ON THE ROAD HOME
—Wallace Stevens
It was when I said,
"There is no such thing as the truth,"
That the grapes seemed fatter.
The fox ran out of his hole.
You... You said,
"There are many truths,
But they are not parts of a truth."
Then the tree, at night, began to change,
Smoking through green and smoking blue.
We were two figures in a wood.
We said we stood alone.
It was when I said,
"Words are not forms of a single word.
In the sum of the parts, there are only the parts.
The world must be measured by eye";
It was when you said,
"The idols have seen lots of poverty,
Snakes and gold and lice,
But not the truth";
It was at that time, that the silence was largest
And longest, the night was roundest,
The fragrance of the autumn warmest,
Closest and strongest.
______________________
Today would've been Wallace Stevens' 123rd birthday.
Today is a big one:
•••Tonight (Monday, 10/2), 7:30 PM: Sacramento Poetry Center presents Andy Jones and Brad Henderson. That's Monday at HQ for the Arts, 25th & R Sts., Sac.
•••Also Monday (10/2), 7:30 PM: Snake Pal, Rattlechapper (Living with Myth) and Rattlesnake Review columnist-in-residence Taylor Graham will be reading in Davis at The Other Voice, hosted by James Lee Jobe. The Other Voice meets in the library of the Unitarian Church at 27074 Patwin Road in Davis. Open mic follows, so bring along a poem to share. Taylor's newest book, The Downstairs Dance Floor, is winner of the Robert Phillips Poetry Chapbook Prize from Texas Review Press; this year's judge was well-known poet and educator R.S. Gwynn.
•••Catch Taylor Graham this afternoon on KXJZ radio during the "Insight" program at 2 PM. (The local NPRs just traded frequencies; KXJZ is 90.9 now.) If you can’t make it at 2, the program will be archived for your later listening: http://www.capradio.org/programs/insight/default.aspx
•••Also tonight: Alan N. Satow presents Poet Terryl Jo Wheat and Spoken Word Artist & Aboriginal Didgeridoo player Erik Putman at The First Monday Poetry Series at the Jave Aroma in the Empire Theatre, 1825 Pacific Ave, Stockton. It's FREE, so you’ll have plenty to spare for refreshments! For info call Mr. Satow at 209-463-6058. Check the news box on the right side of www.rainflowers.org/home.html for updates on more events in Stockton and thereabouts.
Later this week:
•••Wed. (10/4), 10-midnight: Mahogany Poets presents Mics and Moods at Capitol Garage, 1500 K St., Sac. Features and Open Mic; 21 and older. $5. Info: 916-492-9336 or www.malikspeaks.com.
•••Thursday (10/5), 8 PM: Vibe Sessions Neo-Soul Lounge with Flo-Real, guests and open mic. The Cobbler Soul Food Restaurant, 3520 Stockton, Blvd., Sac. $5. 916-613-0776.
•••Thursday (10/5), 8 PM: Poetry Unplugged, reader TBA. Open mic before/after. Luna’s Café, 1414 16th St., Sac. Info: 441-3931 or www.lunascafe.com. Free.
•••Sunday (10/8), 2:30-4:30 PM: Poets on the Ridge meets at Juice & Java, 7067 Skyway, Paradise. Readings and Open Mic. for all ages. Info: 530-872-9633.
•••Sunday (10/8), 7 PM: Poets Corner Presents Richard Beban @ Barnes & Noble Stockton (Weberstown Mall on Pacific Ave. and March Lane). Info: 209-951-7014 or email David Humphreys at: david324h@yahoo.com.
SPC Poetry Contest:
Deadline is December 15 for this year’s Sacramento Poetry Center’s Poetry Contest; judge will be Sacramento Poet Laureate Julia Connor. First prize $100, second prize $50, third prize $25, ten honorable mentions ($10 gift certificates from Barnes & Noble). Entry fee $3 per poem. Send your poems to SPC 2006 Contest, 1719 25th Street, Sacramento, CA 95816. Winners will be notified in January, featured in Poetry Now, and invited to read at a special reading at SPC.
_______________________
DISILLUSIONMENT OF TEN O'CLOCK
—Wallace Stevens
The houses are haunted
By white night-gowns.
None are green,
Or purple with green rings,
Or green with yellow rings,
Or yellow with blue rings.
None of them are strange,
With socks of lace
And beaded ceintures.
People are not going
To dream of baboons and periwinkles.
Only, here and there, an old sailor,
Drunk and asleep in his boots,
Catches tigers
In red weather.
_______________________
THE DWARF
—Wallace Stevens
Now it is September and the web is woven.
The web is woven and you have to wear it.
The winter is made and you have to bear it,
The winter web, the winter woven, wind and wind.
For all the thoughts of summer that go with it
In the mind, pupa of straw, moppet of rags.
It is the mind that is woven, the mind that was jerked
And tufted in straggling thunder and shattered sun.
It is all that you are, the final dwarf of you,
That is woven and woven and waiting to be worn,
Neither as mask nor as garment but as a being,
Torn from insipid summer, for the mirror of cold
Sitting beside your lamp, there citron to nibble
And coffee dribble... Frost is in the stubble.
_______________________
—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.)