—Poetry by Claire J. Baker, Pinole, CA
—Dream Catcher Photos Courtesy
of Public Domain
DREAM CATCHER MAKER
Sally explains:
leaving a hole in the center
of each dream catcher
lets nightmares
slip through into darkness,
tumble into black holes
as into a coal mine’s
tunnel door.
She reminds us
that keeper dreams
are best kept cradled—
that each web is
more genuine, more true
to itself and to life,
if left with a fla w.
Sally explains:
leaving a hole in the center
of each dream catcher
lets nightmares
slip through into darkness,
tumble into black holes
as into a coal mine’s
tunnel door.
She reminds us
that keeper dreams
are best kept cradled—
that each web is
more genuine, more true
to itself and to life,
if left with a fla w.
A CLASSICAL RUMINATION
Did irritating
scratchings of a violin bow
in an alleyway below
spur Stradivari to become
a master artisan
his artful essence filled
with crystalline tones
while he earnestly studied
and sought on sojourns
the finest woods and strings
enamel and glue
that his instruments
reproduce the rapture
born of immortality?
Did irritating
scratchings of a violin bow
in an alleyway below
spur Stradivari to become
a master artisan
his artful essence filled
with crystalline tones
while he earnestly studied
and sought on sojourns
the finest woods and strings
enamel and glue
that his instruments
reproduce the rapture
born of immortality?
A DAFFODIL APOLOGY
for Karen
After my careful words
inadvertently hurt you
and I see your pain,
I ponder how begin a
saint-like apology.
We are standing near
unopened daffodils
you gave me last week
with hope of speedy bloom—
amazing, the sealed petals
one-by-one open before our eyes
serving as my apology.
But if you somehow fail to
see the yellow flair,
I hereby, dear friend, apologize.
for Karen
After my careful words
inadvertently hurt you
and I see your pain,
I ponder how begin a
saint-like apology.
We are standing near
unopened daffodils
you gave me last week
with hope of speedy bloom—
amazing, the sealed petals
one-by-one open before our eyes
serving as my apology.
But if you somehow fail to
see the yellow flair,
I hereby, dear friend, apologize.
A WALL ETCHING
From outside my window,
loosely leafed and lovely,
a eucalyptus reflects
on my living-room wall
as I waken in recliner
wounded from a wicked fall.
In weeks of healing
I shall arise taller.
And I will never forget
the wall etchings
of tree leaves in my room
lightly blown, mesmerizing,
no pavement rising up.
From outside my window,
loosely leafed and lovely,
a eucalyptus reflects
on my living-room wall
as I waken in recliner
wounded from a wicked fall.
In weeks of healing
I shall arise taller.
And I will never forget
the wall etchings
of tree leaves in my room
lightly blown, mesmerizing,
no pavement rising up.
CELEBRATIONS
Bridges rise
to let the sun pass under.
A fisherman unhooks and
releases a rainbow trout
that she spawn more rainbows.
In a Pamplona street-crowd
someone pours a bucket of water
over a bull’s flaming horns.
On a cliff near the ocean
poppies open one by one
in time-lapse dawn.
A child frees a grasshopper
lightly stuck in driveway tar.
It flicks away in a Hallelujah flash.
Bridges lower
to let the moon pass over.
Bridges rise
to let the sun pass under.
A fisherman unhooks and
releases a rainbow trout
that she spawn more rainbows.
In a Pamplona street-crowd
someone pours a bucket of water
over a bull’s flaming horns.
On a cliff near the ocean
poppies open one by one
in time-lapse dawn.
A child frees a grasshopper
lightly stuck in driveway tar.
It flicks away in a Hallelujah flash.
Bridges lower
to let the moon pass over.
AMID THE STORM
for Natica Angilly*
Raindrops can be nozy and cozy:
one curled and clung to the tip
of our dancer’s nose;
another soothed
the center of a freshly-
pollinated pre-spring rose.
And for her lifetime partner’s
wrenched goodbyes,
clusters silver in her eyes.
*On losing husband Richard
after 50+ years of marriage.
for Natica Angilly*
Raindrops can be nozy and cozy:
one curled and clung to the tip
of our dancer’s nose;
another soothed
the center of a freshly-
pollinated pre-spring rose.
And for her lifetime partner’s
wrenched goodbyes,
clusters silver in her eyes.
*On losing husband Richard
after 50+ years of marriage.
A WILDERNESS OF GRIEF
I sit in a chaotic landscape,
like the first grotto at Lourdes.
