THE CLOSED WORLD
—Denise Levertov
If the Perceptive Organs close, their Objects seem to close also.
—Blake: Jerusalem
The house snake dwells here still
under the threshold
but for months I have not seen it
nor its young, the inheritors.
Light and the wind enact
passion and resurrection
day in, day out
but the blinds are down over my windows,
my doors are shut.
When after the long drought at last
silver and darkness swept over the hills
the dry indifferent glare in my mind's eye
wavered but burned on.
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POETRY CALENDAR 2007
A desk calendar and a poetry anthology in one, Alhambra's Poetry Calendar 2007 contains 365 poems by 330 poets. Meant for your desktop or bedside table, the calendar showcases work by some of the best British and American poets from the 14th to the 21st century. Rediscover your favorite classic poems and explore exciting work by well-established, as well as emerging, poets. Poetry calendars are also available in French and German. For more details, visit: http://www.alhambrapublishing.com
Cal Poly Journal Looking for Submissions:
Harvest International, an annual arts and literature magazine produced by Cal Poly Pomona, is calling for submissions for its 2007 deadline, January 27, 2007. They’re looking for Poetry, Short Poetry, Fiction, Drama, Song Lyrics, Personal Essays, Analytical/Critical Essays, and Artwork (pen/ink drawings; no color artwork, please).
Topics:
• Psychological/Physical/Learning disabilities
• Gender Issues
• Culture
• War
• Poetry written in any language
• Personal Experiences/Triumphs, etc.
Cash Awards:
Steve Whaley Poetry Prize
Other Voices Poetry Prize
Submit to: Professor Gill-Mayberry: bigillmayber@csupomona.edu
Jennifer Maldonado: jnmaldonado.harvest@gmail.com
Megan Carey: mecarey@csupomona.edu or:
Harvest International, c/o Harvest Editorial Board
Cal Poly University, English and Foreign Languages Department
3801 West Temple Ave., Pomona, CA 91768
Coming up this week:
•••Tonight (Monday, 1/8): Attend the Sacramento Poetry Center Board of Directors meeting at 5:45 PM, then stay for Best of 2006: An Open Mic Opportunity at 7 PM at HQ, 1719 25th St., Sac. Bring your best two pieces from last year and read them out loud (note the special starting time). Hosted by Indigo Moor.
•••Weds., 1/10, 7:30 PM: Rattlesnake Press presents Pearl Stein Selinsky reading from her new rattlechap, Vic & Me, at The Book Collector, 1008 24th St., Sac. Read-around follows; bring your own poems or somebody else's.
•••Also on Weds., 8 PM: Students of the UC-Davis MA program present writers Scott Bransford, Monica Storss, and Jeanine Peters. Café Roma, 3rd & University Streets, Davis.
•••Then later on Weds. (10-midnt.), features and open mic at Mics and Moods, Capitol Garage, 1500 K St., Sac. Ages 21 and up. $5. Info: 916-492-9336 or www.malikspeaks.com.
•••Thurs. (1/11), 8 PM: Poetry Unplugged at Luna's Cafe, 1414 16th St., Sac. Open mic before/after. Free. Info: 916-441-3931 or www.lunascafe.com.
•••Also Thurs., 8-11 PM: Vibe Sessions at Cobbler Inn, 3520 Stockton Blvd. (next to Colonial Theater). All ages; $5. Open mic.
•••Friday (1/12): JACK LONDON'S BIRTHDAY. Jack London lived in Oakland and Alameda in the Bay Area and became world-famous. He was a student at UC Berkeley, attended Oakland High, and also attended school in Alameda. Bring your own style of poems (and your cameras) to commemorate yourself celebrating his birthday, Jan 12, by visiting the site of Jack London's birthplace, which is marked by a plaque, at Third and Brannan, in San Francisco, to read poems, place flowers and take photos. This continues a tradition for poets for more than 15 years, begun by the Bay Area Poets Coalition (BAPC). The Alameda Island Poets and others have been carrying on this tradition, and have been joined in this celebration through the years by the Not-Yet-Dead-Poets Society, Artists Embassy International, Poets of the Vineyard members, and other groups, Creative Writing classes and educators. All are welcome to join the poets at the San Francisco site, Jan 12, 10-11AM, and also to attend the FREE afternoon birthday party ( with birthday cake) and poetry reading PLUS OPEN READING at the Alameda Historical Museum, 1:30-3:00 PM, 2324 Alameda Ave., Alameda.
•••Sat. (1/13), 3-5 PM: Patricity's In Spirit & Truth Series at 61 Yuence Smoked BBQ & Grill, 9657 Folsom Blvd. (off Bradshaw). Features plus open mic. Free. Info: 916-361-2014.
•••Sunday (1/14), 2:30-4:30 PM: Poets on the Ridge Poetry Reading (Open Mic) at Juice & Java, 7067 Skyway, Paradise, CA. Info: 530-872-9633.
•••Sunday (1/14), 6 PM: The Poet is a Thief of Fire features frank andrick, Becca Costello and special guests at The Book Collector, 1008 24th St., Sac. $10; this is a benefit reading to help frank with his medical costs. Info: 916-442-9295. [NOTE: As of 1/10, this reading has been postponed until March.]
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THE UNDERLYING MESSAGE
—Sal Amico M. Buttaci, Lodi, New Jersey
your poems tell me life goes on
that in every breath of wind
shadows of the spoken word
darken abandoned streets
and no one truly dies.
your poems cry out in every line
that God created us
to live forever
and that we are so much more
than this finite world we live in.
your poems are meant to give hope
to those who mistakenly
put their stock in the wrong world
when they should be planning
how to spend eternity
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Thanks, Sal! Sal Buttaci has been a regular Snake contributor from the start, and now he also sends his middle-school students' poems to VYPER, which is a huge help. He and his students hail from Lodi—New Jersey, that is.....!
—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.)