Toxic Bards

What are the crosswalks for in midtown Sacramento—
so many motorists won't let pedestrians get to the other side
I had to park my car across the street on Alhambra and Granada
and cross to get to the Jamba Juice
and a car zooms by almost over my foot on the crosswalk
only a bicyclist takes concern when I scream at the driver
Midtown pedestrians can't believe it when I kindly stop for them
I've rolled down my window to confirm, "Yes, you may cross now"
Many have actually smiled and said "Thanks"
But I know one of these days I'll get rear-ended for it
for being right and polite with my vehicle

—Michelle Kunert, Sacramento

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Thanks, Michelle!

Boot Camp:

Molly Fisk writes: The September Boot Camp begins a week from Sunday: 9/24-29, and there's lots of room. Remember you can do the regular, write-a-poem-every-day camp, if you want to generate new work, or the old-poem camp, where you get critiques on already-written work—it's a little less time-consuming (but not quite as exciting). Either way, I'd love to have you. Info: http://www.poetrybootcamp.com.


More for this week's way-chubby calendar!

•••Weds. (9/13): The free monthly “Telling Our Stories” writing workshops will meet the second Wednesday of each month starting in September, 6:30-8 PM, Enloe Cancer Center Library, Fountain Medical Plaza, 251 Cohasset Rd. (across from Chico Sports Club), Chico. Info: 530-332-3856. Our mission is to enable patients and survivors, their families, friends, caregivers and the general public to tell their stories and to share them at whatever level is right for them. Some may wish to keep a personal journal. Some might want to capture life stories to share with their families or pass on to their children as stories or poems. Others may be willing to write their story and place it in our Enloe Cancer Center binder, post it on our web page, or read it aloud to a group. Our mission is to support this process by providing technical assistance, moral support and venues for sharing.

•••Sunday (9/17), 2:30-4:30 PM: Poets on the Ridge Poetry Readings/Open Mic. at Juice & Java, 7067 Skyway, Paradise. All ages are invited to read their poems at this monthly poetry series. Info: 530-872-9633.


Ophidian Bon Mots:

Putting together a publication can yield a few unexpected gems. During the recent typing of Rattlesnake Review #11, I typed the word, Mothodists, instead of Methodists, in Laura LeHew's wonderful poem about family and religion. Although it was an appropros mis-speak, I did fix it, in the name of propriety. David Humphreys referred to a "toxic bard" when he meant "toxic barb"; I reluctantly changed that one, too.

Be sure to get ahold of your copy of the newest Review so you can check out other wonderful poems which start with intriguing lines like, "Frank—you name-dropping whore" and "Naked and wildly drunk..." I'm having (temporary) printer troubles, but we should have copies tomorrow night for those who are fortunate enough to attend Phil Weidman's book release at The Book Collector, 1008 24th St., Sac., 7:30 PM. The "Frank" referred to is our Sacramento Treasure frank andrick, who is, unfortunately, under the weather these days; keep sending him good thoughts. Frank will be reading at the Sacramento Poetry Center next Monday night. Check out his poems (in french as well as English, oo la la!) in this new Review, as well as his littlesnake broadside, Aurelia Occultica Lamantia (AOL), which is available for free here and there.

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BIRDS, AT RANDOM
—Jacques Prevert

I learned very late to love birds
I regret it a little
but now it's all arranged
we understand each other
they don't occupy themselves with me
I don't occupy myself with them
I look at them
I leave them alone
all the birds do their best
they set an example
not the example as for example Mister Glacis
who remarkably courageously conducted himself
during the war or the example of little Paul
who was so poor and so handsome and so very honest
and who later became the great Paul so rich
so old so honorable and so repulsive and so
avaricous and so charitable and so pious
or for example that old servant who had an
exemplary life and death never any arguments
not that with her nail tapping a tooth not that
no arguments with Mr. or Mrs. on the subject of that
frightful question of salaries
no
birds set an example
a proper example
the example of birds
the example of the feathers the wings the flight of birds
the example of the nests the voyages and the songs of birds
the example of the beauty of birds
the example of the heart of birds
the light of birds.

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AT THE FLORIST'S
—Jacques Prevert

A man enters a florist's
and chooses some flowers
the florist wraps up the flowers
the man puts his hand in his pocket
to find the money
the money to pay for the flowers
but at the same time he puts
all of a sudden
his hand on his heart
and he falls

At the same time that he falls
the money rolls on the floor
and then the flowers fall
at the same time as the man
at the same time as the money
and the florist stands there
with the money rolling
with the flowers spoiling
with the man dying
obviously all this is very sad
and she's got to do something
the florist
but she doesn't know quite where to start
she doesn't know
at which end to begin

There's so many things to do
with this man dying
with these flowers spoiling
and this money
this money that rolls
that doesn't stop rolling.

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—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.)