug2006/august2006.htm. I hear there’s a wee poem in there by Kathy Kieth...probably just another vicious rumor...

News From Cache Creek:

Rae Gouirand from the Cache Creek Nature Preserve writes: The fall will find me streamlined a bit, as the end of the TumbleWords program for CA means that I won't be offering poetry workshops out at Cache Creek Nature Preserve this fall. Sorry—I'm just as disappointed. We've just completed grant apps for programming to begin again in January '07, and you'll all be the first to know when we hear something.

In the meantime, I'm writing to announce that the fall session of my ongoing Creative Nonfiction workshop is now enrolling at the Davis Art Center. The section that's currently open is running on Thursday nights from 7-9 PM, September 28-November 16. If that section fills (as it did last fall), I'll offer an overflow section on Sundays. I'd love to fill it to bursting—it's an enchanting thing, peopled by great, earnest humans who are as concerned about craft as much as they're grounded in the big questions surrounding writing about one's life and one's world. I *love* this class, and invite both repeat students and new people—all are welcome. The topics and exercises (which are weekly) refresh for every new section, so it's infinitely repeatable. And for those poets out there who resist a 'prose class' on categorical grounds, I can assure you that we talk thoroughly into the same territory as any other genre workshop, and that the workshop serves poetry writing (and fiction, and...) as well as it serves the short essay. Sign up now to assure your spot by calling the DAC at 530-756-4100 or by visiting them in person during business hours at the corner of F & Covell in downtown Davis. There's an offical course description in the DAC course catalog for fall.

_______________________

ODE TO A BABY
—Ogden Nash

A bit of talcum
Is always walcum.

_______________________

THE ABOMINABLE SNOWMAN
—Ogden Nash

I’ve never seen an abominable snowman,
I’m hoping not to see one,
I’m also hoping, if I do,
That it will be a wee one.

_______________________

REFLECTIONS ON ICE-BREAKING
—Ogden Nash

Candy
Is Dandy
But liquor
Is quicker.

_______________________

—Medusa (who clearly is without mercy...)

Oh, and by the way: If you've e-mailed poems to me and haven't gotten a reply, please ask me about it. E-mail letters that don't get delivered to me don't necessarily bounce back to let you know, especially if you've spelled my name kathykEIth. Remember: I Before E, except after C: kathykieth@hotmail.com. I always acknowledge poems, etc.—usually within a day or two. So please check if you don't hear from me.

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.)