—Poetry and Photos by Taylor Graham, Placerville, CA
—And scroll down for Form Fiddlers’ Friday!!
STILL LIFE ON WOOD GRAIN
In my rag-mop hung to dry on the deck, a tiny frog. So early! end of May —frogs craving any water they can find. Two tiny frogs! disengaged from rap-mop, scattering in opposite directions. One skitter-hops to edge of deck-bench where happens to be a lizard sunning. Do small lizards eat tiny frogs? Frog seems to think so, and scoots between deck-post & mop. My iPad in Live mode captures it:
throb of frog throat as
I slip out of the picture—
is Frog singing Help?
In my rag-mop hung to dry on the deck, a tiny frog. So early! end of May —frogs craving any water they can find. Two tiny frogs! disengaged from rap-mop, scattering in opposite directions. One skitter-hops to edge of deck-bench where happens to be a lizard sunning. Do small lizards eat tiny frogs? Frog seems to think so, and scoots between deck-post & mop. My iPad in Live mode captures it:
throb of frog throat as
I slip out of the picture—
is Frog singing Help?
LIZARD & FROG
By chance a tiny frog
leapt from wet-mop deck
to—oh-my what-the-heck
there’s a lizard.
Do lizards eat frogs or
vice versa? Or neither?
Frog may not know, either,
quick-hops away.
Thin lizard lies in sun
not moving an eyelid.
Does frog think himself hid?
throat wild thrumming.
By chance a tiny frog
leapt from wet-mop deck
to—oh-my what-the-heck
there’s a lizard.
Do lizards eat frogs or
vice versa? Or neither?
Frog may not know, either,
quick-hops away.
Thin lizard lies in sun
not moving an eyelid.
Does frog think himself hid?
throat wild thrumming.
DOOR LATCHES
Cat’s standing atop
the rocker just inside our
front door—black Cat is
waiting. For you. Patient as
a dog. Calling your
name in Cat. Meow. You’re slow
climbing the front steps,
opening the door. You’ve been
gone too long. ER,
hospital, rehab. Me-ow!
Graceful motion is
Cat, swift, sure, graced with 9 lives,
just standing, waiting—for you.
Cat’s standing atop
the rocker just inside our
front door—black Cat is
waiting. For you. Patient as
a dog. Calling your
name in Cat. Meow. You’re slow
climbing the front steps,
opening the door. You’ve been
gone too long. ER,
hospital, rehab. Me-ow!
Graceful motion is
Cat, swift, sure, graced with 9 lives,
just standing, waiting—for you.
A CAT’S STANDING
Why is the cat standing on the keyboard?
Zoom is calling her.
Has she a poem to share?
Cats share their poems only sometimes.
Why does her silhouette fill the screen?
Cats are the most important.
Does she enjoy critique?
Cats are above and beyond criticism.
Why is the internet connection unstable?
Ask the cat.
Why is the cat standing on the keyboard?
Zoom is calling her.
Has she a poem to share?
Cats share their poems only sometimes.
Why does her silhouette fill the screen?
Cats are the most important.
Does she enjoy critique?
Cats are above and beyond criticism.
Why is the internet connection unstable?
Ask the cat.
UNCOILED SNAKE SESTINA
There was a snake in the grass—a common tale, warning applied to more than reptile creatures. Of all live creatures, who but snake slithers more in the mind’s grass, a warning dark as fairytale? That rattling tail—to all creatures a coiled warning: Snake! in dead dry grass—a nevermore. But there is more. You told me a tale—your dream—a field of grass bereft of creatures, not even a snake; the dream a warning: a stranger’s dream-warning more fearful than snake: a Tale of Two Cities, rioting creatures guillotining heads on the grass. So far from cities, our field grass bloody evermore? It was just a dream. Creatures—cows grazing, no warning in the wind. Your dream-tale’s without a snake.
But let’s walk the grass more carefully. Heed the warning. Your tale’s of creatures taller than the legless snake.
