Julie Valin
BUKOWSKI WRITES MY BEST POEM
—Julie Valin, Penn Valley
I thought it honorary
to introduce the
one true poet
who taught me
simplicity
and gems
of truth.
So after reading
2 of my poems,
I chose the one
about green jello
and the fat lady
on the curb
and I read it
brilliantly.
The audience
ate it up.
Afterwards
the people came up
to me, loved my poem
about green jello
and the fat lady
on the curb—
. . . you bastard,
even in your
absence
I can’t for
the life of me
live up to you.
____________________
Thanks, Julie! When Julie Valin isn’t writing poetry, working, eating Mexican food, watching Grey’s Anatomy, surfing the Web, hanging out with her pirate mates and her husband, or walking the dog, she is busy having an extraordinary dream life during her 9 hours of sleep. She is the co-publisher of Six Ft. Swells Press, which promises to turn poetry into something enjoyable and celebratory. Her poetry has been published in various literary magazines and anthologies. She is a Sagittarius. (Penn Valley, by the way, is located just outside of Grass Valley.)
Julie will be premiering a littlesnake broadside, Still Life with Sun, at The Book Collector this coming Wednesday, May 9, at 7:30 PM.
Lots to do this weekend:
••Tonight (Friday, 5/4), 7:30 PM: Los Escritores del Nuevo Sol / Writers of the New Sun presents An Evening of Short Stories: Tellers & Tales. Some people believe that the ability to tell stories is the defining characteristic of humans. Presenting writers will include Juan Carrillo, Dr. Fausto Avendano, Minerva Daniel, Graciela B. Ramirez. All are invited. La Raza Galeria Posada, 1022-1024 22nd St., Sac. For more information about Los Escritores, call Graciela Ramirez at (916) 456-5323. Charge: $5 or as you can afford.
•••While you're at the La Raza gallery, check out the postcards! Through the first weekend in May, a display of some of the 400 postcards generated by Sacramento Poet Laureate Julia Connor’s postcard project will be held at La Raza Galeria Posada, 1022-1024 22nd St., Sacramento.
•••Saturday (5/5), 11 AM: Los Escritores del Nuevo Sol Writing Workshop and Potluck Meeting will celebrate Cinco de Mayo at Royer Park in Roseville. Our participation in this annual event is free for all artists such as the Co-Madres Artistas and RCAF. And Royer Park is covered with lots of shade—no need for cover! (With luck, we will be located near the visual artists.) The Cinco de Mayo event is from 11 am to 5 pm and we will be outside on the picnic benches. As for the food, Rene Aguilera tells us: Yes, you can bring your own. They will sell tamales and carniatas with beans and rice, and for kids, hot dogs and nachos and drinks like water and soda and agua fresca. You can certainly bring your own as well. NOTE: NO ALCOHOLIC DRINKS ALLOWED. The location is 190 Park Dr. off Douglas Blvd. in Roseville. Info: call Graciela Ramirez, 916-456-5323.
•••Also Saturday (5/5), 7:30 PM: Poems-For-All Second Saturday Series presents Xico Gonzalez at The Book Collector, 1008 24th St., Sacramento.
•••Also Sat. (5/5), 10AM-3PM: POETRY IN THE PARK FESTIVAL 2007, Fairfield Civic Center Library, 1150 Kentucky St., Fairfield, CA (in the rear park area by the lake). Hosted by BAPC member Juanita J. Martin. Featuring Poet Laureates Cynthia Bryant (Pleasanton) & Geri Digiorno (Petaluma), plus book signings, open mic poetry, light refreshments & more. Info: call Juanita @ (707) 435-1807 or Martha Evans @ (707) 421-6500. Sponsored by Fairfield Library and Valley Writers Group.
•••Sunday (5/6), 3 PM: Joel Fallon, Poet Laureate of Benicia, will be in Lincoln reading in the Courtyard at the Lincoln Library, 5th and F Sts, Lincoln. Open Mic to follow at 3:30. If possible, bring a folding chair, as the seating is limited.
