MEDUSA'S HAIR
—Stephani Schaefer, Los Molinos
Medusa had headaches day and night.
No wonder her hair was such a fright,
from tossing and turning and hate and contempt—
no wonder her tresses were so unkempt.
Her hairdresser said her efforts were spoiled
by venom swept up in serpentine coils.
No wonder we look at her and say
whatever's been eating her night and day?
No wonder we look on her and stare—
she holds up a mirror and we are there.
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MEDUSA EATS SPAGHETTI
—Stephani Schaefer
if she leans over her plate too far
she might spiral up the wrong mouthful
then watch out for invective! expletive!
sometimes she just has to spit things out
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Thanks, Steph! Stephani Schaefer is spawning a series, called "A Day in the Life of Medusa", which was inspired while she and Tehama Poet Patricia Wellingham-Jones were "free-writing". More about Medusa's day later; here's a poem that PWJ came up with while free-writing:
ALL DECKED OUT
—Patricia Wellingham-Jones
A lizard behind the ear
owl faces linked in a necklace
a snake wrapped around the waist
foxes dangling to the knee
a goat draped across her shoulder
elephants on her feet
she claps on a bat in place of a hat
and heads for town
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All this reminds us to keep it free, keep it loose, let it be silly from time to time. Thanks, Ladies!
I think the "Comments" section [at the bottom of each post] works for anyone now, whether they subscribe to blogspot or not; I changed the setting. Give it a try: click on it and fill out the comments square—testing one two three or something silly or whatever; let's see if it works!
Poetry this week:
•••Tonight (Monday, 4/23), 7:30 PM: Sacramento Poetry Center presents Peter Grandbois at HQ for the Arts, 25th & R Sts., Sacramento. Peter Grandbois holds an MFA in fiction from Bennington College and a PhD in creative writing and literature from the University of Denver. He is currently a professor of creative writing and contemporary literature at California State University in Sacramento. Peter is the author of The Gravedigger (Chronicle 2006), which was selected for both the Barnes and Noble “Discover Great New Writers” award and the Border’s “Original Voices” award. In addition, his short fiction was recently cited with an honorable mention for the 2007 Pushcart Prize. His translation into English of San Juan: Ciudad Soñada by Edgardo Rodríguez Juliá is forthcoming from the University of Wisconsin Press in 2007. He is currently at work on his second novel, entitled Nahoonkara, which is set in Wisconsin and Colorado during the nineteenth century. Peter has lived in Denver, San Francisco, Chicago, Barcelona, and Malaga, but currently makes his home with his wife and three children in Davis, California. Next Monday (4/30) at SPC features Jeff Knorr's Sacramento City College creative writing class.
•••Wednesday (4/25), 6-7 PM: Hidden Passage Poetry Reading at Hidden Passage Books, 352 Main St. in Placerville. It's an open-mic read-around, so bring your own poems or those of a favorite poet to share, or just come to listen.
•••Thursday (4/26), 8 PM: Poetry Unplugged at Luna's Cafe, 1414 16th St., Sacramento presents D.R. Wagner and Neeli Cherkovski. Open mic before and after.
