Pythagoras of the Pure Plain

SONG OF THE BARREN ORANGE TREE
—Federico Garcia Lorca

Woodcutter.
Cut my shadow from me.
Free me from the torment
of seeing myself without fruit.

Why was I born among mirrors?
The day walks in circles around me,
and the night copies me
in all its stars.

I want to live without seeing myself.
And I will dream that ants
and thistleburrs are my
leaves and my birds.

Woodcutter.
Cut my shadow from me.
Free me from the torment
of seeing myself without fruit.

(trans. by W.S. Merwin)

________________________

Come hear Lorca and other poets read in Spanish tonight at the annual all-Spanish reading to celebrate Mexican Independence Day, sponsored by the Writers of the New Sun/Escritores del Nuevo Sol. Mariposa Hall, Rm. 1000, CSUS, 6000 J St., Sac., 7:30 PM. Hear the poetry of two immortal poets of the Generation of 27: Rafael Alberti and Federico Garcia Lorca, as well as poems from Dr. Fausto Avendano and Mariela Santana; plus, you are invited to read your favorite poem in Spanish during the open mic. Donation $5/$3 for students/members, but no one turned away for lack of money. (NOTE: Campus parking is $2.75. Pay at self-serve kiosks in parking lots. Campus map: http://itweb.csus.edu/map/location3.htm)


Also This Weekend:

•••Tonight (Friday, 9/15), 7 PM: Our House Defines Art poetry reading features Stockton's David Humphreys of Poet's Corner Press and Paula Schiel. Free; an open mic follows. Our House Defines Art Gallery & Framing is located at 4510 Post St. in El Dorado Hills Town Center; from Sac. (Hwy 50), take the Latrobe exit off to the right (south) and turn left into the shopping center.

•••Saturday (9/16), 2-6 PM, drive up to Murphys to hear over 80 artists reading and playing to celebrate the new 188-page Vol. 5 of the anthology, Manzanita: Poetry and Prose of the Mother Lode and Sierra. Free. Open mic. Kautz Ironstone Winery; come early to meet writers, schmooze, wine-tasting, and have lunch.

•••Also Sat., 10-5 PM: The Central Valley Antiquarian Booksellers Assoc. presents The Antiquarian Book Fair at the Scottish Rite Temple, 6151 H St., Sac. Thousands of rare books for sale from 60 dealers. $5 (under 18 free w/adult); there's a $1-off coupon in last week's Sac. News & Review. Info: 530-613-8421.

•••Also Sat., 7-9 PM: The Underground Poetry Series features Felicia McGee and Black Men Expressing Tour, plus open mic. Underground Books, 2814 35th St. (35th & Broadway), Sac. $3. If you would like to be a featured poet at future events, please contact Terry Moore at 916-455-POET.

•••Also Sat., 7 PM: Music, poetry and open mic with Groovy Judy and Patricity. Capital City Artist Collective, 4320 Stockton Blvd., Sac. $5. 916-801-8771.

•••Sun. (9/17), 1-5 PM: The Carmichael Library's reopening celebration, 5605 Marconi Av., Carmichael. Muriel Johnson, Cal. Arts Council Director, will be the keynote speaker. Free family activities, tours, refreshments. Info: 916-264-2920.

•••Sun. (9/17), 5 PM: Be Davison Herrera writes: INCLUSIONISTS, a 1000-member notion of literary, performing and visual artists on five continents, proudly announces the names of the “third wave of poets” to be nominated into the Sacramento International Poetry Hall of Fame. Join us on Sunday, September 17, during the Gala Banquet of the 6th Biennial Conference of the Vietnamese International Poetry Society (VIPS) at the Rice Bowl Banquet Hall, 2378 Florin Rd., Sac., to honor these leaders of 21st Century poetry and practice of WORD: Graciela Ramierez, Los Escritores del Nueva Sol; Lawrence Washington Brooks, ZICA; Le Trong Nghia, VIPS; Phil Goldvarg (In Memoriam); Sinh Quang Le, VIPS; Staajabu, Straight Out Scribes (east); V.S. Chochezi, Straight Out Scribes (west). This year’s third installation is supported by the International Exchange For The Arts, a California non-profit, public benefit corporation, and INCLUSIONISTS worldwide. Tickets for the banquet are $25. For more information about this event, about this weekend's International Poetry Festival, the sponsors, or the S.P.I.F. and its members, please contact raritie8@aol.com or call 541-752-0705.

