photo from England (Lake District) by Katy Brown, Davis
A WORD IN EDGEWAYS
—Charles Tomlinson
Tell me about yourself they
say and you begin to
tell them about yourself and
that is just the way I
am is their reply: they play
it all back to you in another
key, their key, and then in mid-
narrative they pay you a
compliment as if to say what a good
listener you are I am
a good listener my stay
here has developed my faculty I will
say that for me I will not
say that every literate male in
America is a soliloquist, a
ventriloquist, a strategic
egotist, an inveterate
campaigner-explainer over and
back again on the terrain of him-
self—what I will
say is they are not un-
interesting: they are simply
unreciprocal and yes it was a
pleasure if not an unmitigated
pleasure and I yes I did enjoy our
conversation goodnightthankyou
______________________
A British poet today to go with Katy's picture of England.
Between the Sheets:
Monika Rose, of Manzanita fame, writes:
Dear Poets, Writers, and lovers of literature:
Mark your calendars for an achingly lovely poetry and prose reading Feb. 11, 2-5 PM, at Mokelumne Hill's historic Leger Hotel. Dig out those hidden love poems you wrote to your sweetheart when you first met. Write a new poem for the love of your life and read it to her or him, watching eyes glisten in a melancholy swoon. Croon some words of passion to someone in the audience, or delight the adoring crowd with humorous, wry depictions of romance—your choice! If you don't come with an original poem, then bring some great love poems from your favorite poets. Andrew Marvell, anyone? Keats or Shelley? How about those Brownings? Billy Collins or Rita Dove might have a few love notes hidden in their volumes. We will have some poetry volumes on hand to share in the event you come with empty arms. Come share with us and enjoy an afternoon of love words at the Leger Hotel, Sunday afternoon, Feb. 11, from 2-5 PM. Then, enjoy some libations from the historic bar, and a lovely, romantic dinner afterwards to celebrate Valentine's Day. What could be more romantic? Could be a precursor to more romance later....
Billed as "Between the Sheets," a romantic poetry and prose reading at the Leger Hotel in Mokelumne Hill on Sunday, Feb. 11, from 2-5 PM, poets, authors, and the public will entertain us and those special someones for the Valentine week coming up in February. Included will be featured poets and writers involved with Manzanita who have prepared some sensual and romantic poetry and prose for a delicious, sizzling afternoon. Generous open mic time will be provided for the public to read and share favorite love poems, love notes, and nuptial poems--original fare or those by favorite authors. Humorous, sexy, rollicking, serious, heartfelt, sensual poetry and prose will be solicited and shared. David Sackman will accompany writers on stand-up bass for sultry rhythms. Benefit entrance: $5.00 per person. Additional: $15-25 range for a special Valentine menu from 5:00 on, following the event, prepared by the talented Leger Hotel chef. Bonus highlights: creative and fun sensations available from a chocolate confectioner, winery samplings, samples from other vendors, and an afternoon love fest of words. There will be author book signings and chat time during the break. Event hosted by Writers Unlimited (publishers of Manzanita), an affiliate of the Calaveras County Arts Council, and the Leger Hotel. For inquiries and reading reservations, e-mail mrosemanza@jps.net or phone: (209) 754-0577. Open mic signups via e-mail or phone are best to guarantee optimum mic time.
_______________________
A DEATH IN THE DESERT
In Memory of Homer Vance
—Charles Tomlinson
There are no crosses
on the Hopi graves. They lie
shallowly
under a scattering
of small boulders. The sky
over the desert
with its sand-grain stars
and the immense equality
between desert and desert sky,
seem
a scope and ritual
enough to stem
death and to be its equal.
"Homer
is the name," said
the old Hopi doll-maker.
I met him in summer. He was dead
when I came back that autumn.
He had sat
like an Olympian
in his cool room
on the rock-roof of the world,
beyond the snatch
of circumstance
and was to die
beating a burro out of his corn-patch.
"That,"
said his neighbour
"was a week ago." And the week
that lay
uncrossably between us
stretched into sand,
into the spread
of the endless
waterless sea-bed beneath
whose space outpacing sight
receded as speechless and as wide as death.
________________________
—Medusa
Medusa encourages poets of all ilk and ages to send their POETRY, PHOTOS and ART, as well as 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.)
