Gotcher Ducks in a Row?
—Poetry by Joseph Nolan and Caschwa (Carl Schwartz)
—Public Domain Photos Courtesy of Joseph Nolan
SUMMER AT HUNT LAKE
—Joseph Nolan, Stockton, CA
Light hangs on the windowsill.
We watch the sun go down.
Pine trees stand
Upon the land,
Running up the hill,
That stands across horizon,
Over which
Dawn’s light will spill,
When morning beckons
Life back to the day.
Easily, we make our way,
Over coffee
And smiles;
Lightly, roll the miles,
To places we shall go,
When we set upon the road
Beauty is all we’ll see!
—Joseph Nolan, Stockton, CA
Light hangs on the windowsill.
We watch the sun go down.
Pine trees stand
Upon the land,
Running up the hill,
That stands across horizon,
Over which
Dawn’s light will spill,
When morning beckons
Life back to the day.
Easily, we make our way,
Over coffee
And smiles;
Lightly, roll the miles,
To places we shall go,
When we set upon the road
Beauty is all we’ll see!
SKIN CANCER
—Joseph Nolan
This face I wear
Betrays my skin:
The enemy,
I hold within,
Waiting
To devour me!
Squamous—
Proliferative,
Overgrowing spores,
Cannibalistic,
But slowly.
Would you
Like some more,
Or,
Perhaps,
More quickly?
Why the Irish
Should avoid
California,
With too many
Sunny days,
They’ll regret
When they get
To their sixties,
When blotches
Turn to rage.
—Joseph Nolan
This face I wear
Betrays my skin:
The enemy,
I hold within,
Waiting
To devour me!
Squamous—
Proliferative,
Overgrowing spores,
Cannibalistic,
But slowly.
Would you
Like some more,
Or,
Perhaps,
More quickly?
Why the Irish
Should avoid
California,
With too many
Sunny days,
They’ll regret
When they get
To their sixties,
When blotches
Turn to rage.
WALK AND TALK
—Joseph Nolan
Would you like to
Walk and talk
Awhile?
I know
I saw you smile
And say hello,
As you were
Passing by,
And I thought you
Lovely,
And thought
You might
Be mine.
—Joseph Nolan
Would you like to
Walk and talk
Awhile?
I know
I saw you smile
And say hello,
As you were
Passing by,
And I thought you
Lovely,
And thought
You might
Be mine.
GENTLE, RANDOM PATTERNS
—Joseph Nolan
Love falls,
In gentle, random patterns.
We are so lucky
To have someone to love!
Many trees
Stand alone in forests.
Their roots
Caress below the ground.
We must touch,
The better
To have feeling.
Branches bend in breezes
To brush their leaves
Against each other,
Grateful for the light
Of shining sun.
—Joseph Nolan
Love falls,
In gentle, random patterns.
We are so lucky
To have someone to love!
Many trees
Stand alone in forests.
Their roots
Caress below the ground.
We must touch,
The better
To have feeling.
Branches bend in breezes
To brush their leaves
Against each other,
Grateful for the light
Of shining sun.
RED CARPET TREATMENT
—Caschwa, Sacramento, CA
In ancient times, people set out
a red carpet to honor the gods,
or similarly to honor one or another
divinely chosen member of royalty
then along came America, and we,
the people, had had quite enough of
yielding all our power to the church
or some pompous royal figurehead
so after fighting and winning a harsh,
godawful Revolution, we got a fresh
piece of parchment and wrote down
new specifications decreeing that
church and state be separate, and
that titles of nobility would no longer
rule our lives
well that should have marked
the end of red carpets, don’t you
think? Dang, look around! Plush,
bright red carpets everywhere,
even on Independence Day, we
just can’t shake off the habit…we’ll
go ahead and give patriots that good
old red carpet treatment… go figure
—Caschwa, Sacramento, CA
In ancient times, people set out
a red carpet to honor the gods,
or similarly to honor one or another
divinely chosen member of royalty
then along came America, and we,
the people, had had quite enough of
yielding all our power to the church
or some pompous royal figurehead
so after fighting and winning a harsh,
godawful Revolution, we got a fresh
piece of parchment and wrote down
new specifications decreeing that
church and state be separate, and
that titles of nobility would no longer
rule our lives
well that should have marked
the end of red carpets, don’t you
think? Dang, look around! Plush,
bright red carpets everywhere,
even on Independence Day, we
just can’t shake off the habit…we’ll
go ahead and give patriots that good
old red carpet treatment… go figure
HIGHLIGHTS, NO MORE HIGHLIGHTS
—Caschwa
the boat was on the ramp
all ready for the launch;
right there, close, stood a tall
rack of life preservers
“Free to all, please take one”
the boater, who’d done this
launch before, had his mind
set on enjoying the
idyllic highlights of
quietly floating on
the calming water, not
rudely encumbered by
laws, rules, or good advice;
no, he was getting clear
away from all that noise
sadly, he would soon be
sitting under the dark
stare of the angel of
death, blinding him with its
sweet smile of contentment,
while gloating over its
immense pile of unused
life preservers, seat belts,
and crash helmets; The End
___________________
Today’s LittleNip:
ANGELS’ WINGS AND RAGE
—Joseph Nolan
Simple things,
Like angels’ wings,
Clutter up
A page,
When anger
Calls for
Violence,
To let off
Seething rage.
