—Poetry and Photos by Taylor Graham,
Placerville, CA
—And then scroll down to
Form Fiddlers’ Friday!!
SUMMIT OR NOT
Golden Shovel on “Consolation” by Billy Collins
Consider all the vistas never visited, rivers
Of gold in the sunset. Was that mica instead of
New-found treasure?—fools-gold in our idiom.
Shall I regret maundering instead of running
Over the blooming meadow, snowmelt freely
Lavishing its chill, bluebirds brooding eggs
At mountain nesting time? Soon enough over,
These ordinary miracles. Back home, it’s easy,
Isn’t it?—blaming the wrong trail I was on;
One after another thing missed; forgetting the
Nonesuch everyday marvels along the way.
Golden Shovel on “Consolation” by Billy Collins
Consider all the vistas never visited, rivers
Of gold in the sunset. Was that mica instead of
New-found treasure?—fools-gold in our idiom.
Shall I regret maundering instead of running
Over the blooming meadow, snowmelt freely
Lavishing its chill, bluebirds brooding eggs
At mountain nesting time? Soon enough over,
These ordinary miracles. Back home, it’s easy,
Isn’t it?—blaming the wrong trail I was on;
One after another thing missed; forgetting the
Nonesuch everyday marvels along the way.
SPRING’S GIVE & TAKE
Who planted daffodil
among rank weed
of our field that never
such bloom unfurled?—
maybe the same rodent
performed this deed
who consumes my garden
quite ground-squirreled!
Who planted daffodil
among rank weed
of our field that never
such bloom unfurled?—
maybe the same rodent
performed this deed
who consumes my garden
quite ground-squirreled!
DIARY REGRET
He burned his short
life journal-wise from
both ends
ashy
ghost pages ever
bound at the spine.
He burned his short
life journal-wise from
both ends
ashy
ghost pages ever
bound at the spine.
AFTER READING MILLAY
Half asleep in warm dreams, she stuttered down
the stairs. Reality of woodstove
gone stone-cold. Remember Edna?
her glory of flame, candle
burning bright at both ends—
hard to maneuver
into the stove.
How to ex-
plain the
fire?
Half asleep in warm dreams, she stuttered down
the stairs. Reality of woodstove
gone stone-cold. Remember Edna?
her glory of flame, candle
burning bright at both ends—
hard to maneuver
into the stove.
How to ex-
plain the
fire?
JIGSAW CAT
You work to fit the pieces together—
shards of images and phrases on a fold-out
tabletop perched on shelves of tomes
upright, leaning, stuck in sideways where-
ever in a puzzle they might fit.
And in the spaces left unsolved and empty,
the tabby-stripe fits himself —front &
back end of the feline form, his
middle lost among the pieces as he naps.
You work to fit the pieces together—
shards of images and phrases on a fold-out
tabletop perched on shelves of tomes
upright, leaning, stuck in sideways where-
ever in a puzzle they might fit.
And in the spaces left unsolved and empty,
the tabby-stripe fits himself —front &
back end of the feline form, his
middle lost among the pieces as he naps.
WHERE’S MY PACKAGE?
Snowshoe Thompson mural near Placerville P.O.
Snowshoe pauses precisely
as our public art,
winter mailman concisely
imaging town’s heart.
In Thompson’s white Sierra
mail’s never snow bound.
In today’s cold sahara
no mail’s to be found.
My package undelivered—
there’s just too much snow.
Snowshoe never considered…
Strap on skis and go!
Snowshoe Thompson mural near Placerville P.O.
Snowshoe pauses precisely
as our public art,
winter mailman concisely
imaging town’s heart.
In Thompson’s white Sierra
mail’s never snow bound.
In today’s cold sahara
no mail’s to be found.
My package undelivered—
there’s just too much snow.
Snowshoe never considered…
Strap on skis and go!
Today’s LittleNip:
MEDUSA-PHASE
—Taylor Graham
It floats in the sea
ancient lampshade bio-lit—
swimmer use caution.
(jellyfish)
—Photo Courtesy of Public Domain
_____________________
Thanks to Taylor Graham for her fine poems and photos today, and a reminder that another Wakamatsu poetry workshop is coming up next Sunday morning with Taylor Graham and Katy Brown at Wakamatsu Farm in Placerville—weather permitting. It’s not too late to sign up: click UPCOMING NORCAL EVENTS at the top of this column for details about this 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.
