Ann Privateer
This Wednesday, March 12, Rattlesnake Press will be releasing a chapbook from Ann Privateer (Attracted to Light), a littlesnake broadside from Jeanine Stevens (Eclipse), Conversations Vol. 2 of B.L. Kennedy's Rattlesnake Interview Series, and a brand-new issue of Rattlesnake Review (#17—next deadline is May 15). Join us to celebrate all of this at The Book Collector, 1008 24th St., Sacramento, on Wednesday, March 12 at 7:30 PM.FOUND IN THE STREET
—Ann Privateer, Davis
black and whites photos
with crinkled edges
kept loose,
found in the street.
a girl veiled
for communion
a white prayer book.
a man looks
giant size
by a tool shed
a baby,
a wedding gown—
a half frown
black and white photos
more real than color.
__________________
Thanks, Ann! Ann Privateer says, I started writing nature poems in my early 20’s, quickly jotting down thoughts after the first thaw when it was warm enough to walk on icy creek water without wearing a jacket. Nature consisted of an exciting mix of elements, challenging me to put dizzying feelings into words.
That’s how it was, growing up in the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio.
Some of those stark differences made their way with me to California where I married, concluded a BA in English, had two children, and taught school. The water is still icy some of the time, but now it reflects family as often as it does flowers.
—Ann Privateer, Davis
black and whites photos
with crinkled edges
kept loose,
found in the street.
a girl veiled
for communion
a white prayer book.
a man looks
giant size
by a tool shed
a baby,
a wedding gown—
a half frown
black and white photos
more real than color.
__________________
Thanks, Ann! Ann Privateer says, I started writing nature poems in my early 20’s, quickly jotting down thoughts after the first thaw when it was warm enough to walk on icy creek water without wearing a jacket. Nature consisted of an exciting mix of elements, challenging me to put dizzying feelings into words.
That’s how it was, growing up in the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio.
Some of those stark differences made their way with me to California where I married, concluded a BA in English, had two children, and taught school. The water is still icy some of the time, but now it reflects family as often as it does flowers.
Other NorCal poetry this week:
•••Tonight (Monday, 3/10), 7:30 PM: Sacramento Poetry Center presents Edythe Haendel Schwartz at HQ for the Arts, 25th & R Sts., Sacramento. Open mic.
•••Wednesday (3/12), 7:30 PM: Rattle-read at The Book Collector (see above).
•••Thursday (3/13), 8 PM: Poetry Unplugged at Luna's Cafe, 1414 16th St., Sacramento. Featured readers, with open mic before and after.
•••Friday (3/14), 11 AM: Poetry Out Loud State Finals: This year marks the third time the California Arts Council has produced the Poetry Out Loud competition, a contest that encourages high school students to learn about poetry through memorization, performance, and competition. The competition will take place at the Secretary of State Auditorium, 1020 "O" Street, Sacramento. Members of the public are invited to attend. At stake: $200 and the chance to compete for the over $20,000 available at the national finals. The competitors: high school students from 20 counties throughout California. The tools: as Shakespeare said, "words, words, words." And the contest: Poetry Out Loud. In case you are in the neighborhood and want to stop in, check out the CAC website: http://www.cac.ca.gov/artsnews/whatsnewdetail.php?id=19/.
It has links to more info about the program, which was started by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the Poetry Foundation.
•••Saturday (3/15), 4 PM: The Central California Art Association and the Mistlin Art Gallery announce a poetry reading, reception and book signing in the gallery 1015 J Street downtown Modesto. Three readers from Sixteen Rivers Press, a writing collaborative based in San Francisco, will be at the podium: Terry Ehret from Sonoma county and author of Lucky Break, Dan Bellm from San Francisco and author of Practice, and our very own Gillian Wegener from Modesto and author of The Opposite of Clairvoyance. You can sample their poems and read their bio's and endorsements at www.sixteenrivers.org/.
•••Also Saturday (3/15), 11 AM-3 PM: Help Woodland celebrate the beauty of trees with poems at Woodland's Arbor Day Celebration, The Gibson House Museum, Gibson Road, Woodland. Either write a poem or find a good one to share, and either email it to damasa@pacbell.net or mail it to Tree Poems, 42 Clark Court, Woodland, CA 95776. Indicate whether you'd be interested in reading your poem at the event, or whether you'd prefer to have it displayed. For questions, contact Marjorie Brown at 530-662-2124 or Chris Gray at 530-661-3311.
•••Sunday (3/16), 2-4 PM: Women's Writing Salon (Men Welcome!): Come to the Spring Celebration reading of poetry and prose penned by six Nevada County women writers, including Liz Collins, Jan Fishler, Donna Hanelin, Judie Rae, Lesley Schneider, and Loraine Webb. It’s a great time to hear the literary voices of our own Foothills community of women. Rhythms Music Café, 114 W. Main Street, Grass Valley. Admission is free! Food and beverages available at the Café.
__________________
SLEEPING ON THE CEILING
—Elizabeth Bishop
It is so peaceful on the ceiling!
It is the Place de la Concorde.
The little crystal chandelier
is off, the fountain is in the dark.
Not a soul is in the park.
Below, where the wallpaper is peeling,
the Jardin des Plantes has locked its gates.
Those photographs are animals.
The mighty flowers and foliage rustle;
under the leaves the insects tunnel.
We must go under the wallpaper
to meet the insect-gladiator,
to battle with a net and trident,
and leave the fountain and the square.
But oh, that we could sleep up there...
__________________
—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).