—Poetry by Michelle Kunert, Michael Ceraolo,
Caschwa (Carl Schwartz) and Joseph Nolan
—Public Domain Photos Courtesy of Joseph Nolan
BUBBLES AND SKY
—Joseph Nolan, Stockton, CA
Bubble rises into air,
To break,
Inhale the sky!
Ever after,
Left to wonder,
Why
Its membrane
Had made it
Think of I?
When it was
Only sky,
All along,
Just waiting
To be born,
When its
Amniotic sac
Was torn.
—Joseph Nolan, Stockton, CA
Bubble rises into air,
To break,
Inhale the sky!
Ever after,
Left to wonder,
Why
Its membrane
Had made it
Think of I?
When it was
Only sky,
All along,
Just waiting
To be born,
When its
Amniotic sac
Was torn.
Ziprecruter.com has a radio ad that says “Recruiting is like finding a needle in a haystack…that’s what we help you find—a needle in a haystack.”
Frankly, I’m offended by referring to people applying for work in this U.S. economy as if they are merely “hay" to be forked through and placed in stacks like animal feed. People should never be referred to as mere objects, and should not even be called or considered “needles” in some hypothetical “haystack” made up in employers’ minds. In that theory, that “needle” also might get stuck in some unsuspecting horse’s gut, causing pain and bleeding!
I also wonder if these employers, just like with Indeed.com, also advertise for their jobs online, for which they are hard-set on not being willing to train
—and then they complain they can’t find qualified candidates!
If people applying for jobs must be compared to something that’s an object, it probably should be clay, instead; considering how malleable of a “clay” one is, to possibly be molded to fit and suit a certain work position
—Michelle Kunert, Sacramento, CA
Frankly, I’m offended by referring to people applying for work in this U.S. economy as if they are merely “hay" to be forked through and placed in stacks like animal feed. People should never be referred to as mere objects, and should not even be called or considered “needles” in some hypothetical “haystack” made up in employers’ minds. In that theory, that “needle” also might get stuck in some unsuspecting horse’s gut, causing pain and bleeding!
I also wonder if these employers, just like with Indeed.com, also advertise for their jobs online, for which they are hard-set on not being willing to train
—and then they complain they can’t find qualified candidates!
If people applying for jobs must be compared to something that’s an object, it probably should be clay, instead; considering how malleable of a “clay” one is, to possibly be molded to fit and suit a certain work position
—Michelle Kunert, Sacramento, CA
Bernie On Saturn
THREE POEMS FROM SOME AFTERNOONS AND EVENINGS
—Michael Ceraolo, South Euclid, Ohio
July 4, 1828
When I was first coming up
I was known as Charles Carroll of Carrollton
as a means of differentiating me
from Maryland's many other Charles Carrolls
(most of whom were related to me)
For the past two years I have been known
as the last living signer
of the Declaration of Independence
Today I lay the first stone in the construction
of what will be the first railroad in our country
I am nearly ninety-one years old,
so I don't know if I'll live
to see this track completed,
but I foresee this as the beginning
of as revolutionary a change
as we made back in '76
Postscript: Carroll did live long enough
to see the track completed:
the thirteen-mile-long track
was completed in 1830;
Carroll died in 1832
No word on whether
he ever rode the train
* * *
February 9, 1943
Dr. Win-the-War
had been Commander-in-Chief for a decade
Today, with Executive Order 9301
("BY VIRTUE Of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and statutes
It is hereby ordered:
For the duration of the war,
no plant, factory, or other place of employment
shall be deemed to be making
the most effective utilization of its manpower
if the minimum work week therein
is less than 48 hours per week")
he became Commander-in-Chief
of the civilian workforce,
and remained so for the rest of his life
* * *
April 7, 1950
The Russians are coming!
