—Poetry by Stephen Kingsnorth, Nolcha Fox,
Caschwa and Joe Nolan
—Public Domain Photos Courtesy
of Joe Nolan
* ! * !
—Stephen Kingsnorth, Coedpoeth, Wrexham, Wales
Spit spluttered, incoherent speech,
sole punctuated, need to breathe,
and that by gasping, grasping air,
with wave froth washing, bubbled forth,
asterisks, stark exclaiming marks.
Scales fall unfair before our eyes,
the judge unfolded, lids raised high;
sat on the bench, in pupillage,
learning just how advantage works—
so much about us, scene unjust.
A wasted stare, but who could dare,
that moment split by searing pitch,
thrust energy from tearing guts,
bypass logic, strategic too,
boots yomping over flower beds.
Is that why fury’s of the gods,
thrown thunder, lightning from above,
pathetic fallacy engaged—
if our outrage be echoed there,
it’s complemented, blame divine?
Chuck allusion, the classic fare,
scare, shoutout share, bout koiné swear,
stick both thick fingers in the air,
and then, who cares, swing fists, a round,
talk body threat, flex back, smash black.
Avenging agent, nemesis,
both anger, jealousy in vent,
pyroclastic flow, boiling blood,
as if sour core pulsates, enraged,
explodes past crust inhibitors.
—Stephen Kingsnorth, Coedpoeth, Wrexham, Wales
Spit spluttered, incoherent speech,
sole punctuated, need to breathe,
and that by gasping, grasping air,
with wave froth washing, bubbled forth,
asterisks, stark exclaiming marks.
Scales fall unfair before our eyes,
the judge unfolded, lids raised high;
sat on the bench, in pupillage,
learning just how advantage works—
so much about us, scene unjust.
A wasted stare, but who could dare,
that moment split by searing pitch,
thrust energy from tearing guts,
bypass logic, strategic too,
boots yomping over flower beds.
Is that why fury’s of the gods,
thrown thunder, lightning from above,
pathetic fallacy engaged—
if our outrage be echoed there,
it’s complemented, blame divine?
Chuck allusion, the classic fare,
scare, shoutout share, bout koiné swear,
stick both thick fingers in the air,
and then, who cares, swing fists, a round,
talk body threat, flex back, smash black.
Avenging agent, nemesis,
both anger, jealousy in vent,
pyroclastic flow, boiling blood,
as if sour core pulsates, enraged,
explodes past crust inhibitors.
This house
wants me to go away.
Doorknobs crumple at my touch.
Doors refuse to close.
Curtains close and block the sun.
Floorboards whisper Hit the road!
Walls bend away, clocks face the wall.
Without you, rooms are mouths
that swallow my desire to stay.
It’s time for me to let you go.
It’s time for me to leave.
—Nolcha Fox, Buffalo, NY
wants me to go away.
Doorknobs crumple at my touch.
Doors refuse to close.
Curtains close and block the sun.
Floorboards whisper Hit the road!
Walls bend away, clocks face the wall.
Without you, rooms are mouths
that swallow my desire to stay.
It’s time for me to let you go.
It’s time for me to leave.
—Nolcha Fox, Buffalo, NY
FOR SURE AND UP IN THE AIR
—Caschwa, Sacramento, CA
BIRTH: “if” is a big maybe, but we can describe
“when” with certainty
DEATH: “if” is a certainty, but we can only describe
“when” with guesses
—Caschwa, Sacramento, CA
BIRTH: “if” is a big maybe, but we can describe
“when” with certainty
DEATH: “if” is a certainty, but we can only describe
“when” with guesses
DETHRONED AND FURIOUS
—Caschwa
American Patriots couldn’t kick the
King of England out of his throne
so they did the next best thing
they started their own government
that removed royalty from the equation
replacing it with our own Constitution
setting up a flexible pattern where
previously hard and fast laws could
be modified or amended
establishing three distinct branches of
government to balance all that power,
making Due Process a pillar of Democracy
and all through this process there were
white Southern gentlemen who owned
from a few to a few dozen slaves
each of these slave owners was like a king:
the key part of the equation, inflexible,
no balance of power, no due process
you know what happened next, the
Constitution was amended to free the slaves
leaving the slave owners dethroned and furious
these once-be kings created their own flag,
lived by their own rules, and embraced rebel
militants to force compliance with their rules
Guess what happened next? the Civil War
ended on paper only, and we still have all
those once-be kings and their armies
GENERATIONS SWEPT AWAY
—Joe Nolan
Those who know
How bombs explode
Are driven into rage
When they see the
Vain unfurling
Of battle-flags and colors.
