Photo by Katy Brown, Davis
Hopefully you can read that the Theater is Open by Appointment Only. Get yours made now!
THE STRAY DOG CABARET
—Anna Akhmatova
All of us here are hookers and hustlers.
We drink too much, and don't care.
The walls are covered with birds and flowers
that have never seen sunshine or air.
You smoke too much. There's always a cloud
of nicotine over your head.
Do you like this skirt? I wore it on purpose.
I wanted to show lots of leg.
The windows here have been covered forever.
Is it snowing out?...maybe it's rain.
You've got that look in your eyes again,
like a cat in a crouch for a kill.
Sometimes I feel this awful pain,
as if someone were breaking a spell.
Take a good look at that one over there!
She's dancing her way into hell!
_______________________
This week in poetry:
•••Tonight (Monday, 3/5), 7:30 PM: The Other Voice Poetry Series in Davis presents Heather Hutcheson and Melanie Sievers reading their poetry at The Unitarian Universalist Church of Davis, 27074 Patwin Rd. There will be an open reading following the poets. This is a free event. Call 530-750-3514 for details.
•••Also tonight (3/5), 7:30 PM: Sacramento Poetry Center presents “Words, Music and Motion”, an evening of storytelling and dance with Angela James and friends at HQ for the Arts, 25th & R Sts., Sacramento. Free; open mic. This group of storytellers, spoken word artists and musicians meld their different art forms together to produce a fascinating and entertaining show. Angela’s entourage includes:
>Mario Ellis Hill, co-host of Poetry Unplugged and director of Mario Ellis Hill Poetry Machine. Mario is also a storyteller, a musician and a capoerista and has twice been the National Slam Poet, in 1995 and 1997.
>Gene and Lorty McClain, husband and wife duo of jazz musicians. Gene plays guitar and keyboards and Lorty backs him up with vocals and the drums.
>Wanda Faye Portman, a published writer and poet whose writing is inspired by family and friends and pertains to all aspects of life based on true life experiences. Faye a member of Capitol Toasters, and Aesop Fablers, a club dedicated to storytelling.
>Angela James, storyteller, poet and inspirational speaker, draws upon childhood experience in the West Indies to etch vivid pictures in the minds of her listeners. She has been published in Sussurus and can be heard on the CD, Echo in the Bone.
>Fenix Drum and Dance Co. was recently picked Best Beatkeepers by Sacramento Magazine. Their blend of song, dance and drumming lend an intriguing color when added to spoken word.
Next Monday (3/12), SPC will feature Indigo Moor and Jennifer K. Sweeney.
•••Thursday (3/8), 5-8 PM: Friends of Leah Zeff Den Boer are invited to celebrate her life at the Sacramento Poetry Center, 1719 25th St., Sac. In lieu of flowers the family is suggesting donations to Sacramento Peace Action. For additional information, please contact (530) 867-4293.
•••Also Thursday, 8 PM: Poetry Unplugged at Luna's Cafe, 1414 16th St., Sac. Open mic before/after, free. Info: 916-441-3931.
•••NOTE: Originally I posted that Monika Rose and Brigit Truex, both Manzanita writers—rattlechapper Brigit of the Red Fox Underground writing group—would be featured readers at Our House Framing Gallery in El Dorado Hills. That was an error: they'll be reading at Our House on FRIDAY, MARCH 16. More about that later.
•••Sunday (3/11), 2:30-4:30 PM: Poets on the Ridge will hold an open mic at Juice and Java, 7067 Skyway, Paradise. Info: 530-872-9633.
_______________________
TO ALEXANDER BLOK
—Anna Akhmatova
I had gone to see the poet
At exactly noon on Sunday.
His room was bare and quiet.
It was very cold outgside.
The raspberry sunlight
Made smoky streaks of shadow
And my host said very little—
All he did was look at me.
His eyes were so astonishing
They still compel my memory,
And I thought, I must be careful
Not to look at them at all.
But I recall our conversation
And the sunlight and the shadow
In a tall house built of granite
Where the river meets the sea.
_______________________
There were three things in life he loved:
music at vespers, white peacocks,
and antique maps of America.
He hated children crying
and raspberry jam for tea.
He hated women in hysterics—
and he married me.
—Anna Akhmatova
_______________________
Today's poetry was translated from the Russian by Paul Schmidt.
