—Poetry and Photos by Taylor Graham,
Placerville, CA
—And then scroll down to
Form Fiddlers’ Friday!!
FOGWORKS
After “Driving Through Fog”
—Mixed Media by Niranjana Mani
How fog rearranges everything.
Familiar landmarks lost or just confused,
melting together into everywhere gray-
wash. Avoid driving in fog,
we were taught. But look! a lone car—
we can’t see the car itself
but only the gold-fracture glory of its low
beams as of a star exploding
before our eyes, sparking its flare in all
directions. The familiar landscape
magically unknown, destination its own
as we guide through gold-wash.
After “Driving Through Fog”
—Mixed Media by Niranjana Mani
How fog rearranges everything.
Familiar landmarks lost or just confused,
melting together into everywhere gray-
wash. Avoid driving in fog,
we were taught. But look! a lone car—
we can’t see the car itself
but only the gold-fracture glory of its low
beams as of a star exploding
before our eyes, sparking its flare in all
directions. The familiar landscape
magically unknown, destination its own
as we guide through gold-wash.
SHIMMER
After “Rest Stop”
—Watercolor by Karen Keys
In highland aspen grove, get off your bike.
Quaver-leaves whispering present and past—
Basque sheepherder alone in spaces vast
carving his days and longings, what thoughts strike
in mountain summertime that seems to last
and last—like that uphill-grunt with your bike…
The Basque carved lightly into aspen bark; scars
darkened with time. He’s gone, his thoughts remain
on aspen-skin through winter’s snow, fall’s rain.
Do they drift on wind, under sun and stars?
All things connect, an invisible chain.
Back on your bike, shimmer of aspen scars.
After “Rest Stop”
—Watercolor by Karen Keys
In highland aspen grove, get off your bike.
Quaver-leaves whispering present and past—
Basque sheepherder alone in spaces vast
carving his days and longings, what thoughts strike
in mountain summertime that seems to last
and last—like that uphill-grunt with your bike…
The Basque carved lightly into aspen bark; scars
darkened with time. He’s gone, his thoughts remain
on aspen-skin through winter’s snow, fall’s rain.
Do they drift on wind, under sun and stars?
All things connect, an invisible chain.
Back on your bike, shimmer of aspen scars.
STEPPING STONES
Light
gives up
so slowly
till an owl calls
from the gathered gloom
and day steps into night.
Light
gives up
so slowly
till an owl calls
from the gathered gloom
and day steps into night.
WHAT YOU FOUND
You walk in woods not yet winter gray.
Oak leaves tarnished, nothing left to pay
the world for beauty and birdsong gay.
Here’s no profit walking, you might say,
when everything looks all dead and finished.
Try spring, instead. But this is today.
You walk in woods not yet winter gray.
Oak leaves tarnished, nothing left to pay
the world for beauty and birdsong gay.
Here’s no profit walking, you might say,
when everything looks all dead and finished.
Try spring, instead. But this is today.
CAROUSEL ILLUSIONS
These merry-horses leaping under glass
half-lost in window shine
as minutes, cars and trucks, and people pass
this artists’ co-op shrine—
a mythic beast with flag unfurled, and wings—
dreaming calliope and golden rings?
These merry-horses leaping under glass
half-lost in window shine
as minutes, cars and trucks, and people pass
this artists’ co-op shrine—
a mythic beast with flag unfurled, and wings—
dreaming calliope and golden rings?
FROM CONFUSION & EXHAUST
& rogue enough to become
urban myth, silhouette against horizon
early sundown squandered,
sky-divergent scattering to constellations,
he brought the glad
into such darkness while other hands
painted walls with ashes.
& rogue enough to become
urban myth, silhouette against horizon
early sundown squandered,
sky-divergent scattering to constellations,
he brought the glad
into such darkness while other hands
painted walls with ashes.
Today’s LittleNip:
OUT OF THE CONFUSION
—Taylor Graham
One quick
tentative mark
of ballpoint pen on blank
white paper—first footprint of an
inkling.
____________________
Dragonflies and Stepping Stones—and Confusion, our recent Seed of the Week. Thanks to Taylor Graham for her poems and photos today! And check out her Western Slope El Dorado (www.facebook.com/ElDoradoCountyPoetry) for poems and photos from the recent Capturing Wakamatsu workshop. There will be another workshop in November; watch Medusa’s UPCOMING NORCAL EVENTS link for information about that.
