Gordon
Photo by Katy Brown, Davis
CUT-LIST
—Taylor Graham, Somerset
All afternoon I’ve looked within
old friends. This one’s leather-bound
in black, its cover worn soft as velveteen
passed down over generations; inside,
names and dates inscribed by so many
careful hands. And this one, I open
at random to Wigeon—the baldpate
I added to my bird-list on the Kenai.
Now, here’s a softbound treasury
of Pogo from the Sunday comics.
And here, old fable—The City Mouse
and the Country Mouse that darted
through my childhood dreams.
Some almost forgotten
on the shelves—a history
of our lives. Which ones
can we give away?
__________________
TASTE OF PURPLE
—Taylor Graham
When we came here, we couldn’t name
this unfamiliar tree whose leaves
make fragile shade above dry creekbed.
From its limbs, tiny green nubbins
gluttoned on sun till they plumped
tart but sweet. Today with birdsong
they call me to taste crimson-purple.
Thanks, Taylor Graham, for two poems based on our Seed of the Week: write a poem about something without actually naming it. And "Gordon" is an old moose who lives in Maine and was caught on camera by Katy Brown on her recent moose-snapping expedition (thanks, Katy!).
___________________
FOOLS, TAKE NO NOTES
—Tom Goff, Carmichael
My graceful shape is meaningless, unused;
my speech is drawn by lengths, in artful struggle.
I have so much to say, but not to fools.
My benefits the non-elect must lose,
not knowing with what rigor beauty couples,
how graceful shapes turn meaningless, unused.
My speech is high-strung song, but I have news:
I alternate my rigid with my supple,
having so much to sing, but not to fools.
Let wild horsehairs, dragged by human thews,
once cross my waist, I’m vibrancy, all cable,
all graceful shape and keeningfulness, well used.
My scroll, my belly, debonair and spruce,
yet when my back is up, I’m hard as maple.
I have so much to say, but not to fools
whose fingertips like elbows I refuse
to dignify with squeaks. Be now my equal.
Make meaningful my shape: a grateful muse,
I’m suave to touch, but play no notes for fools.
___________________
Thanks, Tom, for the SOW response (which Tom is sub-calling, "Wait, don't tell me...")! Tom Goff also sent us another inspiration from his muse. He writes: Here's one suggested by our traveling to San Francisco, and being close to where, in 1924, Erich von Stroheim filmed part of Greed, based on the Frank Norris novel, McTeague. One of the great (alas, mutilated) silent movie classics, but recently seen, somewhat restored, on Turner Classic Movies.
PLAN B: LUNCH WITH McTEAGUE
—Tom Goff
We jettison our plan to see Muir Woods:
stuck, Nora U-turns on a dime-size freeway apron,
darts oppositely, south, down old 101;
that’s how we evade delay. Now our dark mood
seems light, next to the dark limbs of the light-laced woods
that screen the highway. Over the Golden Gate
to Ocean Beach. Will it embolden fate
if we stroll sand, view brood upon swooping brood
of pelicans? But first, let’s lunch at the Cliff House.
Magical: here on this rock, a scene of Greed
was shot. We’re here, just four or five structures since,
where Gibson Gowland lets slip he wants ZaSu Pitts;
her fiancé (Jean Hersholt), remarkably, submits
to his friend the dentist. Ghostly, to feel in league
(a bit out of ours) with Trina, bridged by McTeague.
Here’s to a real-plus-fictional brace of spouse:
long may our ectoplasms interbleed.
___________________
Today's LittleNip:
I am looking for a poem that says Everything
so I don't have to write
anymore.
—Tukaram
so I don't have to write
anymore.
—Tukaram
__________________
—Medusa
SnakeWatch: What's Up With Rattlesnake Press
The Snake will be snoozing through July and August, leaving Medusa to carry on alone. Then on September 10, we shall burst back onto the scene with Ten Poems, a new chapbook from Patrick Grizzell; #2 in Katy Brown's series of blank journals (Musings Two: Vices, Virtues and Obsessions); plus Issue #19 of Rattlesnake Review (deadline is August 15). Meanwhile, look in on Medusa every day, and, for heaven's sake, keep sending stuff! The snakes of Medusa are always hungry...
Medusa's Weekly Menu:
(Contributors are welcome to cook up something for any and all of these!)
Monday: Weekly NorCal poetry calendar
Tuesday: Seed of the Week: Tuesday is Medusa's day to post poetry triggers such as quotes, forms, photos, memories, jokes—whatever might tickle somebody's muse. Pick up the gauntlet and send in your poetic results; and don't be shy about sending in your own triggers, too! All poems will be posted and a few of them will go into Medusa's Corner of each Rattlesnake Review. Send your work to kathykieth@hotmail.com or P.O. Box 762, Pollock Pines, CA 95726. No deadline for SOW; respond today, tomorrow, or whenever the muse arrives. (Print 'em out, maybe, save 'em for a dry spell?) When you send us work, though, just let us know which "seed" it was that inspired you.
Wednesday (sometimes): HandyStuff Quickies: Resources for the poet, including whatever helps ease the pain of writing and/or publishing: favorite journals to read and/or submit to; books, etc., about writing; organizational tools—you know—HandyStuff! Tell us about your favorite tools.
Thursday: B.L.'s Drive-Bys: Micro-reviews by our irreverent Reviewer-in-Residence, B.L. Kennedy. Send books, CDs, DVDs, etc. to him for possible review (either as a Drive-By or in future issues of Rattlesnake Review) at P.O. Box 160664, Sacramento, CA 95816.
Friday: NorCal weekend poetry calendar
Daily (except Sunday): LittleNips: SnakeFood for the Poetic Soul: Daily munchables for poetic thought, including short paragraphs, quotes, wonky words, silliness, little-known poetry/poet facts, and other inspiration—yet another way to feed our ravenous poetic souls.
And poetry! Every day, poetry from writers near and far! The Snakes of Medusa are always hungry.......!
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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). And be sure to sign up for Snakebytes, our monthly e-newsletter that will keep you up-to-date on all our ophidian chicanery.