The Russians are coming!
because
"the cold war is in fact a real war"
What we need:
"Reduction of Federal expenditures
for purposes other than defense"
"a substantial increase in expenditures for military purposes"
"Increased Taxes"
"It is requested that this report
be handled with special security precautions
in accordance with the President's desire
that no publicity be given this report
or its contents without his approval"
And it was kept classified for twenty-five years,
but even after declassification,
even after the death of the alleged enemy,
it remains pretty much in effect
seventy years later
—Michael Ceraolo, South Euclid, Ohio
July 4, 1828
When I was first coming up
I was known as Charles Carroll of Carrollton
as a means of differentiating me
from Maryland's many other Charles Carrolls
(most of whom were related to me)
For the past two years I have been known
as the last living signer
of the Declaration of Independence
Today I lay the first stone in the construction
of what will be the first railroad in our country
I am nearly ninety-one years old,
so I don't know if I'll live
to see this track completed,
but I foresee this as the beginning
of as revolutionary a change
as we made back in '76
Postscript: Carroll did live long enough
to see the track completed:
the thirteen-mile-long track
was completed in 1830;
Carroll died in 1832
No word on whether
he ever rode the train
* * *
February 9, 1943
Dr. Win-the-War
had been Commander-in-Chief for a decade
Today, with Executive Order 9301
("BY VIRTUE Of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and statutes
It is hereby ordered:
For the duration of the war,
no plant, factory, or other place of employment
shall be deemed to be making
the most effective utilization of its manpower
if the minimum work week therein
is less than 48 hours per week")
he became Commander-in-Chief
of the civilian workforce,
and remained so for the rest of his life
* * *
April 7, 1950
The Russians are coming!
The Russians are coming!
because
"the cold war is in fact a real war"
What we need:
"Reduction of Federal expenditures
for purposes other than defense"
"a substantial increase in expenditures for military purposes"
"Increased Taxes"
"It is requested that this report
be handled with special security precautions
in accordance with the President's desire
that no publicity be given this report
or its contents without his approval"
And it was kept classified for twenty-five years,
but even after declassification,
even after the death of the alleged enemy,
it remains pretty much in effect
seventy years later
CLOSE, BUT NOT
—Caschwa, Sacramento, CA
smell of fresh baked bread
from lonely old apartment
not yours, get your own
and be lonely by yourself
sometimes sharing’s not a choice
oohs and aahs and pause
markers of a bubble bath
sound inviting, yes?
no free pass to slide curtain
sometimes sharing’s not a choice
closet full of clothes
all is fresh and energized
empty seats in car
destinations quarantined
sometimes sharing’s not a choice
[based on MK Seed of the Week:
Lonely Old Apartments]
—Caschwa, Sacramento, CA
smell of fresh baked bread
from lonely old apartment
not yours, get your own
and be lonely by yourself
sometimes sharing’s not a choice
oohs and aahs and pause
markers of a bubble bath
sound inviting, yes?
no free pass to slide curtain
sometimes sharing’s not a choice
closet full of clothes
all is fresh and energized
empty seats in car
destinations quarantined
sometimes sharing’s not a choice
[based on MK Seed of the Week:
Lonely Old Apartments]
2 MUTCH SKOOL
—Caschwa
they made us sit down
on our asses
attending reading, and
language arts classes
2 learn how to put
2 words 2gether
we were seed in soot
like a ball on a tether
later we heard from
intellectual property
attorneys that our 2 words
were already taken
we couldn’t say “eggs”
right after “bacon”
thus all of our poetry
became so much toiletry
—Caschwa
they made us sit down
on our asses
attending reading, and
language arts classes
2 learn how to put
2 words 2gether
we were seed in soot
like a ball on a tether
later we heard from
intellectual property
attorneys that our 2 words
were already taken
we couldn’t say “eggs”
right after “bacon”
thus all of our poetry
became so much toiletry
DEFYING LOGIC
—Caschwa
they got angry when faced with union demands
cried “socialists” like they’re enemies of state
weaponized Old Glory, not for what it stands
underneath it all burned a river of hate
slavery had worked out just fine for them all
losing Civil War had made them second-rate
their lives now spinning, like they were in a fall
POTUS says unchain them, and let them be free
they would do anything to answer his call
though friends with a kingpin of the KGB,
from Union of Socialist Soviet Re…
—Caschwa
they got angry when faced with union demands
cried “socialists” like they’re enemies of state
weaponized Old Glory, not for what it stands
underneath it all burned a river of hate
slavery had worked out just fine for them all
losing Civil War had made them second-rate
their lives now spinning, like they were in a fall
POTUS says unchain them, and let them be free
they would do anything to answer his call
though friends with a kingpin of the KGB,
from Union of Socialist Soviet Re…
THE ELECTROLOGIST
—Caschwa
first client of the day was a
dominatrix who was eager
to have some conspicuously
thick hairs removed from her
upper lip
I don’t need the steam from
my nose to whistle through
trees each time I sneeze
clear those big boys away
and don’t leave stumps
know this, I can only tip you
if I mount you to a wheel,
and for that you will be MY
client and pay me handsomely
now let’s get on with it! I have
a full calendar….