Forms TG has used this week include the Hir A Thoddaid, one of our Triple-F Challenges last week (“What You Found”); a Veltanelle (“Carousel Illusions”); two Word-Can Poems (“From Confusion” & “Exhaust”); an Ekphrastic Poem (“Fogworks”); Stepping Stones, another of the Triple-F Challenges (“Stepping Stones”); a Dragonfly (another challenge) that is also an Ekphrastic Poem (“Shimmer”); and a Cinquain (“Out of the Confusion”). I might add that the last poem is also an Ars Poetica.
And now it’s time for . . .
Form Fiddlers' Friday!
OUT OF THE CONFUSION
—Taylor Graham
One quick
tentative mark
of ballpoint pen on blank
white paper—first footprint of an
inkling.
____________________
Dragonflies and Stepping Stones—and Confusion, our recent Seed of the Week. Thanks to Taylor Graham for her poems and photos today! And check out her Western Slope El Dorado (www.facebook.com/ElDoradoCountyPoetry) for poems and photos from the recent Capturing Wakamatsu workshop. There will be another workshop in November; watch Medusa’s UPCOMING NORCAL EVENTS link for information about that.
Forms TG has used this week include the Hir A Thoddaid, one of our Triple-F Challenges last week (“What You Found”); a Veltanelle (“Carousel Illusions”); two Word-Can Poems (“From Confusion” & “Exhaust”); an Ekphrastic Poem (“Fogworks”); Stepping Stones, another of the Triple-F Challenges (“Stepping Stones”); a Dragonfly (another challenge) that is also an Ekphrastic Poem (“Shimmer”); and a Cinquain (“Out of the Confusion”). I might add that the last poem is also an Ars Poetica.
And now it’s time for . . .
Form Fiddlers' Friday!
There’s also a newly dusted-off page at the top of Medusa’s Kitchen called, “FORMS! OMG!!!” which expresses some of my (take ‘em or leave 'em) opinions about the use of forms in poetry writing, as well as listing some more resources to help you navigate through Form Quicksand. Got any more resources to add to our list? Send them to kathykieth@hotmail.com for the benefit of all man/woman/poetkind!
Last Week’s Ekphrastic Challenge
Nolcha Fox and Stephen Kingsnorth sent us responses to last week’s Ekphrastic Challenge:
You ran down the road
from hometown and dreams,
took a train to the coast.
The train left your childhood,
left you at the dock.
Now you are adrift, lost
on waves that want to drown you.
No lighthouse, just rocks,
want to pull you to shore.
But love is still waiting
on the road that you once ran down,
look back at what you left,
then come home.
—Nolcha Fox, Buffalo, WY
* * *
COLOUR HEARD
—Stephen Kingsnorth,
You ran down the road
from hometown and dreams,
took a train to the coast.
The train left your childhood,
left you at the dock.
Now you are adrift, lost
on waves that want to drown you.
No lighthouse, just rocks,
want to pull you to shore.
But love is still waiting
on the road that you once ran down,
look back at what you left,
then come home.
—Nolcha Fox, Buffalo, WY
* * *
COLOUR HEARD
—Stephen Kingsnorth,
Coedpoeth, Wrexham, Wales
On this dirt road cross-legged works well;
poor balanced haunch, four legged beasts.
The donkey, I’ve not, seen sat such
(though British, ass—I’ll not offend—
as tired and tyred can be misread,
and these may rest where tracks embed).
As sepia in origin,
can this be setup, ancient plate,
or frame for fable to begin?
The curly girl and Labrador
(Dalmatians, Alsatians, capitals)—
the breed so read because feet fit—
are no surprise as waiting room,
with fit pit pony, carthorse pet?
A lonely place, except that three,
though species mixed, communicate,
as youngster will feel free to chat,
though not expect an answer back—
as elders do—Dolittle style,
those shepherds, show pens, whisperers.
Apart from circus, discipline,
rings where fellow creatures spurned,
batteries, farms, intensive greed
and cruelty as covid breeds,
sites, there are, where voices sing.
There’s colour heard in monochrome.
* * *
This is a Dragonfly, one of last week’s Triple-F Challenges (sent by Joyce Odam), this one written by Caschwa (Carl Schwartz):
On this dirt road cross-legged works well;
poor balanced haunch, four legged beasts.
The donkey, I’ve not, seen sat such
(though British, ass—I’ll not offend—
as tired and tyred can be misread,
and these may rest where tracks embed).
As sepia in origin,
can this be setup, ancient plate,
or frame for fable to begin?
The curly girl and Labrador
(Dalmatians, Alsatians, capitals)—
the breed so read because feet fit—
are no surprise as waiting room,
with fit pit pony, carthorse pet?