•••Also Sunday (5/6), 6 PM, is the last of the 2006-07 PoemSpirits season, a monthly series presented at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento. The featured guest poet is Rhony Bhopla, a board member of the Sacramento Poetry Center who has hosted and presented at poetry events throughout the region; see last Wednesday's post for more about Rhony. In addition, co-host Tom Goff will present the work of Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 and who was a close friend of Mahatma Gandhi. Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento, 2425 Sierra Blvd [North of F.O. Blvd, between Howe and Munroe/Fulton], Main Building. No charge; refreshments provided. Open mic: You are encouraged to bring a favorite poem to share, yours or another's. This monthly event is presented by UUSS members Tom Goff, Nora Staklis, and JoAnn Anglin. For info on reading, contact: Tom or Nora at 916-481-3312 or JoAnn at 916-451-1372. For info on UUSS: www.uuss.org
•••Also Sunday (5/6), 2:30-4:30 PM: Open Mic at Juice & Java, 7067 Skyway, Paradise. Info: 530-872-9633.
•••Monday (5/7), 7:30 PM: Sacramento Poetry Center will host a reading for the American River Review, 2006 winner of the CSPA Gold Crown (top five of all collegiate magazines) and CCHA Best in the Nation (best literary magazine among all community colleges, 2006). Featured readers include James Wooden, Marilyn Wallner, Isaac Chilton, Judith Ryan and more. HQ for the Arts, 1719 25th St., Sacramento. Info: 916.451.5569.
•••Also Monday (5/7), The Other Voice presents Julia B. Levine and Jennifer K. Sweeney at The Unitarian Universalist Church of Davis, 27074 Patwin Road, 7:30 PM. James Lee Jobe will host. There will be an open reading following the poets. This is a free event. Call 530-750-3514 for details. Julia B. Levine has received numerous awards and grants in poetry, including the Discovery/the Nation award, the Tampa Review Prize in Poetry for her second full-length collection of poems, Ask, and the Anhinga Prize in Poetry for her first book, Practicing for Heaven. Her third book, tentatively titled In the Mud Room of Existence, is due out this fall from University of Tampa Press. She received her Ph.D. from University of California at Berkeley in 1989 in clinical psychology. She lives and works in Davis. Jennifer K. Sweeney is a teacher and writer in San Francisco. She won the 2006 Main Street Rag Poetry Book Award and her book, Salt Memory, was published last November. She holds an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Vermont College. Her poetry has been published or is forthcoming in: Hayden’s Ferry Review, Barrow Street, Passages North, New York Quarterly, Puerto del Sol, RUNES, subtropics and elsewhere. She was recently awarded a Cultural Equities Grant from the San Francisco Arts Commission.
Such a deal!
Molly Fisk writes: The May Poetry Boot Camp is tiny, but I don't want to cancel it because both people who are signed up are new and enthusiastic. So I'm offering three openings at half price (that's $88, instead of $175), in order to make the workshop big enough to be useful. First come, first served, and thanks in advance to any who decide to take me up on this. The camp begins this Sunday, May 6, and runs through Friday May 11. If you've never heard of/can't remember Poetry Boot Camp, here's the scoop: http://www.poetrybootcamp.com
—Julie Valin, Penn Valley
I thought it honorary
to introduce the
one true poet
who taught me
simplicity
and gems
of truth.
So after reading
2 of my poems,
I chose the one
about green jello
and the fat lady
on the curb
and I read it
brilliantly.
The audience
ate it up.
Afterwards
the people came up
to me, loved my poem
about green jello
and the fat lady
on the curb—
. . . you bastard,
even in your
absence
I can’t for
the life of me
live up to you.
____________________
Thanks, Julie! When Julie Valin isn’t writing poetry, working, eating Mexican food, watching Grey’s Anatomy, surfing the Web, hanging out with her pirate mates and her husband, or walking the dog, she is busy having an extraordinary dream life during her 9 hours of sleep. She is the co-publisher of Six Ft. Swells Press, which promises to turn poetry into something enjoyable and celebratory. Her poetry has been published in various literary magazines and anthologies. She is a Sagittarius. (Penn Valley, by the way, is located just outside of Grass Valley.)