__________________
Thanks, Dudes, for the poems and photos today, launching our week just right! Joe Nolan has been back in the Adirondacks at his brother’s cabin, lovin’ the scenery, of course, and getting some inspiration from it. Carl Schwartz’s poetry today meets up with our Seed of the Week: “The Launch”.
Tonight (7/12), 7:30pm: Sac. Poetry Center’s Socially Distant Verse “Hybrid” (online or, if you’re vaccinated, in person) presents MarieWriters Showcase & Cookout, 1719 25th St., Sac., featuring poets from SPC’s Wed. night writing group. Cookout begins around 7pm with grilled wieners and light beverages. Monthly board meeting has been postponed til next week (Mon., 7/19, 6pm). If you don't want to attend in person, Zoom: us02web.zoom.us/j/7638733462/. Meeting ID: 763 873 3462; Passcode: r3trnofsdv.
This Thursday (7/15), 7pm, Poetry Night in Davis features D.R. Wagner reading from his new quartet, Distant Lights (Cold River Press), at John Natsoulas Gallery in Davis. Host: Andy Jones.
Also this Thursday, 8pm, Joe Montoya’s Poetry Unplugged takes place at Luna’s Cafe, 1414 16th St., Sac., featuring Sho’Nuff & Jenny Lynn, Geoffrey Neill, Arturo Mantecon, NSAA & Ike Torres, plus open mic, and hosted by Ike Torres. $2 cover charge, or one drink minimum, and “proof of vaccination will be required for all events at Luna's Cafe until further notice”, says Art Luna. Facebook info: www.facebook.com/JMpoetryunplugged/.
__________________
—Medusa
—Caschwa
the boat was on the ramp
all ready for the launch;
right there, close, stood a tall
rack of life preservers
“Free to all, please take one”
the boater, who’d done this
launch before, had his mind
set on enjoying the
idyllic highlights of
quietly floating on
the calming water, not
rudely encumbered by
laws, rules, or good advice;
no, he was getting clear
away from all that noise
sadly, he would soon be
sitting under the dark
stare of the angel of
death, blinding him with its
sweet smile of contentment,
while gloating over its
immense pile of unused
life preservers, seat belts,
and crash helmets; The End
___________________
Today’s LittleNip:
ANGELS’ WINGS AND RAGE
—Joseph Nolan
Simple things,
Like angels’ wings,
Clutter up
A page,
When anger
Calls for
Violence,
To let off
Seething rage.
__________________
Thanks, Dudes, for the poems and photos today, launching our week just right! Joe Nolan has been back in the Adirondacks at his brother’s cabin, lovin’ the scenery, of course, and getting some inspiration from it. Carl Schwartz’s poetry today meets up with our Seed of the Week: “The Launch”.
Tonight (7/12), 7:30pm: Sac. Poetry Center’s Socially Distant Verse “Hybrid” (online or, if you’re vaccinated, in person) presents MarieWriters Showcase & Cookout, 1719 25th St., Sac., featuring poets from SPC’s Wed. night writing group. Cookout begins around 7pm with grilled wieners and light beverages. Monthly board meeting has been postponed til next week (Mon., 7/19, 6pm). If you don't want to attend in person, Zoom: us02web.zoom.us/j/7638733462/. Meeting ID: 763 873 3462; Passcode: r3trnofsdv.
This Thursday (7/15), 7pm, Poetry Night in Davis features D.R. Wagner reading from his new quartet, Distant Lights (Cold River Press), at John Natsoulas Gallery in Davis. Host: Andy Jones.
Also this Thursday, 8pm, Joe Montoya’s Poetry Unplugged takes place at Luna’s Cafe, 1414 16th St., Sac., featuring Sho’Nuff & Jenny Lynn, Geoffrey Neill, Arturo Mantecon, NSAA & Ike Torres, plus open mic, and hosted by Ike Torres. $2 cover charge, or one drink minimum, and “proof of vaccination will be required for all events at Luna's Cafe until further notice”, says Art Luna. Facebook info: www.facebook.com/JMpoetryunplugged/.
__________________
—Medusa
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!