Young men into uniforms—
A sign of looming death
And massive mayhem.
I hear little of
Marching bands.
Blood runs red,
Drains into sand—
Life is blown away.
Somewhere
Is a meter
Just beside your bed
That measures all you’re dreaming,
The books you’ve never read
And implants them into memory—
Generations, swept away,
Away, away—away!
IF
—Joe Nolan
If I were just a tiny spot
Of shining, sparkling light
Or just bright sound
From a singing bowl
Formed to fulfill healing,
How could I bear the weight
Of suffering?
I would need a body
To feel such pain.
__________________
Today’s LittleNip:
The sun
sets barren branches on fire.
It won’t give up the day
without a fight.
—Nolcha Fox
__________________
Our Seed of the Week was “Fury”, so some of our poets have attacked the subject furiously, and our thanks to them for that on this 2023 Presidents’ Day.
This morning’s monthly Poetry in Motion read-around in Placerville has been cancelled, due to Presidents’ Day. Tonight’s Sacramento Poetry Center reading has also been cancelled. Tomorrow (Tuesday), Harry’s Poetry Hour features William O’Daly and Lois P. Jones on Zoom, 1pm.
Coming up Thursday, Poetry Unplugged at Luna’s Cafe in Sacramento presents featured readers plus open mic, 8pm; and there will also be a poetry reading and reception at the Mistlin Gallery in Modesto at 7pm, featuring the collaborative show, Collision VII: Eighteen Poets and Eighteen Photographers Collide in an Act of Creation.
Friday night at 7pm will be the 2023 Poetry Out Loud El Dorado County Finals in Placerville. Then, Saturday at 6pm, Woolman Sierra Friends Center present Rooja Mohassessy and her new book, When Your Sky Runs Into Mind, in Nevada City. And on Sunday, Poetry of the Sierra Foothills features Jemi Reis McDonald and Susan Flynn, plus open mic, 2pm in Camino. Click UPCOMING NORCAL EVENTS at the top of this column for details about these and other future poetry events in the NorCal area—and keep an eye on this link and on the Kitchen for happenings that might pop up during the week.
____________________
—Medusa
—Joe Nolan
If I were just a tiny spot
Of shining, sparkling light
Or just bright sound
From a singing bowl
Formed to fulfill healing,
How could I bear the weight
Of suffering?
I would need a body
To feel such pain.
__________________
Today’s LittleNip:
The sun
sets barren branches on fire.
It won’t give up the day
without a fight.
—Nolcha Fox
__________________
Our Seed of the Week was “Fury”, so some of our poets have attacked the subject furiously, and our thanks to them for that on this 2023 Presidents’ Day.
This morning’s monthly Poetry in Motion read-around in Placerville has been cancelled, due to Presidents’ Day. Tonight’s Sacramento Poetry Center reading has also been cancelled. Tomorrow (Tuesday), Harry’s Poetry Hour features William O’Daly and Lois P. Jones on Zoom, 1pm.
Coming up Thursday, Poetry Unplugged at Luna’s Cafe in Sacramento presents featured readers plus open mic, 8pm; and there will also be a poetry reading and reception at the Mistlin Gallery in Modesto at 7pm, featuring the collaborative show, Collision VII: Eighteen Poets and Eighteen Photographers Collide in an Act of Creation.
Friday night at 7pm will be the 2023 Poetry Out Loud El Dorado County Finals in Placerville. Then, Saturday at 6pm, Woolman Sierra Friends Center present Rooja Mohassessy and her new book, When Your Sky Runs Into Mind, in Nevada City. And on Sunday, Poetry of the Sierra Foothills features Jemi Reis McDonald and Susan Flynn, plus open mic, 2pm in Camino. Click UPCOMING NORCAL EVENTS at the top of this column for details about these and other future poetry events in the NorCal area—and keep an eye on this link and on the Kitchen for happenings that might pop up during the week.
____________________
—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—
and collaborations are welcome.
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—
and collaborations are welcome.
Just remember:
the snakes of Medusa are always hungry—
for poetry, of course!
