THE PRODIGAL—Elizabeth Bishop
The brown enormous odor he lived by
was too close, with its breathing and thick hair,
for him to judge. The floor was rotten; the sty
was plastered halfway up with glass-smooth dung.
Light-lashed, self-righteous, above moving snouts,
the pigs' eyes followed him, a cheerful stare—
even to the sow that always ate her young—
till, sickening, he leaned to scratch her head.
But sometimes mornings after drinking bouts
(he hid the pints behind a two-by-four),
the sunrise glazed the barnyard mud with red;
the burning puddles seemed to reassure.
And then he thought he almost might endure
his exile yet another year or more.
But evenings the first star came to warn.
The farmer whom he worked for came at dark
to shut the cows and horses in the barn
beneath their overhanging clouds of hay,
with pitchforks, faint forked lightnings, catching light,
safe and companionable as in the Ark.
The pigs stuck out their little feet and snored.
The lantern—like the sun, going away—
laid on the mud a pacing aureole.
Carrying a bucket along a slimy board,
he felt the bat's uncertain staggering flight,
his shuddering insights, beyond his control,
touching him. But it took him a long time
finally to make his mind up and go home.
________________________
Yesterday, Elizabeth Bishop would've been 96 years old.
This weekend:
•••Tonight, Fri. (2/9), 7:30 PM: All are invited to warm up to Valentine’s Day! Writers of the New Sun/Escritores del Nuevo Sol are sponsoring “Even Educated Fleas Do It!” An annual evening of Poetry, Fun and Chocolate featuring Art Mantecon & Christina Hayes Mantecon at La Raza Galeria Posada, 1024 22nd St, Midtown Sac. Cost: $5 or as you can afford. Visual Arts Exhibit: “What is This Thing called Amor?” Info contact: Graciela Ramirez 916-456-5323 or www.escritoresdelnuevosol.com
•••Sat. (2/10), 2 PM: Song of the San Joaquin, a Modesto-based poetry quarterly, will hold the reading of the Winter Issue at the McHenry Museum, 1302 "I" Street, Modesto. Admittance is free and light refreshments will be served. Poets will read their own works from the publication. More information: Cleo Griffith cleor36@yahoo.com or 209-543-1776.
•••Also Sat., 3-5 PM: Patricity’s “In Spirit & Truth Series” at 61 Yuence Smoked BBQ & Grill, 9657 Folsom Blvd. Sac. (off Bradshaw). Features plus open mic. Free. Info: 916-361-2014.
•••Sunday (2/11), 5 PM: Poetry Reading for Peace, featuring Jose Montoya and Julia Connor. The Book Collector, 1008 24th St. Sac. Hosted by James Lee Jobe. Open mic follows. Free. Info: Richard@poems-for-all.com
•••Also Sunday, 7 PM: Poets Corner Presents Roger Naylor & Steven Wilson @ Barnes & Noble, Stockton Weberstown Mall, Stockton. Free; open mic. David Humphreys hosts.
•••Also Sunday, 2:30-4:30 PM: Poets on the Ridge Poetry Reading (Open mic) at Juice & Java, 7067 Skyway, Paradise. Info: 530-872-9633.
•••Also Sunday, 2-5 PM: Billed as "Between the Sheets," a romantic poetry and prose reading at the Leger Hotel in Mokelumne Hill on Sunday, Feb. 11, 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 per person. Additional: $15-25 range for a special Valentine menu from 5 PM 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. Antoinette May will be reading some pleasureable excerpts from her new book, Pilate's Wife.
•••Also Sunday, 4 PM: Joyce Odam and Kathy Kieth will be reading in Crockett at the Valona Deli Second Sunday Poetry Reading, 1323 Pomona St., Crockett. Open mic follows; come for poetry, stay for jazz from the Terry Henry Trio. Info: David Alpaugh, 925-682-0457. [See last Sunday's post for a lovely picture of Joyce!]
•••Monday (2/12), attend the SPC Board meeting at 5:45 PM, then go to the Valentine’s Day reading (An Evening of Poetry Lovers) at 7:30 PM, hosted by Indigo Moor. Hear readings by notable poetic couples: Nora Staklis & Tom Goff; Christina & Art Mantecon; Erik & Terryl; Laverne & Carol Frith and more! Come and read with (or to) your poetic soulmate! Free; open mic.
_______________________
SUN FACES AND DARK WINGS
—Patricia Wellingham-Jones, Tehama
The sun faces of daisies
and chartreuse and bright orange
chrysanthemums
shimmer in the glass vase.
The day marches forward
in its usual bustle of busy hands.
Behind my eyes
I sense dark feathers
approach this house,
watch the shadow grow.
I feel the soft rustle
of wings unfolding,
smell the dust of long flight.
Know that soon Death’s wingtips
will brush your face,
flex and feather around your spirit,
gently lift you from your worn shell,
bear you away.
_______________________
Thanks, Patricia! Our give-away continues: send Medusa your poetry about shadows before midnight on Monday, Feb. 13, and I'll send you a surprise poetry present. E-mail to kathykieth@hotmail.com, or snail to P.O. Box 762, Pollock Pines, CA 95726.
_______________________
WIND AND SILVER
—Amy Lowell
Greatly shining,
The Autumn moon floats in the thin sky;
And the fish-ponds shake their backs and flash their dragon scales
As she passes over them.
_______________________
SOLITAIRE
—Amy Lowell
When night drifts along the streets of the city,
And sifts down between the uneven roofs,
My mind begins to peek and peer.
It plays at ball in odd, blue Chinese gardens,
And shakes wrought dice-cups in Pagan temples
Amid the broken fluting of white pillars.
It dances with purple and yellow crocuses in its hair,
And its feet shine as they flutter over drenched grasses.
How light and laughing my mind is,
When all good folk have put out their bedroom candles.
And the city is still.
________________________
Today, Amy Lowell would've been 133 years old.
—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.)
