—Photo by Ann Privateer, Davis
GOING THROUGH LISTS
—William S. Gainer, Grass Valley
They send email
reminders
of people’s birthdays.
When I go through the list
all that comes to mind is,
Christ, you’re still alive.
____________________
WAITING FOR THE FLOOD
—William S. Gainer
The water always
wetter
than you thought,
deeper too.
But hell,
if it’s going to
rain
all you can do
is wait for the flood.
Sometimes it comes,
sometimes
no.
And it’s always wetter
than you thought
and most times
deeper too.
With luck
you can keep a toe
on the bottom,
the chin up
high enough,
and find a hand
to pull you out …
but, sometimes
no.
It’s just how
floods work,
always wetter
than you thought.
—William S. Gainer, Grass Valley
They send email
reminders
of people’s birthdays.
When I go through the list
all that comes to mind is,
Christ, you’re still alive.
____________________
WAITING FOR THE FLOOD
—William S. Gainer
The water always
wetter
than you thought,
deeper too.
But hell,
if it’s going to
rain
all you can do
is wait for the flood.
Sometimes it comes,
sometimes
no.
And it’s always wetter
than you thought
and most times
deeper too.
With luck
you can keep a toe
on the bottom,
the chin up
high enough,
and find a hand
to pull you out …
but, sometimes
no.
It’s just how
floods work,
always wetter
than you thought.
—Photo by Ann Privateer
ANOTHER GLOBAL WARMING TALKING POINT
—William S. Gainer
Nipples
hard.
Even
in this heat
she still turns
heads.
_____________________
A SIMPLE NOTE
—William S. Gainer
Her picture
pulls the old man’s
breath
slow—
lets him stare
without notice,
think about things
she might know
too.
His glance
away—
makes sure
he’s alone.
Stares—
more.
He writes
a simple note,
Thank you.
I only wish
time
was kinder.
—Photo by Ann Privateer
AROUND THE END OF SEPTEMBER
—William S. Gainer
A different kind
of warm
settles in.
Not too hot,
the sticky gone.
It’s nice.
I like it
we can sleep
close.
_______________________
ME AND MRS. MAGOO
—William S. Gainer
It’s me and Kae St. Marie,
the odd dreams again—
I’m like Mr. Magoo
her, Mrs. Magoo.
We’re at Disneyland,
checking out
the restrooms,
“Oh, this is nice.”
“Look, they got soap!”
We’re up to 13 now,
still working on it.
I’m sleeping good
though.
Mrs. Magoo too.
—Photo by Ann Privateer
MEMORIES MAILED FROM LONG AGO
—William S. Gainer
The bondsman
wanted me to put the house
up
to get him out.
Later we talked.
One of us
was going kill
one of us.
We all knew it.
Three young cats,
spinning the triangle
of destiny
never worrying about
whose name
it pointed to.
You can’t live that wild
that long
without something
dying.
Later,
after the smoke settled
and the ugliness
quieted
he moved to Mexico,
didn’t last long,
got sick,
died.
Me, to the mountains
to hide out.
It’s been a while.
Got a card from his third wife.
Said he was always glad
it wasn’t me killing him.
Said, you never deserved it.
Signed,
Be blessed,
he always
loved you.
– Rita
_______________________
Our thanks to today's fine chefs in the Kitchen, and a reminder that the latest issue of Rattlesnake Press's WTF! is now available, either for free at The Book Collector, 1008 24th St., Sacramento, or for $2 at rattlesnakepress.com/wtf.html (to have it mailed to you). Deadline for the next issue is Jan. 15; why not get your submission in now, since all the Christmas kerfuffle might make you forget. Editor frank andrick has been a bit forgiving with the deadlines recently, but he assures me that this one will be hard and fast.
Know a haiku from a senryu from a haibun? If you do, then another intriguing deadline for you is Dec. 1, which is for the 12th Annual Jerry Kilbride Memorial 2014 English-Language Haibun Contest, sponsored by our local Central Valley Haiku Club. See blinkhaiku.blogspot.com for details.
Be sure to get over to CSUS before Dec. 13 to see PTSD Nation Art and Poetry, curated by Diana Bloom, which will be on display at CSUS Library Annex through that day. The show features the art and poetry of survivors of war, gun violence, and/or domestic abuse. Info: jennifersword.blogspot.com or see Nov. 20's wonderful Sac. Bee article (with poet/artist Jennifer O'Neill Pickering's artwork) at www.sacbee.com/entertainment/living/health-fitness/article4018108.html
And dodge the raindrops to get out to a reading or two this weekend: The Other Voice in Davis tonight features Sherman Stein and Peter London, and tomorrow you can travel down to Salida for a new issue of Song of the San Joaquin, or stay here in town for the poetry reading at SPC at 1pm from Women's Wisdom Art. Scroll down to our blue box (under the green box) at the right of this column for all the skinny!
_______________________
Today's LittleNip:
OUT OF OFFICE
—Caschwa, Sacramento
Do not respond to this poem
It was composed by a machine
With the sole purpose of
Announcing that this poet has
Taken the day off
But don’t despair, there are
Plenty of links to wonderful
Poetic opportunities in the
skinny green box at the right
and then the blue one below that
In the meantime I will be juggling
The flaming torch scenarios that
Impose a full-time permanent job
On a person whose body parts and
Attention span have long ago retired
—Caschwa, Sacramento
Do not respond to this poem
It was composed by a machine
With the sole purpose of
Announcing that this poet has
Taken the day off
But don’t despair, there are
Plenty of links to wonderful
Poetic opportunities in the
skinny green box at the right
and then the blue one below that
In the meantime I will be juggling
The flaming torch scenarios that
Impose a full-time permanent job
On a person whose body parts and
Attention span have long ago retired
_______________________
—Medusa
Women's Wisdom Art
(Can you find Allegra Silberstein?)
For more about WWA, see www.womenswisdomart.org