[based on current ekphrastic
MK Seed of the Week:
house in the woods: see below]
LIFE ON THE ROAD
—Joseph Nolan
I was gonna be the one
Who’d pass away the sooner
Because of my strong appetites
That weren’t right.
It’s easy to fall apart,
From a broken heart,
To become a hollow man,
Living from a suitcase
With all you own in hand.
Living on the road
Is unkind.
It’s hard to get warm,
With all you’ve left behind,
The blinding snow!
Wicked white powders!
Made to enslave
Sailors and their daughters,
Who wave from docks
When ships must pull away,
Into the vacuum
Of the sea,
As if
To leave home
Was really
Some sort of liberty.
—Joseph Nolan
I was gonna be the one
Who’d pass away the sooner
Because of my strong appetites
That weren’t right.
It’s easy to fall apart,
From a broken heart,
To become a hollow man,
Living from a suitcase
With all you own in hand.
Living on the road
Is unkind.
It’s hard to get warm,
With all you’ve left behind,
The blinding snow!
Wicked white powders!
Made to enslave
Sailors and their daughters,
Who wave from docks
When ships must pull away,
Into the vacuum
Of the sea,
As if
To leave home
Was really
Some sort of liberty.
THE MATTRESS SALESMAN
—Joseph Nolan
“There should be some
Minimal amount
Of interest and connection,
Intermittently,
Throughout the night,
Which is why
I recommend not going
For the super-king-size mattress.
Women tend to drift away
And snore the whole night-long
When given enough room
To disappear from your dreams,
Like they were on a cruise-ship
In the fog, waving flowers
From the deck,
To tourists who lounge, ashore,
With umbrellas in their drinks,
Reclining on chaise-lounges,
Abstract, in their utter convenience
And available to no-one,
On board,
To whom they simply wave,
‘Hello!’”
—Joseph Nolan
“There should be some
Minimal amount
Of interest and connection,
Intermittently,
Throughout the night,
Which is why
I recommend not going
For the super-king-size mattress.
Women tend to drift away
And snore the whole night-long
When given enough room
To disappear from your dreams,
Like they were on a cruise-ship
In the fog, waving flowers
From the deck,
To tourists who lounge, ashore,
With umbrellas in their drinks,
Reclining on chaise-lounges,
Abstract, in their utter convenience
And available to no-one,
On board,
To whom they simply wave,
‘Hello!’”
All I do is eat and swim, swim and eat.
I'm very good at it!
EATING MORE FOR LESS
—Joseph Nolan
We want you
To eat
Junk food.
Eat it!
More and more.
So we put out
Weekly sales-ads,
In which we do implore,
To buy three bags,
Instead of one,
To get the discount price,
So while your munching
Down our garbage,
You will think it’s nice,
How we let you
Eat more
For less!
—Joseph Nolan
We want you
To eat
Junk food.
Eat it!
More and more.
So we put out
Weekly sales-ads,
In which we do implore,
To buy three bags,
Instead of one,
To get the discount price,
So while your munching
Down our garbage,
You will think it’s nice,
How we let you
Eat more
For less!
ARE YOU TOO MUCH INTO POETRY?
—Joseph Nolan
“Oh! It is too much!”
I say, “Not yet!
I labor in my art,
With no regret.”
