—Poems and Photos by James Lee Jobe, Davis, CA
Orange sun, pale, in a gray sky.
Davis, California, in the big valley.
The biting odor of burning wood.
There is a forest fire about 100 miles away,
North by east.
Paradise, California, in the Sierra foothills.
A wind out of the north
Has brought the smoke here.
My wife is coughing, many people
On the streets are wearing breathing masks.
Several people dead in the fire, so far,
Some more people are missing.
And nearly 7 thousand buildings lost.
Homes, schools, businesses.
“Did you see the sunset?”
A friend wants to know.
“An orange sun, pale, in a gray sky.
If the fire keeps up I’ll get some pictures tomorrow.”
I quickly decide against chastising him;
What’s the point? He means no harm.
I see the homeless and the dead,
He sees a unique sunset.
Both are there, from a fire 100 miles away.
Settling down in a quiet room, alone,
I begin the Loving Kindness prayer.
Wintun Village Tule Mat Grass Houses
From whose house does the sound of the blues escape
Through an open Spring window?
From my house.
Duane Allman’s slide guitar catches the breeze
And slips through the trees,
Through the multicolored leaves.
The voice of Howlin’ Wolf rasps
As the squirrels check on their caches and hordes.
Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker growl
As the winds change and grow cooler.
And if I get cold and have to close the window,
I turn up the volume all the more.
Spring isn’t the only one
With unusual gifts to share.
Maidu Cedar Bark Shelter
Starlight to guide my steps,
An owl to call me home—
Foolish owl, every step is my home.
Walking late at night.
_________________
The lamp is bright, cutting through
The darkness, and I have lit the incense.
I have prepared a simple meal;
All awaits your return. The early evening
Passes by like an old man on the highway.
Oh no—I am the old man on the highway.
Maidu Basket
Geese overhead, you can them talking
As they pass. A season is passing, too.
And here on Earth we go on: loving,
Living, being. Opposable thumbs
And laughter. But sorrow, too.
Yes, of course, sorrow, too.
23 months since my son left this Earth.
Wintun Basket
If I just say yes
I will have it all.
All the joy, all the sorrow,
Every pain, every truth.
And if I say yes
Then I am in for good.
No one gets just the happy
And no one bears all the weight.
Life is not a menu,
You're in or you're out.
And I say yes.
Miwok Basket
Decade after decade, human lives
Are growing longer. People live longer.
But are they living better?
It’s the old quandary; quantity or quality.
Slow down. Learn the plants and animals.
Break the soil, insert a seed.
And take your time with it.
_____________________
Today’s LittleNip:
May I be thankful for the kindness that comes to me,
And then return that kindness to the world tenfold,
And then tenfold again.
—James Lee Jobe
_____________________
Saturday again, and gratitude to Davis Poet Laureate James Lee Jobe for some fine poetry today and photos to go with it. Tonight, Laura Martin and The Soft Offs will bring their Moetry (Music + Poetry) to Sac. Poetry Center in Sacramento to raise money for SPC and to raise the roof with their blend of music and words. Scroll down to the blue column (under the green column at the right) for info about this and other upcoming poetry events in our area—and note that more may be added at the last minute.
—Medusa (Celebrate Poetry!)
Buddha sits, even in the rain…
—Anonymous Photo
Photos in this column can be enlarged by
clicking on them once, then clicking on the x
in the top right corner to come back to Medusa.