Photo by Marie Riepenhoff-Talty, Roseville
HUMMINGBIRD WATCHER
—Marie Riepenhoff-Talty
As domestic as a wild thing can be,
whirring its sideways helicopters, an
Annas, with distinct metallic green back and
sharply demarcated rose-red gorget
lights—delicately, instantaneously
sucks sugar water—four parts to one—
all the while (a millisecond)
keeping watch for a territory invader.
But, you blinked—he’s taken off
like a dive bomber in reverse—
his color a matter of shadow—
or maybe gone ahead…
_______________________
Spring is on the wing! Our thanks to Marie for this photo and poem about hummers. I've been saying Marie was from Sacramento, when actually she's from Roseville.
The March issue of the wee Brevities (#49) is out; send a check for $1.39 to Editor Joyce Odam, 2432 48th Ave., Sac. 95822. This Mini-Mag of Minimalist Poems comes out monthly and features small poems by big poets from all over the country, including many names which will be familiar to Snake fans. Pick up a back issue at The Book Collector, too. And send your wee-er poems to Joyce! Like the Snake, Brevities is always hungry...
Also out is the latest issue of the fine journal, Ekphrasis, from Carol and Laverne Frith. Copies may be had from the Friths at P.O. Box 161236, Sac. 95816. This issue is, as always, packed full of fine poems, including ones from rattlechappers Taylor Graham and Joyce Odam. Click on the link to the right for more info.
Today would've been Elizabeth Barrett Browning's 201st birthday:
GRIEF
—Elizabeth Barrett Browning
I tell you, hopeless grief is passionless;
That only men incredulous of despair,
Half-taught in anguish, through the mid-night air
Beat upward to God's throne in loud access
Of the absolute Heavens. Deep-hearted man, express
Grief for the Dead in silence like to death—
Most like a monumental statue set
In everlasting watch and moveless woe,
Till itself crumble to the dust beneath.
Touch it; the marble eyelids are not wet.
If it could weep, it could arise and go.
_______________________
Wow, girlfriend. All that angst! How about a little closer to earth:
A WOMAN WRITER DOES LAUNDRY
—Anna Swir
Enough typing.
Today I am doing laundry
in the old style.
I wash, I wash, rinse, wring
as did my grandmothers and great-grandmothers.
Relaxation.
Doing laundry is healthful and useful
like a washed shirt. Writing
is suspect.
Like three interrogation marks
typed on a page.
(translated from the Polish by Czeslaw Milosz and Leonard Nathan)
_______________________
—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.)
—Marie Riepenhoff-Talty
As domestic as a wild thing can be,
whirring its sideways helicopters, an
Annas, with distinct metallic green back and
sharply demarcated rose-red gorget
lights—delicately, instantaneously
sucks sugar water—four parts to one—
all the while (a millisecond)
keeping watch for a territory invader.
But, you blinked—he’s taken off
like a dive bomber in reverse—
his color a matter of shadow—
or maybe gone ahead…
_______________________
Spring is on the wing! Our thanks to Marie for this photo and poem about hummers. I've been saying Marie was from Sacramento, when actually she's from Roseville.
The March issue of the wee Brevities (#49) is out; send a check for $1.39 to Editor Joyce Odam, 2432 48th Ave., Sac. 95822. This Mini-Mag of Minimalist Poems comes out monthly and features small poems by big poets from all over the country, including many names which will be familiar to Snake fans. Pick up a back issue at The Book Collector, too. And send your wee-er poems to Joyce! Like the Snake, Brevities is always hungry...
Also out is the latest issue of the fine journal, Ekphrasis, from Carol and Laverne Frith. Copies may be had from the Friths at P.O. Box 161236, Sac. 95816. This issue is, as always, packed full of fine poems, including ones from rattlechappers Taylor Graham and Joyce Odam. Click on the link to the right for more info.
Today would've been Elizabeth Barrett Browning's 201st birthday:
GRIEF
—Elizabeth Barrett Browning
I tell you, hopeless grief is passionless;
That only men incredulous of despair,
Half-taught in anguish, through the mid-night air
Beat upward to God's throne in loud access
Of the absolute Heavens. Deep-hearted man, express
Grief for the Dead in silence like to death—
Most like a monumental statue set
In everlasting watch and moveless woe,
Till itself crumble to the dust beneath.
Touch it; the marble eyelids are not wet.
If it could weep, it could arise and go.
_______________________
Wow, girlfriend. All that angst! How about a little closer to earth:
A WOMAN WRITER DOES LAUNDRY
—Anna Swir
Enough typing.
Today I am doing laundry
in the old style.
I wash, I wash, rinse, wring
as did my grandmothers and great-grandmothers.
Relaxation.
Doing laundry is healthful and useful
like a washed shirt. Writing
is suspect.
Like three interrogation marks
typed on a page.
(translated from the Polish by Czeslaw Milosz and Leonard Nathan)
_______________________
—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.)