Rain
Photo by Stephani Schaefer
AFTER A LONG RAIN
—Stephani Schaefer, Los Molinos
out there
in the green half-light
beyond the window
where you've been standing so long
just there
in rain-beaded brambles
under the wet trees
is a loss you need to remember
in a minute it will come to you
the slow music of its hands
on your shoulders
____________________
Thanks, Steph! Check out the new Rattlesnake Review (#16) for more of Stephani Schaefer's work, including a review of her new chapbook, Punk Medusa, from PWJ Publishing—all in Snake Sweet 16, emerging tomorrow at The Book Collector. Contributor copies and subscriptions will go into the mail this week and next. If none of those are an option for you, send me two bux and I'll mail you one.
Honorary Sacramentan Art Beck alerts us that he has an article in Jacket Magazine, online from Australia. It's a pretty spiffy site: check it out at http://jacketmagazine.com/34/beck-horace.shtml/ [sorry—I still haven't figured out how to give you links from blogspot, so you'll have to cut and paste that address.]
—Stephani Schaefer, Los Molinos
out there
in the green half-light
beyond the window
where you've been standing so long
just there
in rain-beaded brambles
under the wet trees
is a loss you need to remember
in a minute it will come to you
the slow music of its hands
on your shoulders
____________________
Thanks, Steph! Check out the new Rattlesnake Review (#16) for more of Stephani Schaefer's work, including a review of her new chapbook, Punk Medusa, from PWJ Publishing—all in Snake Sweet 16, emerging tomorrow at The Book Collector. Contributor copies and subscriptions will go into the mail this week and next. If none of those are an option for you, send me two bux and I'll mail you one.
Honorary Sacramentan Art Beck alerts us that he has an article in Jacket Magazine, online from Australia. It's a pretty spiffy site: check it out at http://jacketmagazine.com/34/beck-horace.shtml/ [sorry—I still haven't figured out how to give you links from blogspot, so you'll have to cut and paste that address.]
1142
—Emily Dickinson
The Props assist the House
Until the House is built
And then the Props withdraw
And adequate, erect,
The House supports itself
And cease to recollect
The Auger and the Carpenter—
Just such a retrospect
Hath the perfected Life—
A past of Plank and Nail
And slowness—then the Scaffolds drop
Affirming it a Soul.
______________________
760
—Emily Dickinson
Most she touched me by her muteness—
Most she won me by the way
She presented her small figure—
Plea itself—for Charity—
Were a Crumb my whole possession—
Were there famine in the land—
Were it my resource from starving—
Could I such a plea withstand—
Not upon her knee to thank me
Sank this Beggar from the Sky—
But the Crumb partook—departed—
And returned On High—
I supposed—when sudden
Such a Praise began
'Twas as Space sat singing
To herself—and men—
'Twas the Winged Beggar—
Afterward I learned
To her Benefactor
Making Gratitude
_____________________
—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.) Medusa cannot vouch for the moral fiber of other publications, contests, etc. that she lists, however, so submit to them at your own risk. For more info about the Snake Empire, including guidelines for submitting to or obtaining our publications, click on the link to the right of this column: Rattlesnake Press (rattlesnakepress.com).
SnakeWatch: Up-to-the-minute Snake news:
Rattlesnake Review: The latest issue of Rattlesnake Review (#15) is available for free at The Book Collector, 1008 24th St., Sacramento, or send $2 to P.O. Box 762, Pollock Pines, CA 95726. Issue #16 will be out in mid-December; its deadline of Nov. 15 has passed. Next deadline (for Issue #17, due out in mid-March) is February 15. (Sooner than you think!)
Coming December 12—that's tomorrow! The Snake is proud to announce the release of Metamorphic Intervals From The Insanity Of Time, a SnakeRings SpiralChap from Patricia D'Alessandro; Notes From The Ivory Tower, a littlesnake broadside from Sacramento's Ann Wehrman; and a brand new issue of Rattlesnake Review (#16). Come celebrate all of these on Wednesday, December 12, 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. And use the opportunity to pick up a few poetic Christmas presents there, including any of a number of wonderful books and chapbooks—not to mention A Poet's Book of Days, Rattlesnake Press's first perpetual calendar, featuring the poetry and photography of Katy Brown.