There was a snake in the grass—a common tale, warning applied to more than reptile creatures. Of all live creatures, who but snake slithers more in the mind’s grass, a warning dark as fairytale? That rattling tail—to all creatures a coiled warning: Snake! in dead dry grass—a nevermore. But there is more. You told me a tale—your dream—a field of grass bereft of creatures, not even a snake; the dream a warning: a stranger’s dream-warning more fearful than snake: a Tale of Two Cities, rioting creatures guillotining heads on the grass. So far from cities, our field grass bloody evermore? It was just a dream. Creatures—cows grazing, no warning in the wind. Your dream-tale’s without a snake.
But let’s walk the grass more carefully. Heed the warning. Your tale’s of creatures taller than the legless snake.
WILD CALLING
Early morning, I’m mowing shoulder-high
wild-oat and nameless weeds of our dry north
corner. Rimrock, boulders under a sky
enlightened by sun or moon. Snakes come forth
when it heats up. Not one note of birdsong.
I swing my string-trimmer over dead swarth
and there goes the neighbors’ cat, lithe and strong,
not wanting to be disturbed as she hunts
birds or lizards, whatever comes along
here. Like me, she’s drawn to where wildness fronts.
Against the ancient rock my whip-string blunts.
Early morning, I’m mowing shoulder-high
wild-oat and nameless weeds of our dry north
corner. Rimrock, boulders under a sky
enlightened by sun or moon. Snakes come forth
when it heats up. Not one note of birdsong.
I swing my string-trimmer over dead swarth
and there goes the neighbors’ cat, lithe and strong,
not wanting to be disturbed as she hunts
birds or lizards, whatever comes along
here. Like me, she’s drawn to where wildness fronts.
Against the ancient rock my whip-string blunts.
Today’s LittleNip:
SHADOW BUZZARD
—Taylor Graham
Dark wings shadow ground.
I aim my lens higher to catch
wings sailing blue sky—
Camera captures only
my shadow dead on the grass.
____________________
Our thanks to Taylor Graham, whose weed-eating has her very aware of snakes-in-the-grass—an awareness which has produced some fine poetry this week! A note about her Sestina: it’s a variation that is “uncoiled” like the snake. Clever indeed.
Other forms TG has sent us today: an Abhanga (“Lizard & Frog”); a Choka (“Door Latches”); a Question Poem (“A Cat's Standing”); a Sestina variation (“Uncoiled Snake Sestina”); a Terza Rima (“Wild Calling”) plus a Haibun (“Still Life on Wood Grain”) and a Tanka (“Shadow Buzzard”). Many thanks to her for these!
Today (6/11) at 6pm, the Random Lane Summer Poetry Series presents a reading online from Why to These Rocks: 50 Years of Poems from the Community of Writers, hosted at Beers Books by former Sac. Poet Laureate Bob Stanley, and featuring Noah Blaustein, Victoria Dalkey, Blas Falconer, Cody Gates, Brenda Hillman, Renato Rosaldo, Shelley Wong with special appearance by Michael Young. Please note that you need to register in order to get the Zoom link; register online at communityofwriters.org/events/event/why-to-the-rocks-anthology-virtual-reading-at-beers-books/. The Community of Writers’ 50-year anthology is dedicated to the memory of Al Young, former Cal. Poet Laureate. Al's son, Michael Young, will be reading from his father's poetry. Emcee: Lisa D. Alvarez, Editor.
And now it’s time for . . .
FORM FIDDLERS’ FRIDAY!
SHADOW BUZZARD
—Taylor Graham
Dark wings shadow ground.
I aim my lens higher to catch
wings sailing blue sky—
Camera captures only
my shadow dead on the grass.
____________________
Our thanks to Taylor Graham, whose weed-eating has her very aware of snakes-in-the-grass—an awareness which has produced some fine poetry this week! A note about her Sestina: it’s a variation that is “uncoiled” like the snake. Clever indeed.