•••Sat. (4/28), 10-12 PM: Enjoy the Bilingual Niños Program: Stories & Poems for Children. Los Escritores del Nuevo Sol is featuring 2 writers: Professor Francisco X. Alarcón of UC Davis and teacher/writer Luz María Gama in a poetry program dedicated to children. Professor Alarcón is the author of a beautifully illustrated series of bilingual poetry books for young readers. These will be available for purchase. La Raza Galeria Posada, 1024 22nd St., Midtown Sacramento. Free. Los Escritores del Nuevo Sol/Writers of the New Sun is a literary community, established in 1993 to foster and honor the literary arts of the cultures & traditions of Chicano, Native American and Spanish-language communities. The group has published an anthology, Voces del Nuevo Sol/Voices of the new Sun. Members write in English, Spanish, or both. Regular writing meeting is 11 a.m. on the 1st Saturday of each month.Info: 916- 456-5323. The public is welcome to all activities. Website: www.escritoresdelnuevosol.com/
•••Also Saturday (4/28), 10 AM to 10 PM: Poems-For-All presents A MIMEO GATHERING featuring Sal Mimeo & The Process Rebels Without Applause Tour of Words at The Book Collector, 1008 24th St., Sacramento. Mimeo Gathering? During the '60s and '70s folks used mimeo machines the same way we presently use Xerox copiers and computer printers to make chap books, zines and other small press publications. "Sal Mimeo" is flying from the east coast with a mimeo machine which will be in operation throughout the day making a very special limited edition commemorative chap of the event. Special things will be happening all day at the bookstore. Slip in whenever you like. INFO: (916) 442-9295 or richard@poems-for-all.com ONLINE: For more information, bios, poetry samples and updates on poets reading during the day go to: http://www.poems-for-all.com and click on the "events" button. [Medusa will publish a more detailed schedule later in the week.]
•••Sunday (4/29), 2 PM: Celebrate National Poetry Month with Poetry in Turlock at the Spiritual Science Church #4 on Crane Avenue, one block east of the Main Post Office, two blocks from the library. Members of the Licensed Fools from Modesto will read their work. They have been writing and performing in this area for over ten years and have appeared at the State Theatre, the Prospect, the Mistlin Gallery, and various other readings here and in nearby cities. Some of their work will be available for sale. Poets will include Karen Baker, Stella Beratlis, Tina Driskill, Sheila D. Landre, Angela Morales-Salinas, Linda Scheller, Linda Toren, Gary Thomas, Gillian Wegener, Ann Williams-Bailey and others. Everyone welcome! Open Mic reading to follow. This is a benefit for the church. We are badly in need of repairs, especially a new roof. Donations are welcome. ($5 is suggested).
•••Sunday (4/30), 1-3 PM: Poetry Month Open Mic, held by The Nevada County Poetry Series. Free at Booktown Books and Tomes, 107 Bank Street (corner of South Auburn) in Grass Valley. For more info, call: (530) 432-8196 or (530) 272-4655.
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Tom Goff of Carmichael has also let his sense of humor run free with this poem, of which he says: I was reading John Keats' "Bright Star," sent by Poemhunters.com, an admirable poem of course, and then it struck me how little chance Fanny Brawne, the poet's girlfriend as we'd call her now, has ever had to reply...
FANNY BRAWNE RESPONDS
—Tom Goff
I gazed in stealth at my fond lover's book
and saw your image in it, O bright star.
But as I read, the singeing heat it took
from you shot off the page, and, with not far
to pounce, leaped into my abashed red cheek.
He writes that he who comprehends your light
must translate your steadfastness into meek
and uncomplaining watchfulness: all right.
But I must draw the line at his intent
to "pillow"—that's what he calls suffocate—
meaning his genius-heavy head has bent
my chest as mutton bends a pewter plate.
It's one thing to extol my grace, my fair ways;
another thing when love's heft blocks my airways.
_____________________
—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) has gone into the mail; next deadline is Nov. 1. Snakelets 10 (for kids 0-12) is available; next deadline is May 1.
Books/broadsides: April’s releases are 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. Both are now available at The Book Collector. SpiralChaps are $8; broadsides are free. Or contact kathykieth@hotmail.com for ordering information.
Something new: Rattlesnake Interview Series with B.L. Kennedy is also available (free) at The Book Collector (or contact Kathy Kieth). #1 is Ann Menebroker.
Also: Check out the Rattlechaps Chapbook Series page on the rattlesnakepress.com website! We've started generating separate pages for each rattlechapper/spiralchapper; scroll down through the list of books we've published and click on the names that are in red. That should lead you to a separate page for each of them, including photos, bios, poems, contact info—and more to come, once we get them all up and running. Saa-weet!