A lonely place, except that three,
though species mixed, communicate,
as youngster will feel free to chat,
though not expect an answer back—
as elders do—Dolittle style,
those shepherds, show pens, whisperers.
Apart from circus, discipline,
rings where fellow creatures spurned,
batteries, farms, intensive greed
and cruelty as covid breeds,
sites, there are, where voices sing.
There’s colour heard in monochrome.
* * *
This is a Dragonfly, one of last week’s Triple-F Challenges (sent by Joyce Odam), this one written by Caschwa (Carl Schwartz):
FLAPPING WINGS
—Caschwa, Sacramento, CA
putting on my wingtip shoes
the left and right in perfect synch
had I two more, what would I think?
a quadruped! oh so confused
what was that you put in my drink?
now help me locate those two shoes
each shoe in place, all ready to leap
it doesn’t matter having four
when two wear out, there are two more
like extra pillows for one’s sleep
now dreams and aspirations soar
taken step by step, a giant leap
* * *
Here are two Stepping Stones by Carl—another one of our challenges last week, this one devised by Claire Baker:
—Caschwa, Sacramento, CA
putting on my wingtip shoes
the left and right in perfect synch
had I two more, what would I think?
a quadruped! oh so confused
what was that you put in my drink?
now help me locate those two shoes
each shoe in place, all ready to leap
it doesn’t matter having four
when two wear out, there are two more
like extra pillows for one’s sleep
now dreams and aspirations soar
taken step by step, a giant leap
* * *
Here are two Stepping Stones by Carl—another one of our challenges last week, this one devised by Claire Baker:
JANNS STEPS
—Caschwa, Sacramento, CA
my
alma
mater is
UCLA
known for its Janns Steps
in the Hills of Westwood
* * *
HOW TO SUCK
—Caschwa
if
at first
you don’t suck,
seed the garden
try and try again
prove your insanity
* * *
And here is a response by Carl to another of our challenges, the Hir A Thoddaid. It was based on an unfortunate drive-thru incident experienced by Carl:
FINAL ORDER
—Caschwa
I pulled right into the drive-thru line
found items I wanted to be mine
took notice of conspicuous sign
requests for returns they must decline
paid for fries and two sandwiches to go
but their glitches left out fries, NOT FINE!
* * *
Nolcha Fox came up with a new form of the Memoir. She says, “Write a memoir spanning 10 years, each line 3 words. Since I can't follow instructions, I wrote one that covers 10 minutes [and sometimes ignores the 3-syllable thing]. It's based on all the accidental deaths from stray bullets.” We’re calling it “Nolcha’s Memoir”:
—Caschwa
I pulled right into the drive-thru line
found items I wanted to be mine
took notice of conspicuous sign
requests for returns they must decline
paid for fries and two sandwiches to go
but their glitches left out fries, NOT FINE!
* * *
Nolcha Fox came up with a new form of the Memoir. She says, “Write a memoir spanning 10 years, each line 3 words. Since I can't follow instructions, I wrote one that covers 10 minutes [and sometimes ignores the 3-syllable thing]. It's based on all the accidental deaths from stray bullets.” We’re calling it “Nolcha’s Memoir”:
—Public Domain Photo Courtesy
of bady abbas and Nolcha Fox
It started when
he called his
wife to say
hello, he said
he missed her,
please hug the
kids, pet the
cat for him.
The open window
was beckoning to
a stray slug.
he never knew
what hit him
when he took
his last breath.
* * *
And here is an Ars Poetica poem by Stephen Kingsnorth on his thoughts about Memoir writing, poetic or otherwise:
RETURN VISIT
—Stephen Kingsnorth
Surely you have known yourself
that pleasure felt, where walked before,
familiar lanes, those picket winds,
the gentle slope, that trudge incline,
where memories waft and voice again
moments of wonder, focussed scenes
that carried to the goal achieved,
and who it was who held your hand.
Mother, or was it sweetheart time,
reliant son or grandad’s girl?
I often chuckle, recollect
if not the wit conversing held,
at least those unexpected gems,
some word, fresh phrase a child can term,
like coin magicked behind ear,
new minted disc, moon-gilded clear.
See where I had forgotten turn,
and view the vista as first time,
remind myself—there all along—
and marvel at the landscape planned;
my nodding smile, a volume speaks,
as if this place another’s land,
and I a trespasser misplaced
who stumbled here, guided by grace.
Unnoticed style, norm passed-by way,
excursion path feet sauntered by,
long-whittled words and crafted clause,
beating the bracken, culling, calm;
while clearing brambles, nettles thrash,
to tame, yet let the bye-laws shout—
as I move on to other song,
feeling that verse has found its home.