Forms that TG has used this week include an Acrostic/Golden Shovel (“Summit or Not”); a Verso-Rhyme/Response poem in answer to Katy Brown’s spring Verso-Rhyme last week (“Spring's Give & Take”); a Riddle Poem/Haiku or Senryu? (“Medusa-Phase”); a Hautt (“Diary Regret”); a reverse Etheree (“After Reading Millay”); a response to last week’s Ekphrastic Photo (“Jigsaw Cat”); and a Cro Cumaisc Etir Casbairdne Ocus Lethrannaigecht/Ekphrastic (“Where's My Package?”). The Cro Cumaisc etc. and the Hautt were in response to last week’s Triple-F Challenge.
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 Photo
We had responses to last week’s Ekphrastic photo from Taylor Graham (see above) as well as Carl Schwartz (Caschwa), Nolcha Fox, Joe Nolan, and Stephen Kingsnorth:
SLEEPING IN THE PANTRY
—Caschwa, Sacramento, CA
predators and prey alike
frozen as if etched in stone
confined in mason jars
oblivious to passing time
daring us to find the snooze
button on the suicide bomb
books in no particular order
librarian long since discharged
now heading a government agency
* * *
The cat doesn’t care
about puzzles, she’s happy
to sleep on the shelf.
She leaves us to puzzle
how she can be bookends
without slicing herself
in half.
—Nolcha Fox, Buffalo, WY
* * *
CAT-NAPS
—Joe Nolan, Stockton, CA
Cat-naps—
Perfection of repose.
No place
Too tight
To squeeze into
To take a little doze.
What is it a cat knows
That we don’t
That gives them their edge
To sleep behind a Cheshire smile
On a bookshelf’s ledge?
Beware the sudden waking
From sound
Or other fright
That might
Startle peaceful dreamer
Into sudden flight,
Spilling all the borders
Of whatever did surround.
Hear them all crash down!
* * *
EMBROIDERED
—Stephen Kingsnorth, Coedpoeth, Wrexham, Wales
Poetic license on the shelf
has leeched into this print itself,
with friction in this fiction’s truth
like photographic fingered flesh,
forearms foreshortened in his reach,
to sort perspective’s puzzle laid
in mix of flat with depth of field.
An edgy piece—but where is it?
Sheer precipice on table’s ledge—
some Discworld in a fantasy—
but all the puzzle pieces jigged,
unless one under middle nail,
atop the searched through picture pile,
surreal study down beneath?
But tap the spinal lettering,
old covers, some of classic bind,
‘feline’, ‘poems’, ‘I have known’,
bound leather, knick-knacks, scattered fare,
just dozy mog who’s paid the tab,
beneath the folds of shoulder stripes,
both of the catnap purr and lad.
The cat of Charles Wysocki set,
but, pause, its foot has been removed—
the image, not the paw itself—
with inkwell, quill and claws of owl,
now overtopped by boy at work,
with blanket coverage anon,
embroidered from this storybook.
Here is some Droste effect in art,
not that of mirrors, looking glass,
but shoutout, fourth wall on the stage,
an execution, yet within,
the very task incorporate.
Our faceless star, an everyman
who enters into scene portrayed.
So what is real, what market force,
a clever branding agency,
or genuine philosophy,
designer ware, to pose the fraught?
Here’s Plato’s cave, identity,
the schizophrenic, one at ease?
A thousand pieces coalesced.
* * *
I have included this poem from Joe Nolan in tribute to his use of the “edge” rhyme and its placement, which adds to the rhythm of the poem:
A BIRD HAS FLOWN
—Joe Nolan
Why is it so hard
In the middle
And so easy
At the edge?
Why have we
Found it necessary
To make an
Eternal pledge?
All the burden
Of concentration,
Centers
Above a hedge
Over which
A bird has flown.
* * *
And here is Stephen Kingsnoth’s Ode to Womankind in honor of Women’s History Month (March) and International Women’s Day, which was Wednesday (3/8):
WOMANKIND
—Stephen Kingsnorth
Definition, difference,
my minefield, mindfield, opencast,
pitfalls, splitcalls, seams as seems,
when Eve dawns, Adamantine rocks.