“How could you spend your days
With simple pen
Writing out strange rhythms,
On pages without end?
Oh! It is too much!”
I say, thee, “Nay!
Each word I write
Has a simple purpose,
A meaning to unfold.
In random purchase,
Of sun upon a
Shining, silky glade,
Causing lovers, dance!
For all that love was made,
And all that love has brought
Thereafter,
To be blessed with laughter,
Against the yawning grave!”
_____________________
Today’s LittleNip:
WITHOUT HANDRAILS
—Caschwa
just wrote out a couple poems
stayed true to form as best I could
from the beginning to the end
consulted references to
ensure all of it was proper
can’t now remember all the words
suspension rope bridge, no hand rails
invisible steps over death
—Joseph Nolan
“Oh! It is too much!”
I say, “Not yet!
I labor in my art,
With no regret.”
“How could you spend your days
With simple pen
Writing out strange rhythms,
On pages without end?
Oh! It is too much!”
I say, thee, “Nay!
Each word I write
Has a simple purpose,
A meaning to unfold.
In random purchase,
Of sun upon a
Shining, silky glade,
Causing lovers, dance!
For all that love was made,
And all that love has brought
Thereafter,
To be blessed with laughter,
Against the yawning grave!”
_____________________
Today’s LittleNip:
WITHOUT HANDRAILS
—Caschwa
just wrote out a couple poems
stayed true to form as best I could
from the beginning to the end
consulted references to
ensure all of it was proper
can’t now remember all the words
suspension rope bridge, no hand rails
invisible steps over death
Can’t we all just get along?
_____________________________
A warm Monday thanks on a cold winter day (snowflakes up here!) to our contributors for their varied takes on life and the events of the day. Tonight (1/25) at 7:15pm, Sac. Poetry Center will feature two poets and visual artists: Robert. Lee Haycock and Danielle Boodoo-Fortuné, who comes from Trinidad. Host: Angela James, on Zoom at us02web.zoom.us/j/7638733462 (pass: spcsdv2020) Info: www.facebook.com/groups/2290130152/.
•••On Thursday (1/28) from 7:30-9:15, Literary Lectures with Frank Dixon Graham will present The Life and Work of Margaret Atwood and The Dystopian Novel on Zoom at us02web.zoom.us/. Info: www.facebook.com/events/1038444626677883/.
•••Next weekend, starting Friday (1/29) at 7pm, the 25th Annual Watershed Poetry Festival presents “From Forest to Desert: Indigenous Ecopoetry of California” with readers from two ecopoetry anthologies, online on Zoom at us02web.zoom.us/. Sponsored by Poetry Flash; info at www.facebook.com/events/1013380019152701/.
•••On Saturday, join their virtual Strawberry Creek Walk & Reading. Info:
www.facebook.com/events/1289265804766095/.
•••And on Sunday (1/31), 1pm, sign up (at the last minute) for the We Are Nature Open Reading. Info: www.facebook.com/events/689122455300999/.
Sadly, our weekly Saturday feature, Davis Poet Laureate James Lee Jobe, has asked to take a leave of absence from the Kitchen due to his on-going health problems. We’ll miss his gentle poetry on Saturdays, and wish him better health in 2021!
To see why Vt. Senator Bernie Sanders is gracing the Kitchen today, go to www.cnn.com/2021/01/22/opinions/bernie-sanders-mittens-judy-gold/index.html/. And maybe send in a Bernie meme of your own?
___________________
—Medusa
Bernie in Paris
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.
Would you like to be a SnakePal?
All you have to do is send poetry and/or
photos and artwork to
kathykieth@hotmail.com. We post
work from all over the world, including
that which was previously-published.
Just remember:
the snakes of Medusa are always hungry—
for poetry, of course!
clicking on them once, then clicking on the x
in the top right corner to come back to Medusa.
Would you like to be a SnakePal?
All you have to do is send poetry and/or
photos and artwork to
kathykieth@hotmail.com. We post
work from all over the world, including
that which was previously-published.
Just remember:
the snakes of Medusa are always hungry—
for poetry, of course!