I pace across a second time,
and through some leaves find further site,
and third for the near luxury
of journey through this fertile field.
As if my first to map this ground,
I must re-read and find again
the rhythms, harmony of breath,
which from this earth I fashioned life.
____________________
—Stephen Kingsnorth
Surely you have known yourself
that pleasure felt, where walked before,
familiar lanes, those picket winds,
the gentle slope, that trudge incline,
where memories waft and voice again
moments of wonder, focussed scenes
that carried to the goal achieved,
and who it was who held your hand.
Mother, or was it sweetheart time,
reliant son or grandad’s girl?
I often chuckle, recollect
if not the wit conversing held,
at least those unexpected gems,
some word, fresh phrase a child can term,
like coin magicked behind ear,
new minted disc, moon-gilded clear.
See where I had forgotten turn,
and view the vista as first time,
remind myself—there all along—
and marvel at the landscape planned;
my nodding smile, a volume speaks,
as if this place another’s land,
and I a trespasser misplaced
who stumbled here, guided by grace.
Unnoticed style, norm passed-by way,
excursion path feet sauntered by,
long-whittled words and crafted clause,
beating the bracken, culling, calm;
while clearing brambles, nettles thrash,
to tame, yet let the bye-laws shout—
as I move on to other song,
feeling that verse has found its home.
I pace across a second time,
and through some leaves find further site,
and third for the near luxury
of journey through this fertile field.
As if my first to map this ground,
I must re-read and find again
the rhythms, harmony of breath,
which from this earth I fashioned life.
____________________
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. Just remember: the snakes of Medusa are always hungry!
____________________
TRIPLE-F CHALLENGES!
Today we’re talking about the Memoir, which is possible either in prose or poetry. See what you can make of this week’s poetry forms, and send them to kathykieth@hotmail.com! (No deadline.)
•••Memoir: www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/memoir [try it in poetry form]
And/or try Nolcha Fox’s form:
•••Nolcha’s Memoir: spans ten years, each line three words [do try to stick to the three syllables/line]
And/or try another Welsh form:
•••Gwawdodyn: www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/wd-poetic-form-challenge-gwawdodyn
•••See also the bottom of this post for another challenge, this one an Ekphrastic Photo.
•••And don’t forget each Tuesday’s Seed of the Week! This week it’s “Courage”.
____________________
MEDUSA’S FORM FINDER: Links to poetry terms mentioned today:
•••Ars Poetica: www.poetryfoundation.org/learn/glossary-terms/ars-poetica
•••Cinquain: poets.org/glossary/cinquain AND/OR www.poewar.com/poetry-in-forms-series-cinquain./ See www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/adelaide-crapsey for info about its inventor, Adelaide Crapsey.
•••Dragonfly (Edna St. Vincent Millay): rhymes a b b a b a | c d d c d c with the first line’s end-word repeated at the end of the last line of each stanza
•••Ekphrastic Poem: notesofoak.com/discover-literature/ekphrastic-poetry
•••Gwawdodyn: www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/wd-poetic-form-challenge-gwawdodyn
•••Hir a Thoddaid: www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/hir-thoddaid-poetic-form
•••Memoir: www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/memoir
•••Nolcha’s Memoir (Nolcha Fox): spans ten years, each line three words
•••Stepping Stones (Claire J. Baker): Syllables 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
•••Veltanelle (Velta Myrtle Allen Sanford): www.poetrymagnumopus.com/topic/1882-syllabic-forms-found-in-pathways-for-the-poet/#veltanelle
•••Word-Can Poem: putting random words on slips of paper into a can, then drawing out a few and making a poem out of them.
For more about meter, see:
•••www.studiobinder.com/blog/what-is-iambic-pentameter-definition-literature •••www.pandorapost.com/2021/05/examples-of-iambic-pentameter-tetrameter-and-trimeter-in-poetry.html
•••nosweatshakespeare.com/sonnets/iambic-pentameter
•••www.thoughtco.com/introducing-iambic-pentameter-2985082
•••www.nfi.edu/iambic-pentameter
____________________
—Medusa
See what you can make of the above
photo, and send your poetic results to
kathykieth@hotmail.com/. (No deadline.)
***
—Public Domain Photo
For upcoming poetry happenings in
Northern California and otherwheres,
click on
UPCOMING NORCAL EVENTS
in the links at the top of this page.
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.
Northern California and otherwheres,
click on
UPCOMING NORCAL EVENTS
in the links at the top of this page.
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.