Care not a fig till turn the leaf,
then unsure, of being, ground.
Vox populi, red banner heads,
shout no to neutral God in word,
but such unneutered by our terms,
both mother, father of our worlds.
Yet womankind my compound trait -
of strangers, yes, mores released -
but find the class describes her case,
a kind of loving, care, support,
in kind her giving of herself
as if fresh mint embraces all;
kinfolk with space for more in Deed.
kindred for a commune girl,
kindling setting fire alight,
kindle reading for new light.
___________________
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!
—Stephen Kingsnorth
Definition, difference,
my minefield, mindfield, opencast,
pitfalls, splitcalls, seams as seems,
when Eve dawns, Adamantine rocks.
Care not a fig till turn the leaf,
then unsure, of being, ground.
Vox populi, red banner heads,
shout no to neutral God in word,
but such unneutered by our terms,
both mother, father of our worlds.
Yet womankind my compound trait -
of strangers, yes, mores released -
but find the class describes her case,
a kind of loving, care, support,
in kind her giving of herself
as if fresh mint embraces all;
kinfolk with space for more in Deed.
kindred for a commune girl,
kindling setting fire alight,
kindle reading for new light.
___________________
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!
•••Decnad Cummaisc: https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/dechnad-cummaisc-poetic-forms
AND/OR let’s get silly with:
•••Donna: https://www.poetrymagnumopus.com/topic/1882-syllabic-forms-found-in-pathways-for-the-poet
•••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 “Free”.
____________________
MEDUSA’S FORM FINDER: Links to poetry terms mentioned today:
•••Acrostic: literarydevices.net/acrostic
•••Cro Cumaisc Etir Casbairdni Ocus Lethrannaigecht: https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/cro-cumaisc-etir-casbairdni-ocus-lethrannaigecht-poetic-forms
•••Decnad Cummaisc: https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/dechnad-cummaisc-poetic-forms
•••Donna: https://www.poetrymagnumopus.com/topic/1882-syllabic-forms-found-in-pathways-for-the-poet
•••Ekphrastic Poem: notesofoak.com/discover-literature/ekphrastic-poetry
•••Etheree: www.thepoetsgarret.com/2008Challenge/form22.html
•••Hautt: https://www.poetrymagnumopus.com/topic/1882-syllabic-forms-found-in-pathways-for-the-poet
•••Haiku: www.shadowpoetry.com/resources/haiku/haiku.html
•••Response Poem: creativetalentsunleashed.com/2015/11/18/writing-tip-response-poems
•••Riddle Poem: poets.org/glossary/riddle
•••Senryu: www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-senryu-poems#quiz-0
•••Verso-Rhyme: https://www.poetrymagnumopus.com/topic/1882-syllabic-forms-found-in-pathways-for-the-poet
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
____________________
•••Decnad Cummaisc: https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/dechnad-cummaisc-poetic-forms
•••Donna: https://www.poetrymagnumopus.com/topic/1882-syllabic-forms-found-in-pathways-for-the-poet
•••Ekphrastic Poem: notesofoak.com/discover-literature/ekphrastic-poetry
•••Etheree: www.thepoetsgarret.com/2008Challenge/form22.html
•••Hautt: https://www.poetrymagnumopus.com/topic/1882-syllabic-forms-found-in-pathways-for-the-poet
•••Haiku: www.shadowpoetry.com/resources/haiku/haiku.html
•••Response Poem: creativetalentsunleashed.com/2015/11/18/writing-tip-response-poems
•••Riddle Poem: poets.org/glossary/riddle
•••Senryu: www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-senryu-poems#quiz-0
•••Verso-Rhyme: https://www.poetrymagnumopus.com/topic/1882-syllabic-forms-found-in-pathways-for-the-poet
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 today's
photo, and send your poetic results to
kathykieth@hotmail.com/. (No deadline.)
If it seems like a challenge, well
maybe that's the "point"...
* * *
—Photo Courtesy of Public Domain
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.
* * *
—Photo Courtesy of Public Domain
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.