Other forms TG has sent us today: an Abhanga (“Lizard & Frog”); a Choka (“Door Latches”); a Question Poem (“A Cat's Standing”); a Sestina variation (“Uncoiled Snake Sestina”); a Terza Rima (“Wild Calling”) plus a Haibun (“Still Life on Wood Grain”) and a Tanka (“Shadow Buzzard”). Many thanks to her for these!
Today (6/11) at 6pm, the Random Lane Summer Poetry Series presents a reading online from Why to These Rocks: 50 Years of Poems from the Community of Writers, hosted at Beers Books by former Sac. Poet Laureate Bob Stanley, and featuring Noah Blaustein, Victoria Dalkey, Blas Falconer, Cody Gates, Brenda Hillman, Renato Rosaldo, Shelley Wong with special appearance by Michael Young. Please note that you need to register in order to get the Zoom link; register online at communityofwriters.org/events/event/why-to-the-rocks-anthology-virtual-reading-at-beers-books/. The Community of Writers’ 50-year anthology is dedicated to the memory of Al Young, former Cal. Poet Laureate. Al's son, Michael Young, will be reading from his father's poetry. Emcee: Lisa D. Alvarez, Editor.
And now it’s time for . . .
FORM FIDDLERS’ FRIDAY!
Caschwa (Carl Schwartz) has tackled (and conquered) the mighty Sestina (nailed it!):
GROUP SESSION
—Caschwa, Sacramento, CA
they yearn to have legal standing
though they’re not correct by nature
hence the need to file a motion
which will sometimes hit a wall
and the gatekeeper will table
matters not already secured by a nail
if by chance they should nail
it, exceeding their statistical standing
which is no higher than gum stuck under the table
they are bumble bees, quirk of nature
not expected to fly over a wall
or execute any similar motion
the Paparazzi pics show no sign of motion
of the metaphorical manicured nail
grasping on the slippery well wall,
water rising, unable to remain standing
pushing the envelope of nature
to defy the height of a water table
fine linen covers the dining table
hands of the clock are the only manufactured motion
competing to share time with Mother Nature’s
painstakingly slow, but golden nail-
biting ability to have 4 or more legs standing
stock still alongside an artfully papered wall
boldly, a voice from beyond the border wall
calls all invited guests to the table
while the one who will chair the session remains standing
ready to set their lips in motion
gavel as noisy as hammer to nail
then scripted light chatter to suggest human nature
all doors lead outside to a nature
trail, complete with predator scat, a wall
of poison plant life eager to pound a nail
into already pulverized people with poor table
manners, who think they are waiting in line for a motion
picture debut that would be worth all that standing
ennui, anyway, creature, nature, fable, table
all written on the wall, seventh wave motion
often wail each coffin nail, nevermore standing
—Caschwa, Sacramento, CA
they yearn to have legal standing
though they’re not correct by nature
hence the need to file a motion
which will sometimes hit a wall
and the gatekeeper will table
matters not already secured by a nail
if by chance they should nail
it, exceeding their statistical standing
which is no higher than gum stuck under the table
they are bumble bees, quirk of nature
not expected to fly over a wall
or execute any similar motion
the Paparazzi pics show no sign of motion
of the metaphorical manicured nail
grasping on the slippery well wall,
water rising, unable to remain standing
pushing the envelope of nature
to defy the height of a water table
fine linen covers the dining table
hands of the clock are the only manufactured motion
competing to share time with Mother Nature’s
painstakingly slow, but golden nail-
biting ability to have 4 or more legs standing
stock still alongside an artfully papered wall
boldly, a voice from beyond the border wall
calls all invited guests to the table
while the one who will chair the session remains standing
ready to set their lips in motion
gavel as noisy as hammer to nail
then scripted light chatter to suggest human nature
all doors lead outside to a nature
trail, complete with predator scat, a wall
of poison plant life eager to pound a nail
