Photo by Stephani Schaefer
WOODSMOKE AND FOG
—Stephani Schaefer, Los Molinos
Walking into a new year
through woodsmoke and fog I don't believe
there can be evil in the world.
Or I believe the sweet breath
of so many still sleeping is what makes halos
around each point of light.
At least this year
I don't find it in my own black heart, don't
read it onto the page before me.
Through this morning as soft as goosedown
I walk open-handed
toward the door that opens daily in the east.
______________________
Thanks, Steph! It's not too late—send your poems and/or photos and artwork about openings to Medusa (kathykieth@hotmail.com or P.O. Box 762, Pollock Pines, CA 95726) by midnight tonight (Weds., Jan. 2) and I'll send you a copy of Pat D'Alessandro's new SnakeRings SpiralChap, Metamorphic Intervals from the Insanity of Life, or any other Snake product of your choosing (see rattlesnakepress.com).
Tonight in NorCal poetry:
•••Tonight (Weds., Jan. 2), 9 PM: Poetry Night at Bistro 33 in Davis (the Banquet Room at 226 F St.) presents Rob Roy, Davis musician, poet and former candidate for Davis City Council. In addition to his poetry and music, Roy is known in Davis as the manager of the Davis Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream store, as a substitute teacher in Davis schools, and as a DJ on radio station KDVS. Roy has been writing poetry for many years, and was responsible in 2003 for founding Write Club, a UC Davis and City of Davis support and performance group for local writers. Rob Roy performs the lead vocals, acoustic guitar, banjo and accordion for the local folk punk band, Sterling Riot. Please join us for this Davis stalwart as he entertains us with provocative poetry and song. An open mic will follow the featured performer. Info: 530-756-4556 or “Poetry in Davis” on Facebook.com/.
New network for writers:
Donald Anderson of Stockton writes: Come join me on PoetsEspresso! I'm starting up this social network for artists of all types to share and communicate, feel free to try it out! Go here to join: http://sunshadowmountain.ning.com/?xgi=48jqIxv/.
______________________
I STOOD ON A TOWER
—Alfred Lord Tennyson
I stood on a tower in the wet,
And New Year and Old Year met,
And winds were roaring and blowing;
And I said, "O years, that meet in tears,
Have you all that is worth the knowing?
Science enough and exploring,
Wanderers coming and going,
Matter enough for deploring,
But aught that is worth the knowing?"
Seas at my feet were flowing,
Waves on the shingle pouring,
Old year roaring and blowing,
And New Year blowing and roaring.
_____________________
And a New Year's wish for all of us:
SOMETIMES
—Sheenagh Pugh
Sometimes things don't go, after all,
from bad to worse. Some years, muscadel
faces down frost; green thrives; the crops don't fail,
sometimes a man aims high, and all goes well.
A people sometimes will step back from war;
elect an honest man; decide they care
enough, that they can't leave a stranger poor.
Some men become what they were born for.
Sometimes our best efforts do not go
amiss, sometimes we do as we meant to.
The sun will sometimes melt a field of sorrow
that seemed hard frozen: may it happen for you.
______________________
—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 new issue of Rattlesnake Review (Sweet 16) is available for free at The Book Collector, 1008 24th St., Sacramento, or send $2 to P.O. Box 762, Pollock Pines, CA 95726 and I'll mail you one. Next deadline (for Issue #17, due out in mid-March) is February 15. (Sooner than you think!)
Coming in February: The Snake has crawled into winter hibernation for January: no readings, no books, no broadsides. (Medusa is always awake, however, and will keep posting through most of that time. Send stuff.) Then, on February 13, Rattlesnake Press will roar to life again with a new SnakeRings SpiralChap from Don and Elsie Feliz (To Berlin With Love), plus a new littlesnake broadside from Carlena Wike (Going the Distance), as well as Volume Two of Conversations, B.L. Kennedy's Rattlesnake Interview Series.
—Stephani Schaefer, Los Molinos
Walking into a new year
through woodsmoke and fog I don't believe
there can be evil in the world.
Or I believe the sweet breath
of so many still sleeping is what makes halos
around each point of light.
At least this year
I don't find it in my own black heart, don't
read it onto the page before me.
Through this morning as soft as goosedown
I walk open-handed
toward the door that opens daily in the east.
______________________
Thanks, Steph! It's not too late—send your poems and/or photos and artwork about openings to Medusa (kathykieth@hotmail.com or P.O. Box 762, Pollock Pines, CA 95726) by midnight tonight (Weds., Jan. 2) and I'll send you a copy of Pat D'Alessandro's new SnakeRings SpiralChap, Metamorphic Intervals from the Insanity of Life, or any other Snake product of your choosing (see rattlesnakepress.com).
Tonight in NorCal poetry:
•••Tonight (Weds., Jan. 2), 9 PM: Poetry Night at Bistro 33 in Davis (the Banquet Room at 226 F St.) presents Rob Roy, Davis musician, poet and former candidate for Davis City Council. In addition to his poetry and music, Roy is known in Davis as the manager of the Davis Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream store, as a substitute teacher in Davis schools, and as a DJ on radio station KDVS. Roy has been writing poetry for many years, and was responsible in 2003 for founding Write Club, a UC Davis and City of Davis support and performance group for local writers. Rob Roy performs the lead vocals, acoustic guitar, banjo and accordion for the local folk punk band, Sterling Riot. Please join us for this Davis stalwart as he entertains us with provocative poetry and song. An open mic will follow the featured performer. Info: 530-756-4556 or “Poetry in Davis” on Facebook.com/.
New network for writers:
Donald Anderson of Stockton writes: Come join me on PoetsEspresso! I'm starting up this social network for artists of all types to share and communicate, feel free to try it out! Go here to join: http://sunshadowmountain.ning.com/?xgi=48jqIxv/.
______________________
I STOOD ON A TOWER
—Alfred Lord Tennyson
I stood on a tower in the wet,
And New Year and Old Year met,
And winds were roaring and blowing;
And I said, "O years, that meet in tears,
Have you all that is worth the knowing?
Science enough and exploring,
Wanderers coming and going,
Matter enough for deploring,
But aught that is worth the knowing?"
Seas at my feet were flowing,
Waves on the shingle pouring,
Old year roaring and blowing,
And New Year blowing and roaring.
_____________________
And a New Year's wish for all of us:
SOMETIMES
—Sheenagh Pugh
Sometimes things don't go, after all,
from bad to worse. Some years, muscadel
faces down frost; green thrives; the crops don't fail,
sometimes a man aims high, and all goes well.
A people sometimes will step back from war;
elect an honest man; decide they care
enough, that they can't leave a stranger poor.
Some men become what they were born for.
Sometimes our best efforts do not go
amiss, sometimes we do as we meant to.
The sun will sometimes melt a field of sorrow
that seemed hard frozen: may it happen for you.
______________________
—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 new issue of Rattlesnake Review (Sweet 16) is available for free at The Book Collector, 1008 24th St., Sacramento, or send $2 to P.O. Box 762, Pollock Pines, CA 95726 and I'll mail you one. Next deadline (for Issue #17, due out in mid-March) is February 15. (Sooner than you think!)
Coming in February: The Snake has crawled into winter hibernation for January: no readings, no books, no broadsides. (Medusa is always awake, however, and will keep posting through most of that time. Send stuff.) Then, on February 13, Rattlesnake Press will roar to life again with a new SnakeRings SpiralChap from Don and Elsie Feliz (To Berlin With Love), plus a new littlesnake broadside from Carlena Wike (Going the Distance), as well as Volume Two of Conversations, B.L. Kennedy's Rattlesnake Interview Series.