Can you 'hang' with another icicle picture?
Photo by Kathy Kieth, Pollock Pines
(Add a couple of feet of snow to this
for an update...)
Note: All Medusa photos may be 'clicked on'
for a larger view.
Photo by Kathy Kieth, Pollock Pines
(Add a couple of feet of snow to this
for an update...)
Note: All Medusa photos may be 'clicked on'
for a larger view.
ON THE CAMPAIGN CIRCUIT
—Margaret Ellis Hill, Wilton
But first let me say this
on a subject not to dismiss,
in answer to previous questions
I’m so glad you want my suggestions.
About the air we breathe and food we eat
I’m assured of their importance on a fact sheet—
the necessity of both, we must allow
for who can live without them. Anyhow
We must save our rivers and streams
from defilement. I hear the screams!
and I promise, oh yes, I will do my best,
to straighten them out as everyone dreams.
And you say there’s greed and there’s lies.
Now let me say before God and clear skies,
the perception may poke but just normal folk
really know the notion’s perceived is a joke.
About the revenues that we need
so much is taken indeed,
I promise to make penny’s count
Your needs foremost, paramount.
About this great land we have reason
to protect our young each season
for without their input and resolve
nothing can possibly evolve.
The brave defenders of our land—
I honor those who take this stand
and as I’ve said for many a year,
We need to make it perfectly clear.
And as a final thought to all,
before I throw out this baseball,
give me the reins, the chance to serve
and I will prove what you deserve.
__________________
Thanks, Peggy!
Submissions are rolling in for the next Rattlesnake Review, due out in mid-March; deadline is February 15—sooner than you think!
By now, most of you have received Snakebytes, our monthly e-letter, in which I indulged in a rant about submission etiquette. Below is a reprint of that; I decided I was not doing our beginning (or slacking-off advanced) submitters any favors by letting them make rookie mistakes that are mightily frowned upon in the biz. Plus, frankly, I'm trying to streamline my own life, and would greatly appreciate it if you would heed the following:
Be careful about double-submitting. Unlike some publications, the Snake does not accept poems that have been previously published. We also get pretty snarky if we find out that your poem(s) went out to another publisher at the same time you sent it/them to us. I know, I know; some publishers hang onto your work for months, even years, without letting you know if they want it, and that’s pretty darned annoying. Write to them and ask about it. Or send a letter withdrawing it from consideration. But make sure it's available before you send it to the Snake; technically, it's not yours to submit until you hear from the other place(s) you sent it. Other tips:
1. Try to submit your work in groups of 3-5 poems all at once, rather than one at a time, strung out over several weeks/months. If it’s intended as a submission, please mark it that way; otherwise, I’ll assume you’re just sharing—especially if I see in the e-address that it went to several other people as well.
2. If you snail and want a reply (and I’m sure you do), please include SASE. Let me know if you want me to return the poems I don’t use.
3. Ixnay on sending a poem (or article), then sending a revised version (no matter HOW much better it is), then another, then another… Please wait until you’re SURE your work is done (or at least, you’re letting go of it) before pushing the “send” button. (It’s even more annoying when you follow up with things like, “Please change the comma on the fourth line to a period and the semi-colon on line 12 to a colon and the question mark on line 87…”)
4. It’s always helpful to have a snail address on the front page of your work, even if it's e-mail, and even if you’ve submitted to us before.
Looking forward to your work! (I know; it's a jungle out there...)
___________________
Don't forget the SPC Contest deadline 2/15!
February 15 is also the deadline for this year’s Sacramento Poetry Center contest. This year's entry fee is $4 per poem. First, second and third prizes will be awarded [$100, $50, $25]. In addition, 10 honorable mentions will receive $10 gift certificates. Please send two copies of each poem, one with your name and contact info, another without any identifying information on it. No restrictions on length, subject or style. Judging will be done by a suitably notable area poet whom SPC will announce [in other words, a poet to be named later]. Send poems to: Sacramento Poetry Center Poetry Contest, The Sacramento Poetry Center, 1719 25th St., Sacramento, CA 95816.
California Lecture Series
Subscriptions are on sale now for the next six-lecture series at the Crest Theater, Sacramento ($150). Subscribe and get more info at: (916) 737-1300 or visit www.californialectures.org/. The next series will include Geraldine Brooks.
___________________
CATCHING MY EYE ONE WINTER DAY
—Margaret Ellis Hill
A swirl of black birds
fly figure eights
outside my window. I listen
to animated discussions
when they stop briefly
to leaf the barren birch,
decorate telephone lines,
rest amid the red-berried bamboo.
My imagination lets me
spread my wings and join the flight
looping through air—
until they slip out of sight.
___________________
SECRETS OF THE DAY
—Margaret Ellis Hill
Chirps and chatter—
a flock of tiny birds find shelter
in a roadside oak. Nearly invisible,
they are as twilight: quick in passing.
Not before wings and beaks,
feathers and feet flit from limb to limb—
a gossip of ladies gathered
for evening tea and conversation.
The twitter dies; an unknown guest
enters the picture. Then, only
the evening breeze bids
goodbye and goodnight.
___________________
—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 (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!
Also coming in February: On February 13, Rattlesnake Press will present 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. In addition, Ann Wehrman, who gave us December’s littlesnake broadside (Notes From The Ivory Tower), but who was unable to read from it at December’s rattle-read, will be there. But that’s not all!! In addition to all of the above, another of our area’s fun couples will be handing out a free special publication, and a third set of Sacramento’s sweethearts will be bringing wine… You REALLY don’t want to miss this grand Valentine’s return of the Snake! Come help us launch it all on Weds., Feb. 13 at The Book Collector, 1008 24th St., Sacramento, 7:30 PM.