into already pulverized people with poor table
manners, who think they are waiting in line for a motion
picture debut that would be worth all that standing
ennui, anyway, creature, nature, fable, table
all written on the wall, seventh wave motion
often wail each coffin nail, nevermore standing
Medusa’s Seed of the Week is “What These Rocks Have Seen”, and Carl’s next poem addresses that subject. He says it “uses the 5-7-5 syllable format, but is NOT a Haiku nor a Senryu. It has the rhyme scheme of aaf, bbf, ccf, ddf, eef. If no form name yet exists, I would call it a ‘Lulu’”:
WHAT ROCKS HAVE SEEN
—Caschwa
even martyrdom
doesn’t make you smarter some
unless you are rocks
from down on the ground
they absorb sight, smell, and sound
from circling hawks
they’ve seen the whole world
since the first day that it twirled
before Argyle socks
their family tree
includes a dark history
not measured by clocks
trial and trouble
furnish protective bubble
from plague and the pox
WHAT ROCKS HAVE SEEN
—Caschwa
even martyrdom
doesn’t make you smarter some
unless you are rocks
from down on the ground
they absorb sight, smell, and sound
from circling hawks
they’ve seen the whole world
since the first day that it twirled
before Argyle socks
their family tree
includes a dark history
not measured by clocks
trial and trouble
furnish protective bubble
from plague and the pox
And Carl says “Here is a Senryu chain in response to some advertising I’ve been getting lately”:
NO THANK YOU
—Caschwa
I don’t collect points
that I then have to redeem
using someone’s scheme
real spending money
that shows up in my account
is what I count on
house is not for sale
don’t tease me with your offers
we’re settled in fine
I don’t give a hoot
what my property can fetch
in the marketplace
no one made me your
surrogate hen to roost on
golden eggs for you
__________________
Many thanks to our SnakePals for their brave fiddling! Would you like to be a SnakePal? All you have to do is send poetry—forms or not—and/or photos and artwork to kathykieth@hotmail.com. We post work from all over the world, including that which was previously-published. Don’t be shy, and just remember: the snakes of Medusa are always hungry!
__________________
FIDDLERS’ CHALLENGE!
NO THANK YOU
—Caschwa
I don’t collect points
that I then have to redeem
using someone’s scheme
real spending money
that shows up in my account
is what I count on
house is not for sale
don’t tease me with your offers
we’re settled in fine
I don’t give a hoot
what my property can fetch
in the marketplace
no one made me your
surrogate hen to roost on
golden eggs for you
__________________
Many thanks to our SnakePals for their brave fiddling! Would you like to be a SnakePal? All you have to do is send poetry—forms or not—and/or photos and artwork to kathykieth@hotmail.com. We post work from all over the world, including that which was previously-published. Don’t be shy, and just remember: the snakes of Medusa are always hungry!
__________________
FIDDLERS’ CHALLENGE!
Tetractys: www.shadowpoetry.com/resources/wip/tetractys.html
__________________
MEDUSA’S FORM FINDER: Links to poetry forms mentioned today:
•••Abhanga: poetscollective.org/poetryforms/abhanga
•••Choka: poetscollective.org/poetryforms/choka OR poetscollective.org/poetryforms/choka
•••Haibun: www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/haibun-poems-poetic-form
•••Haiku: www.shadowpoetry.com/resources/haiku/haiku.html
•••Lulu (by Carl Schwartz): uses the 5-7-5 syllable format, but is NOT a Haiku nor a Senryu; rhyme scheme is aaf, bbf, ccf, ddf, eef
•••Question Poem: penandthepad.com/write-question-poem-6933078.html
•••Senryu: www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-senryu-poems#quiz-0
•••Sestina: www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Sestina
•••Tanka: poets.org/glossary/tanka
•••Terza Rima/Terza Rima Sonnet: www.shadowpoetry.com/resources/wip/terzarima.html
•••Tetractys: www.shadowpoetry.com/resources/wip/tetractys.html
__________________
—Medusa
Latches Waits for Hatch Graham as He
Returns from the Hospital
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.
Watch out with that weed-eater, TG!