Julie will be premiering a littlesnake broadside, Still Life with Sun, at The Book Collector this coming Wednesday, May 9, at 7:30 PM.
Lots to do this weekend:
••Tonight (Friday, 5/4), 7:30 PM: Los Escritores del Nuevo Sol / Writers of the New Sun presents An Evening of Short Stories: Tellers & Tales. Some people believe that the ability to tell stories is the defining characteristic of humans. Presenting writers will include Juan Carrillo, Dr. Fausto Avendano, Minerva Daniel, Graciela B. Ramirez. All are invited. La Raza Galeria Posada, 1022-1024 22nd St., Sac. For more information about Los Escritores, call Graciela Ramirez at (916) 456-5323. Charge: $5 or as you can afford.
•••While you're at the La Raza gallery, check out the postcards! Through the first weekend in May, a display of some of the 400 postcards generated by Sacramento Poet Laureate Julia Connor’s postcard project will be held at La Raza Galeria Posada, 1022-1024 22nd St., Sacramento.
•••Saturday (5/5), 11 AM: Los Escritores del Nuevo Sol Writing Workshop and Potluck Meeting will celebrate Cinco de Mayo at Royer Park in Roseville. Our participation in this annual event is free for all artists such as the Co-Madres Artistas and RCAF. And Royer Park is covered with lots of shade—no need for cover! (With luck, we will be located near the visual artists.) The Cinco de Mayo event is from 11 am to 5 pm and we will be outside on the picnic benches. As for the food, Rene Aguilera tells us: Yes, you can bring your own. They will sell tamales and carniatas with beans and rice, and for kids, hot dogs and nachos and drinks like water and soda and agua fresca. You can certainly bring your own as well. NOTE: NO ALCOHOLIC DRINKS ALLOWED. The location is 190 Park Dr. off Douglas Blvd. in Roseville. Info: call Graciela Ramirez, 916-456-5323.
•••Also Saturday (5/5), 7:30 PM: Poems-For-All Second Saturday Series presents Xico Gonzalez at The Book Collector, 1008 24th St., Sacramento.
•••Also Sat. (5/5), 10AM-3PM: POETRY IN THE PARK FESTIVAL 2007, Fairfield Civic Center Library, 1150 Kentucky St., Fairfield, CA (in the rear park area by the lake). Hosted by BAPC member Juanita J. Martin. Featuring Poet Laureates Cynthia Bryant (Pleasanton) & Geri Digiorno (Petaluma), plus book signings, open mic poetry, light refreshments & more. Info: call Juanita @ (707) 435-1807 or Martha Evans @ (707) 421-6500. Sponsored by Fairfield Library and Valley Writers Group.
•••Sunday (5/6), 3 PM: Joel Fallon, Poet Laureate of Benicia, will be in Lincoln reading in the Courtyard at the Lincoln Library, 5th and F Sts, Lincoln. Open Mic to follow at 3:30. If possible, bring a folding chair, as the seating is limited.
•••Also Sunday (5/6), 6 PM, is the last of the 2006-07 PoemSpirits season, a monthly series presented at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento. The featured guest poet is Rhony Bhopla, a board member of the Sacramento Poetry Center who has hosted and presented at poetry events throughout the region; see last Wednesday's post for more about Rhony. In addition, co-host Tom Goff will present the work of Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 and who was a close friend of Mahatma Gandhi. Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento, 2425 Sierra Blvd [North of F.O. Blvd, between Howe and Munroe/Fulton], Main Building. No charge; refreshments provided. Open mic: You are encouraged to bring a favorite poem to share, yours or another's. This monthly event is presented by UUSS members Tom Goff, Nora Staklis, and JoAnn Anglin. For info on reading, contact: Tom or Nora at 916-481-3312 or JoAnn at 916-451-1372. For info on UUSS: www.uuss.org
•••Also Sunday (5/6), 2:30-4:30 PM: Open Mic at Juice & Java, 7067 Skyway, Paradise. Info: 530-872-9633.
