Annie Menebroker
SIMULATED MEMORY
(for G.B.)
—Ann Menebroker, Sacramento
Two women, one from Ohio
the other from Washington, D.C.
remember long train rides,
remember the lullaby back and
forth of the train, the rocking
motion of forward. At the
Railroad Museum, they board
a single Pullman car, feel the
familiar rocking; want to stay
inside forever, swallowed
by this whale of time.
(for G.B.)
—Ann Menebroker, Sacramento
Two women, one from Ohio
the other from Washington, D.C.
remember long train rides,
remember the lullaby back and
forth of the train, the rocking
motion of forward. At the
Railroad Museum, they board
a single Pullman car, feel the
familiar rocking; want to stay
inside forever, swallowed
by this whale of time.
Thanks, Annie—and happy birthday! Rattlesnake Press has two offerings coming from Ann Menebroker: a new littlesnake broadside (Swallowed By This Whale Of Time), and Rattlesnake Interview Series #1. Both will appear April 11 at the Third Annual Rattlesnake Birthday Bash and Buffet. Be there!
Winding up Out Loud:
Regarding the recent California Finals of Poetry Out Loud for highschoolers, Sacramento News & Review's Jonathan Kiefer has written a fine review in this week's SN&R. It's on page 32 of the current print edition, or http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/Content?oid=302949
This weekend:
•••Saturday (3/31), 7-9 PM: “The Show” Poetry Series at Wo’se Community Center, 2863 35th St., Sac. (off 35th & Broadway) features Dahlak, Flo Real, Tezeta Stawartz, Robin "Essence" Joseph, Aaron Clyde, plus the band LSB. $5. Info: 916-455-POET.
•••Saturday (3/31) is the last day to go up to the Cozmic Cafe in Placerville (594 Main St.) to see the photography by Irene Lipshin and poetry displayed by Red Fox Underground, celebrating the concept of world peace.
•••Sat. (3/31), 4 PM: The Central California Art Association and the Mistlin Art Gallery announce a poetry reading at 1015 J St. in Downtown Modesto. The reading will be featuring poets from Sixteen Rivers Press, a shared-work, nonprofit poetry collective dedicated to providing an alternative publishing avenue for San Francisco Bay Area poets. Award-winning Modesto poet Gillian Wegener is a member of the collective and will be reading some of her work and introducing fellow Collective Members Nina Lindsay (author of Today's Special Dish) and Helen Wickes (author of In Search of Landscape). They will be traveling in from the Bay Area for the reading and book signing/reception, which will be in the gallery following the reading. The public is welcome. Free, although a modest donation toward the gallery would be appreciated.
•••Sunday (4/1), 6 PM: PoemSpirits presents Tim Bellows, plus JoAnn Anglin offers a presentation on Poet Jane Hirschfield. Bring a poem to share, too. Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento, 2425 Sierra Blvd., Sacramento. Info: 916-451-1372. [See Medusa's March 14 post for a profile of Tim Bellows.]
•••Also Sunday (4/1), 2:30-4:30 PM: Poets on the Ridge Poetry Reading (open mic) at Juice & Java, 7067 Skyway, Paradise. Info: 530-872-9633.
•••Monday (4/2), doors open at 6 PM: Poetic Justice, a benefit for frank andrick to help with medical and living expenses. HQ for the Arts, 25th and R Sts., Sacramento. Confirmed guests (more later) include Mary Zeppa, Becca Costello, Star Vaughn, Rachel Leibrock, Terryl Wheat, Mario Ellis Hill, B.L. Kennedy, Jay Greenburg, Gilberto Rodriguez and local novelist James Rollins, plus more people and more stuff to be announced. Music by J. Greenberg and Joel Ginsberg. A refreshment/cocktail style opening with jazz music, and Bob Stanley will do a solo set of collaborative work with film, people, and imaginations. Donations of $10 will be gratefully accepted and there will also be a raffle. Hosted by Bob Stanley and Edie Lambert. Please contact: bobstanley@sbcglobal.net or poetrynow@sacramentopoetrycenter.org or http://www.jamesrollins.com or Fandrickfabpub@hotmail.com
•••Also next Monday (4/2), 7:30 PM: The Other Voice presents Indigo Moor and Josh Fernandez reading their poetry at The Unitarian Universalist Church of Davis, 27074 Patwin Road, Davis. There will be an open reading following the poets. This is a free event. James Lee Jobe will host. For more details, including directions and a map, go to http://uupoetry.blogspot.com or call 530-750-3514.
______________________
How about a little Lorca to celebrate Cesar Chavez' birthday?
ADAM
—Federico Garcia Lorca
The morning by a tree of blood was dewed
and near to it the newborn woman groans.
Her voice left glass within the wound, and strewed
the window with a diagram of bones.
Meanwhile the day had reached with steady light
the limits of the fable, which evades
the tumult of the bloodstream in its flight
towards the dim cool apple in the shades.
Adam, within the fever of the clay,
dreams a young child comes galloping his way,
felt in his cheeks, with double pulse of blood.
But a dark other Adam dreaming yearned
for a stone neuter moon, where no seeds bud,
in which that child of glory will be burned.
(translated from the Spanish by Roy Campbell)
_______________________
PAUSE OF THE CLOCK
—Federico Garcia Lorca
I sat down
in a space of time.
It was a backwater
of silence,
a white silence,
a formidable ring
wherein the stars
collided with the twelve floating
black numerals.
(translated by Stanley Read)
_______________________
THE SPINSTER AT MASS
—Federico Garcia Lorca
Beneath the Moses of the incense,
drowsing.
Bull eyes observe you.
Your rosary raining.
In that dress of silk so dense,
never stir, Virginia.
Give the black melons of your breasts
to the murmur of the mass.
(translated by Edwin Honig)
_______________________
Oh—and congratulations to rattlechapper Ron Tranquilla of Grass Valley on the birth of his and Penny's twin grandsons. He writes: Alex George is 5 pounds, Paul Ronald is 6 pounds. They're doing extremely well, as is Lori. The babies are very sweet (but just wait!), and we're happy. Ron has a new rattlechap coming May 9, called Playing Favorites.
—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.)
SnakeWatch: Up-to-the-minute Snake news:
Journals: Rattlesnake Review #13 is available at The Book Collector; next deadline is May 15. The new VYPER #6 (for youth 13-19) will be out next week. Snakelets 10 (for kids-12) is available; next deadline is May 1.
Books/broadsides: Current releases are Skin Stretched Around the Hollow by Steve Williams and littlesnake broadside #32 by Brad Buchanan: Ultrasound. Next release: April 11, 7:30 PM at the Snake’s Third Annual Birthday Bash and Buffet at The Book Collector: SnakeRings SpiralChap #7 from D.R. Wagner: Where The Stars Are Kept, and littlesnake broadside #33: Swallowed By This Whale Of Time by Ann Menebroker.
Something new: Rattlesnake Interview Series also premiers April 11; #1 is Ann Menebroker.