...and several inches later...
The Snake House, February 23, 2007
[Note tulips, still blooming away...]
The Snake House, February 23, 2007
[Note tulips, still blooming away...]
A NOTE FROM NEVADA COUNTY—
UP BY DONNER
—William S. Gainer, Grass Valley
The dog’s gone
and the cat’s
turned up missing.
We got ropes
tied to kids,
just in case.
It’s coming down
two inches an hour
and getting deep.
All the weatherman
can add
is,
“Find someone to love
and hold on to 'em
tight!"
It’s snowing ugly
out there,
no relief in sight.
But don’t worry about us,
we’re boarding up the windows,
stoking the fire,
hoping the dog makes it
and the hell with the cat.
If worse comes to worse,
we’ll eat the kids—
it’s been done before.
What???
Thanks, Bill! Watch for more of William S. Gainer's poetry in the next Rattlesnake Review (Lucky 13), due out March 14, or pick up his rattlechap at The Book Collector. And the cat's not missing, Bill; he's just smart enough to stay out of the snow. Speaking of CoolCats:
CoolCat Gallery presents Kitty Corner Poetry Night tonight from 6-9 PM:
Richard Hansen writes: Fresh creative blood in Midtown! A new art gallery has opened in Midtown on 24th St., just down the block from The Book Collector. Check out the website (www.myspace.com/coolcatgallery) for details on the current exhibit, plus they have a poetry reading tonight (Friday, Feb. 23). Bring your own poetry, stories, comedy bits, or just come to listen and be inspired by poetry and the current art exhibition. CoolCat Gallery, 918 24th St., Sac. Info: (916) 446-4430, or email jensten9@yahoo.com.
Feel like camping?
Monika Rose and the Manzanita people have been busy! They have several poetry events scheduled for the next few months. Right now they’re working on getting a group together for a Camping/Writing Retreat for June 25-July 2 in Big Trees. Working title: Open Sky Writing Retreat. For info, write to Monika at mrosemanza@jps.net.
_______________________
GOOD AND BAD WEATHER
—C.P. Cavafy
It does not bother me if outside
winter spreads fog, clouds, and cold.
Spring is within me, true joy.
Laughter is a sun ray, all pure gold,
there is no other garden like love,
the warmth of song melts all the snows.
What good is it that outside spring
sends up flowers and sows greenness!
I have winter within me when the heart hurts.
The sigh blots out the most brilliant sun;
if you have sorrow May resembles December,
tears are colder than the cold snow.
________________________
IN THE EVENING
—C.P. Cavafy
Anyway those things would not have lasted long. The experience
of the years shows it to me. But Destiny arrived
in some haste and stopped them.
The beautiful life was brief.
But how potent were the perfumes,
on how splendid a bed we lay,
to what sensual delight we gave our bodies.
An echo of the days of pleasure,
an echo of the days drew near me,
a little of the fire of the youth of both of us;
again I took in my hands a letter,
and I read and reread till the light was gone.
And melancholy, I came out on the balcony—
came out to change my thoughts at least by looking at
a little of the city that I loved,
a little movement on the street, and in the shops.
_______________________
—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 (or snail ‘em to P.O. Box 762, Pollock Pines, CA 95726) 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.)
UP BY DONNER
—William S. Gainer, Grass Valley
The dog’s gone
and the cat’s
turned up missing.
We got ropes
tied to kids,
just in case.
It’s coming down
two inches an hour
and getting deep.
All the weatherman
can add
is,
“Find someone to love
and hold on to 'em
tight!"
It’s snowing ugly
out there,
no relief in sight.
But don’t worry about us,
we’re boarding up the windows,
stoking the fire,
hoping the dog makes it
and the hell with the cat.
If worse comes to worse,
we’ll eat the kids—
it’s been done before.
What??? Thanks, Bill! Watch for more of William S. Gainer's poetry in the next Rattlesnake Review (Lucky 13), due out March 14, or pick up his rattlechap at The Book Collector. And the cat's not missing, Bill; he's just smart enough to stay out of the snow. Speaking of CoolCats:
CoolCat Gallery presents Kitty Corner Poetry Night tonight from 6-9 PM:
Richard Hansen writes: Fresh creative blood in Midtown! A new art gallery has opened in Midtown on 24th St., just down the block from The Book Collector. Check out the website (www.myspace.com/coolcatgallery) for details on the current exhibit, plus they have a poetry reading tonight (Friday, Feb. 23). Bring your own poetry, stories, comedy bits, or just come to listen and be inspired by poetry and the current art exhibition. CoolCat Gallery, 918 24th St., Sac. Info: (916) 446-4430, or email jensten9@yahoo.com.
Feel like camping?
Monika Rose and the Manzanita people have been busy! They have several poetry events scheduled for the next few months. Right now they’re working on getting a group together for a Camping/Writing Retreat for June 25-July 2 in Big Trees. Working title: Open Sky Writing Retreat. For info, write to Monika at mrosemanza@jps.net.
_______________________
GOOD AND BAD WEATHER
—C.P. Cavafy
It does not bother me if outside
winter spreads fog, clouds, and cold.
Spring is within me, true joy.
Laughter is a sun ray, all pure gold,
there is no other garden like love,
the warmth of song melts all the snows.
What good is it that outside spring
sends up flowers and sows greenness!
I have winter within me when the heart hurts.
The sigh blots out the most brilliant sun;
if you have sorrow May resembles December,
tears are colder than the cold snow.
________________________
IN THE EVENING
—C.P. Cavafy
Anyway those things would not have lasted long. The experience
of the years shows it to me. But Destiny arrived
in some haste and stopped them.
The beautiful life was brief.
But how potent were the perfumes,
on how splendid a bed we lay,
to what sensual delight we gave our bodies.
An echo of the days of pleasure,
an echo of the days drew near me,
a little of the fire of the youth of both of us;
again I took in my hands a letter,
and I read and reread till the light was gone.
And melancholy, I came out on the balcony—
came out to change my thoughts at least by looking at
a little of the city that I loved,
a little movement on the street, and in the shops.
_______________________
—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 (or snail ‘em to P.O. Box 762, Pollock Pines, CA 95726) 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.)