•••Monday (5/7), 7:30 PM: Sacramento Poetry Center will host a reading for the American River Review, 2006 winner of the CSPA Gold Crown (top five of all collegiate magazines) and CCHA Best in the Nation (best literary magazine among all community colleges, 2006). Featured readers include James Wooden, Marilyn Wallner, Isaac Chilton, Judith Ryan and more. HQ for the Arts, 1719 25th St., Sacramento. Info: 916.451.5569.
•••Also Monday (5/7), The Other Voice presents Julia B. Levine and Jennifer K. Sweeney at The Unitarian Universalist Church of Davis, 27074 Patwin Road, 7:30 PM. James Lee Jobe will host. There will be an open reading following the poets. This is a free event. Call 530-750-3514 for details. Julia B. Levine has received numerous awards and grants in poetry, including the Discovery/the Nation award, the Tampa Review Prize in Poetry for her second full-length collection of poems, Ask, and the Anhinga Prize in Poetry for her first book, Practicing for Heaven. Her third book, tentatively titled In the Mud Room of Existence, is due out this fall from University of Tampa Press. She received her Ph.D. from University of California at Berkeley in 1989 in clinical psychology. She lives and works in Davis. Jennifer K. Sweeney is a teacher and writer in San Francisco. She won the 2006 Main Street Rag Poetry Book Award and her book, Salt Memory, was published last November. She holds an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Vermont College. Her poetry has been published or is forthcoming in: Hayden’s Ferry Review, Barrow Street, Passages North, New York Quarterly, Puerto del Sol, RUNES, subtropics and elsewhere. She was recently awarded a Cultural Equities Grant from the San Francisco Arts Commission.
Such a deal!
Molly Fisk writes: The May Poetry Boot Camp is tiny, but I don't want to cancel it because both people who are signed up are new and enthusiastic. So I'm offering three openings at half price (that's $88, instead of $175), in order to make the workshop big enough to be useful. First come, first served, and thanks in advance to any who decide to take me up on this. The camp begins this Sunday, May 6, and runs through Friday May 11. If you've never heard of/can't remember Poetry Boot Camp, here's the scoop: http://www.poetrybootcamp.com
_____________________
SHOPPING CART RELATIONS
—Julie Valin
There’s a road behind K-Mart
where all the lone carts congregate.
I have seen a first date:
one shopping cart tentatively
approaching another—the woman
turned away, half facing
him, half planning her escape route
down the hill.
An argument:
two carts with their backs
against each other.
A grieving:
the one left behind,
empty, hovering over the dead
cart on its side,
its cracked wheels like stiff hands
reaching out.
(from Night Songs for Heavy Dreamers, 2006, Six Ft. Swells Press)
_____________________
EYE OF THE MOON
—Julie Valin
Moon: smile only if you mean it.
On the other side of the world
are you going around
doing the same thing?
I'm sure the angle is different
there, the shadows in the middle-
east showing prominently, your lit corners
turned down.
I know what your
Chesire blinks
mean, the way your smart
pupil dilates through our
windows, waxing your observations
in a density
that never wavers.
Craters form every time
someone wishes on you—
the gravity of it all
sucking you steady.
They depend on you, you know.
The ones who crouch
in light-drained places,
throbbing from the cracks
they fell through,
looking up, waiting.
The ones who cry
for the sun to turn a new day,
for the sleepless night
to die another death.
And boy do you come for them
like a god.
But tonight I caught you,
yellow moon,
your tired eye
closing
on all of us.
_____________________
—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) is in The Book Collector; next deadline is Nov. 1. Snakelets 9 (for kids 0-12) is available; Snakelets #10 will be out this month.
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. Rattlesnake Interview Series #1 with Ann Menebroker and B.L. Kennedy is also available (free) at The Book Collector (or contact Kathy Kieth).
Next rattle-read: May's releases will be Ron Tranquilla’s Playing Favorites: Selected Poems, 1971-2006, plus a broadside by Julie Valin and a Rattlesnake Interview Broadside (#2) featuring Khiry Malik Moore and B.L. Kennedy. Come check all these out on May 9 at 7:30 PM at The Book Collector, 1008 24th St., Sacramento. Refreshments and a read-around will follow; bring your own poems or somebody else’s.