But I’ll not see the Lady,
golden roses round her feet,
nor Bernadette on bended knee
urging me to pray
amid the briars of this day.
Though bare trees, leaf mold,
foxtail grass, weeds and I prepare
a fitting place, I don’t expect
to see the Lady’s face
or feel Her presence full of grace . . .
No, She’ll not visit a free-thinking
rebel like me, though She may
finger Her rosary, reflecting
on Holy signs marking this day
as mercifully kind in their way . . .
Sitting on a mossy log among shadows,
I stare at a lavender thistle,
share with it my grief, lack of belief;
the thistle, as I prepare to leave
and just be ME, becomes as moving as She.
____________________
Today’s LittleNip:
CHIEF SEATTLE…
—Claire J. Baker
Like Native Americans
in their last moons on earth,
we too want to believe in passing
as a Change of Worlds, a tiptoeing
off a cliff edge, yet held firmly high over
a wide crevasse,
then placed on a terrain more unique
than all we have known on summers’
vigorous camping trips—
a Change of Worlds,
evolving toward (as you hint)
a new beginning.
_____________________
Many thanks to Claire Baker for today’s fine pre-Easter ruminations! We can all use a sweet dream now and then.
Poetry events down south of Sacramento County today include Saturday in the Park in Modesto with Modesto Poet Laureate Salvatore Salerno, 12noon, and Mosaic of Voices with Rhony Bhopla, Beth Suter and Dr. Andy Jones at Lodi Public Library, 2pm.
Closer to home, the new Second Saturday in Natomas reading with Jennifer Pickering and other spoken word poets, storytellers and humorists takes place at the Just For Fun Art Gallery in Sacramento this evening. Then Brickhouse Poetry Second Saturdays presents Ori Clé plus open mic; doors open with open mic sign-ups at 7pm. Click on Medusa's UPCOMING NORCAL EVENTS (http://medusaskitchen.blogspot.com/p/wtf.html) 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
I sit in a chaotic landscape,
like the first grotto at Lourdes.
But I’ll not see the Lady,
golden roses round her feet,
nor Bernadette on bended knee
urging me to pray
amid the briars of this day.
Though bare trees, leaf mold,
foxtail grass, weeds and I prepare
a fitting place, I don’t expect
to see the Lady’s face
or feel Her presence full of grace . . .
No, She’ll not visit a free-thinking
rebel like me, though She may
finger Her rosary, reflecting
on Holy signs marking this day
as mercifully kind in their way . . .
Sitting on a mossy log among shadows,
I stare at a lavender thistle,
share with it my grief, lack of belief;
the thistle, as I prepare to leave
and just be ME, becomes as moving as She.
____________________
Today’s LittleNip:
CHIEF SEATTLE…
—Claire J. Baker
Like Native Americans
in their last moons on earth,
we too want to believe in passing
as a Change of Worlds, a tiptoeing
off a cliff edge, yet held firmly high over
a wide crevasse,
then placed on a terrain more unique
than all we have known on summers’
vigorous camping trips—
a Change of Worlds,
evolving toward (as you hint)
a new beginning.
_____________________
Many thanks to Claire Baker for today’s fine pre-Easter ruminations! We can all use a sweet dream now and then.
Poetry events down south of Sacramento County today include Saturday in the Park in Modesto with Modesto Poet Laureate Salvatore Salerno, 12noon, and Mosaic of Voices with Rhony Bhopla, Beth Suter and Dr. Andy Jones at Lodi Public Library, 2pm.
Closer to home, the new Second Saturday in Natomas reading with Jennifer Pickering and other spoken word poets, storytellers and humorists takes place at the Just For Fun Art Gallery in Sacramento this evening. Then Brickhouse Poetry Second Saturdays presents Ori Clé plus open mic; doors open with open mic sign-ups at 7pm. Click on Medusa's UPCOMING NORCAL EVENTS (http://medusaskitchen.blogspot.com/p/wtf.html) 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
For more about National Poetry Month,
including ways to celebrate, see
https://poets.org/national-poetry-month.
And sign up for Poem-a-Day at
https://poets.org/poem-a-day/, plus
read about Poem in Your Pocket Day
(this year, April 27) at
https://poets.org/national-poetry-month/poem-your-pocket-day/.
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.
including ways to celebrate, see
https://poets.org/national-poetry-month.
And sign up for Poem-a-Day at
https://poets.org/poem-a-day/, plus
read about Poem in Your Pocket Day
(this year, April 27) at
https://poets.org/national-poetry-month/poem-your-pocket-day/.
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.
“I wish…”