•••And don't forget the Chicken Festival in Fair Oaks! Check The Sacramento Bee for details...


A Couple of Deadlines Today:

•••Deadline is September 15 for a collection of poems and short essays for an up-coming book, proceeds to benefit people displaced by the bombings in Lebanon. Editor Kim Shuck says: We want work addressing displacement, the experience of being a refugee and the hope that this will end soon. If you are interested in participating, please send your poem or essay of about one page in length, plus a five-line bio to kshuck@tsoft.net.

•••Deadline is also 9/15 for The Monterey Poetry Review, which is seeking submissions of poetry from writers who live in, or who have former or present ties to, the four counties of Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Benito and Santa Clara. Guidelines: Submit up to 6 poems, a short bio of several sentences, and a photo, and full contact info. All these must be submitted before poems will be considered by the editorial board. Email submissions are preferred. Send to: montereypoetryreview@gmail.com (or snail mail to: M. Lee, Editor, PO Box 5885, Monterey, CA 93944). Open to all styles, forms and lengths. Articles can be about current poetry venues, poets, interviews, reviews of recent books, or the craft of writing. Ads can also be sent in, preferably by Sept. 15 but no later than Sept. 30. They print and distribute 3,000 copies in four counties and are growing in area distribution in San Jose, SF and other cities. Cost for any size ad: $6.00 per square inch. Advertise your upcoming events (mid-Nov. 2006—Feb. 2007) books, chapbooks, business, business card, favorite charity.


fandrick Reads on Monday:

•••Monday, Sept. 18, 7:30 PM: The Sacramento Poetry Center presents frank andrick and friends. frank andrick is the author of Soluna, a collection of poetry and prose, as well as Aurelia Occultica Lamantia (AOL), a littlesnake broadside from Rattlesnake Press. He produces and anchors "The Pomo Literati," a monthly two-hour spoken word/poetry radio program broadcast on KUSF 90.3 FM in San Francisco, and he is one of the hosts of Poetry Unplugged at Luna's in Sacramento. A genre-bending mixed-media presenter, andrick's work can be found on the Web, as well as in the latest Rattlesnake Review (#11). Google him...he loves it. That's Monday at HQ for the Arts, 25th & R Sts., Sac. (It will be good to see frank up and around again; he's been seriously under the weather.)

________________________

THE INTERRUPTED CONCERT
—Federico Garcia Lorca

The frozen sleepy pause
of the half moon
has broken the harmony
of the deep night.

The ditches, shrouded in sedge,
protest in silence,
and the frogs, muezzins of shadow,
have fallen silent.

In the old village inn
the sad music has ceased,
and the most ancient of stars
has muted its ray.

The wind has come to rest
in dark mountain caves,
and a solitary poplar—Pythagoras
of the pure plain—
lifts its aged hand
to strike at the moon.

(trans. by W.S. Merwin)

________________________

VARIATIONS
—Federico Garcia Lorca

The still waters of the air
under the bough of the echo.

The still waters of the water
under a frond of stars.

The still waters of your mouth
under a thicket of kisses.

(trans. by Lysander Kemp)

_______________________

IT IS TRUE
—Federico Garcia Lorca

Oh, what an effort it is
to love you as I do!

For love of you, the air,
my heart
and my hat hurt me.

Who will buy of me
this ribbon I have
and this grief of white
linen to make handkerchiefs?

Oh, what an effort it is
to love you as I do!

(trans. by Harriet de Onis)

_______________________

SCHEMATIC NOCTURNE
—Federico Garcia Lorca

Fennel, serpent and rush.
Aroma, scent and penumbra.
Air, earth and solitude.

(The ladder reaches to the moon.)

(trans. by Stanley Read)

_______________________

—Medusa

Medusa encourages poets of all ilk and ages to send their poetry, photos and art, 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.)