Join Me—You'll Like It

Alice's New Glasses

—Photo by Bill Gainer

LOOKING AT THE MOON ALONE

—William S. Gainer, Grass Valley

How much is lost
before realizing
there’s no victory
in being the last
to weep...

_________________

A CONVERSATION WITH AN INSOMNIAC

—William S. Gainer

There's never been a time


when sleep passed gently


there's always
expectations.


Yes, suicide has been
a thought,
but it's mostly
murder
easing the mind—

a secret
best kept
in silence.

No sense
waking
the others.

___________________

SOMEONE TO KEEP YOU WARM

—William S. Gainer

Her note said—
I'm living in Portland now.
It’s always cold here.
Join me—
you’ll like it.

__________________
 

SHARING WITH FRIENDS
        (They always look so tasty...)
—William S. Gainer

She post recipes
and shows pictures
of the finished dishes
on her Face Book page.
I think,
“What a wonderful way
to poison a friend,
or two...”

__________________

THE HAUNTING OF MOMENTS
—William S. Gainer

Like the ghosts
of the confessional
the moments whisper—
“You’re not here
to try to find
another place
to be...”

 Graciela Ramirez reads at Sac. Poetry Center

Monday, Sept. 9, 2013

—Photo by Michelle Kunert, Sacramento

 

BELIEFS AND BEHAVIORS—

                       VERY DIFFERENT THINGS

—Wm S. Gainer

The moral question
is the killing itself.

How it’s done:
bombs,
bullets,
gas,
the needle,
noose,
starvation—
all matters
of ethics...

Two
very different
things.

_________________

THE TANGLE OF US
—Wm. S. Gainer

When the canyons
burn
and the clouds
weep low...
the grey
mixed 
in itself
settles in you
weighing the heart
to memories
of sorrow
and missing
of days spent
inside yourself
waiting
for the sun...

_____________________

A JOINT IN OAKLAND—UPSTAIRS
—Wm. S. Gainer

You,
in Oakland,
in that
peach colored dress,
walking away—
it wasn't time
I was thinking about. 

Today
I’d give it all
buy back
30 years...
to watch you
lost in the reflection
of a wine glass
looking for something
left behind...

___________________

THE GIRL UPSTAIRS
—Wm. S. Gainer

On the floor above
I hear her heels
click.
When the lights
are down
I can look up
see all the things
she tries to hide...

__________________

Today's LittleNip:

KNEEDING

—Rhony Bhopla, Sacramento

Oil rubbed
against my scalp.
Coconut sheath taut to
spinal cord, wrapped in golden sleek.
Nerve wisps.

_________________

—Medusa, wishing you a good-luck-ful Friday the 13th! Our thanks to today's contributors, including Bill Gainer's Alice. We've posted the adventures of Alice from time to time; of late she has an eye condition that requires shades outdoors. Good to hear from Rhony Bhopla, after a long absence from the Kitchen. And Katy Brown and Michelle Kunert have sent us photos of two recent area poetry readings; for more of these, go to Medusa's Facebook page.

Also of note: the latest issue of Ekphrasis, the journal edited and published by Carol and Laverne Frith, is now available; see ekphrasisjournal.com

Bob Stanley reads in Davis

Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2013

—Photo by Katy Brown, Davis