Wantonly, Over the Kitchen Sink: Po-events 9/18-24

SUMMER
—Richard Aldington

A butterfly,
Black and scarlet,
Spotted with white,
Fans its wings
Over a privet flower.

A thousand crimson foxgloves,
Tall bloody pikes,
Stand motionless in the gravel quarry;
The wind runs over them.

A rose film over a pale sky
Fantastically cut by dark chimneys;
Candles winking in the windows
Across an old city-garden.

_______________________

Check out the Metro section of The Sacramento Bee today (the Graswich column) for mention of B.L. Kennedy's search for theatre space in which to show the results of The Archives Group grant project—interviews with hundreds of poets in this region, shaped into a filmatic tale of the history of Sacramento poetry. The film must be shown to the public, under the terms of their Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Council grant, but so far Bari's (and co-producer Linda Thorell's) efforts to find suitable space within the county have been fruitless. Any ideas?


Another Busy Poetry Week:

•••Tonight (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 tonight 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.)

•••Also tonight (Monday, 9/18), 7:30 PM: The Division of Literature & Language Arts at Modesto Junior College presents An Evening of Poetry with Brian Turner, author of Here, Bullet, & Jacqueline Jones LaMon, author of Gravity, USA. Student Center Lounge, East Campus, Modesto Junior College, Free & Open to the Public.

•••Wed., Sept. 20, 6:30 PM: Urban Voices presents Bill Carr and Terry Moore. South Natomas Library, 2901 Truxel Rd., Sac. Free.

•••Also Weds. (9/20), 10 PM-midnight: Mics and Moods presents the live music of Sparlha Swa at Capitol Garage, 1500 K St., Sac. Features & open mic. $5; 21 and older. Info: 916-492-9336.

•••Thurs. (9/21), 12 noon: River City Writers Series presents Denver poet Chris Ransick, whose new collection of poetry, Lost Songs and Last Chances, has just been published by Ghost Road Press. Little Theater (Rm. A6), Sacramento City College.

•••Also Thurs. (9/21), 8 PM: Poetry Unplugged features Todd Mann, Leslie Dramer, and Rachel Gregg, plus open mic before/after. Luna's Cafe, 1414 16th St., Sac. Free. Info: 916-441-3931.

•••Also Thurs. (9/21), 8-11 PM: Vibe Sessions at Cobbler Inn, 3520 Stockton Blvd., Sac. (next to Colonial Theater). Open mic for comedians/singers/poets. $5.

•••This weekend (Sept. 23-24), the West Sacramento Friends of the Library book sale will take place from 9 AM-4 PM on Saturday and from 10 AM-2 PM on Sunday. Books range in price from five to fifty cents, and the Sunday sale features books at $1/bag. Arthur F. Turner Branch Library, 1212 Merkley Av., West Sac. For info or to donate books: 916-375-6465.

•••Saturday (9/23), 4 PM: The Central California Art Association and the Mistlin Art Gallery announce a poetry reading at the gallery, 1015 J St., Downtown Modesto. This event will be celebrating the poetry of George Rogers, a much-beloved teacher and artist, by readings from his posthumous chapbook, about to fly. The chapbook was published by friends of George Rogers in April 2006 in Modesto, CA. All proceeds from the sale of about to fly will be donated to the George A. Rogers Neighborhood Park, a fund with the Stanislaus Community Foundation. Copies will be available at the reading, or by contacting Ken White at Ken1White@aol.com. There will also be an "Open Mic" at the reading.

•••Also Sat. (9/23), 10 AM-4 PM: The Children's Book Celebration at Fairytale Town offers demonstrations, poetry, music, puppets, the library's Wonder Wagon, and more. 3901 Land Park Dr., Sac.. Free. Info: 916-264-5233.

•••Sunday (9/24), 4-6 PM: Poems-For-All presents a book release party for Bill Pieper's latest novel, Belonging, a tale of Downieville and California's modern Gold Country. The Book Collector, 1008 24th St., Sac. Free. Info: 916-442-9295.

________________________

EVENING
—Richard Aldington

The chimneys, rank on rank,
Cut the clear sky;
The moon
With a rag of gauze about her loins
Poses among them, an awkward Venus—

And here am I looking wantonly at her
Over the kitchen sink.

_______________________

INSOUCIANCE
—Richard Aldington

In and out of the dreary trenches,
Trudging cheerily under the stars,
I make for myself little poems
Delicate as a flock of doves.

They fly away like white-winged doves.

_______________________

TWO IMPRESSIONS
—Richard Aldington

I.

The colorless morning glides upward
Over the marsh and ragged trees.

Though our mood be sombre
And our bodies angry for more sleep,
This feathered softness of pale light,
Falling negligently upon us,
Delights us.

II.

High above the drab barren ground
Three herons beat across the dawn-blue sky.
They drift slowly away
Until they appear
As three horizontal umber brush-strokes
On finely shaded cobalt.
And the mist, driven by the wind
Up and across the distant hill,
Gleams like soft white hair
Brushed amorously backward!