—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.)
THE STRAY DOG CABARET
—Anna Akhmatova
All of us here are hookers and hustlers.
We drink too much, and don't care.
The walls are covered with birds and flowers
that have never seen sunshine or air.
You smoke too much. There's always a cloud
of nicotine over your head.
Do you like this skirt? I wore it on purpose.
I wanted to show lots of leg.
The windows here have been covered forever.
Is it snowing out?...maybe it's rain.
You've got that look in your eyes again,
like a cat in a crouch for a kill.
Sometimes I feel this awful pain,
as if someone were breaking a spell.
Take a good look at that one over there!
She's dancing her way into hell!
_______________________
This week in poetry:
•••Tonight (Monday, 3/5), 7:30 PM: The Other Voice Poetry Series in Davis presents Heather Hutcheson and Melanie Sievers reading their poetry at The Unitarian Universalist Church of Davis, 27074 Patwin Rd. There will be an open reading following the poets. This is a free event. Call 530-750-3514 for details.
•••Also tonight (3/5), 7:30 PM: Sacramento Poetry Center presents “Words, Music and Motion”, an evening of storytelling and dance with Angela James and friends at HQ for the Arts, 25th & R Sts., Sacramento. Free; open mic. This group of storytellers, spoken word artists and musicians meld their different art forms together to produce a fascinating and entertaining show. Angela’s entourage includes:
>Mario Ellis Hill, co-host of Poetry Unplugged and director of Mario Ellis Hill Poetry Machine. Mario is also a storyteller, a musician and a capoerista and has twice been the National Slam Poet, in 1995 and 1997.
>Gene and Lorty McClain, husband and wife duo of jazz musicians. Gene plays guitar and keyboards and Lorty backs him up with vocals and the drums.
>Wanda Faye Portman, a published writer and poet whose writing is inspired by family and friends and pertains to all aspects of life based on true life experiences. Faye a member of Capitol Toasters, and Aesop Fablers, a club dedicated to storytelling.
>Angela James, storyteller, poet and inspirational speaker, draws upon childhood experience in the West Indies to etch vivid pictures in the minds of her listeners. She has been published in Sussurus and can be heard on the CD, Echo in the Bone.
>Fenix Drum and Dance Co. was recently picked Best Beatkeepers by Sacramento Magazine. Their blend of song, dance and drumming lend an intriguing color when added to spoken word.
Next Monday (3/12), SPC will feature Indigo Moor and Jennifer K. Sweeney.
•••Thursday (3/8), 5-8 PM: Friends of Leah Zeff Den Boer are invited to celebrate her life at the Sacramento Poetry Center, 1719 25th St., Sac. In lieu of flowers the family is suggesting donations to Sacramento Peace Action. For additional information, please contact (530) 867-4293.
•••Also Thursday, 8 PM: Poetry Unplugged at Luna's Cafe, 1414 16th St., Sac. Open mic before/after, free. Info: 916-441-3931.
•••NOTE: Originally I posted that Monika Rose and Brigit Truex, both Manzanita writers—rattlechapper Brigit of the Red Fox Underground writing group—would be featured readers at Our House Framing Gallery in El Dorado Hills. That was an error: they'll be reading at Our House on FRIDAY, MARCH 16. More about that later.
•••Sunday (3/11), 2:30-4:30 PM: Poets on the Ridge will hold an open mic at Juice and Java, 7067 Skyway, Paradise. Info: 530-872-9633.
_______________________
TO ALEXANDER BLOK
—Anna Akhmatova
I had gone to see the poet
At exactly noon on Sunday.
His room was bare and quiet.
It was very cold outgside.
The raspberry sunlight
Made smoky streaks of shadow
And my host said very little—
All he did was look at me.
His eyes were so astonishing
They still compel my memory,
And I thought, I must be careful
Not to look at them at all.
But I recall our conversation
And the sunlight and the shadow
In a tall house built of granite
Where the river meets the sea.
_______________________
There were three things in life he loved:
music at vespers, white peacocks,
and antique maps of America.
He hated children crying
and raspberry jam for tea.
He hated women in hysterics—
and he married me.
—Anna Akhmatova
_______________________
Today's poetry was translated from the Russian by Paul Schmidt.
—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.)