—Poetry and Photos by Taylor Graham,
Placerville, CA
—And then scroll down to
Form Fiddlers’ Friday with poetry by
Nolcha Fox, Stephen Kingsnorth,
and Keith Snow
WHY THE LIZARD SCOOTS
We Dandelions have no choice of whereabouts.
Where a seed flies on wingéd fluff, it sprouts,
asking little aid from anyone but soil and rain
and the Sun who lends its golden rays to crown
my golden center. Glorious am I, Dandelion.
Now, take Mr. Fence Lizard—do I envy his
reptile way of going? Well, no wonder he
scoots so fast—here comes that human with her
buzzing machine, decapitating grass and
whatever she calls “weeds,” my friends
who can’t uproot and run like a lizard—Clover,
Filaree. So it’s Carpe-diem time, we’re here
for a day, a moment. Then our seed-fluff floats
away, our day is done…. That human with
her trimmer doesn’t know I’m a child of the Sun.
We Dandelions have no choice of whereabouts.
Where a seed flies on wingéd fluff, it sprouts,
asking little aid from anyone but soil and rain
and the Sun who lends its golden rays to crown
my golden center. Glorious am I, Dandelion.
Now, take Mr. Fence Lizard—do I envy his
reptile way of going? Well, no wonder he
scoots so fast—here comes that human with her
buzzing machine, decapitating grass and
whatever she calls “weeds,” my friends
who can’t uproot and run like a lizard—Clover,
Filaree. So it’s Carpe-diem time, we’re here
for a day, a moment. Then our seed-fluff floats
away, our day is done…. That human with
her trimmer doesn’t know I’m a child of the Sun.
PETALS AROUND THE HEART
Pink, blue, purple, white: blue w/ purple
center—white w/ pink—white-violet w/ pink—
dark magenta w/ darker—pinkish white
w/ magenta—one blossom plucked & tossed
down onto pavement, mankind’ed to death.
MAY INTO JUNE
A resting bench along the trail
bids us sit awhile and ponder—
but that seat’s lost in sprouting green
as wanderlust flies free.
A resting bench along the trail
bids us sit awhile and ponder—
but that seat’s lost in sprouting green
as wanderlust flies free.
NOVEMBER OUT OF DECEMBER
A wakeful rise behind the drop
forbids us stand forever and discard—
but that stand’s found in dying brown
as homesickness falls dear.
MEMORIAL DAY BY THE BATTLEFIELD
after the Caldor Fire, 2021
Dead soldiers are still standing guard
above the military crest. Closer to the road,
where the fire-line held, are the gravely
wounded. Look, that black snag—headless—
leafing out of its snapped-off trunk.
I climb a dozer trail to a landing, slash pile
for burning when the weather’s right;
logs and branches heaped higher
than a house. Funaria—bonfire moss—
takes hold here, its name making me think
of funeral pyres. But among the slash
I find deer brush in lavish white blossom,
monkeyflower, rainbow iris, sage rose.
Not far away, a deeply charred dead cedar
stands sheltering Indian lettuce and
a single ponderosa seedling; and here,
a handful of sprouting incense cedars
and what may become a towering Doug fir,
ranks of new green to take the field.
after the Caldor Fire, 2021
Dead soldiers are still standing guard
above the military crest. Closer to the road,
where the fire-line held, are the gravely
wounded. Look, that black snag—headless—
leafing out of its snapped-off trunk.
I climb a dozer trail to a landing, slash pile
for burning when the weather’s right;
logs and branches heaped higher
than a house. Funaria—bonfire moss—
takes hold here, its name making me think
of funeral pyres. But among the slash
I find deer brush in lavish white blossom,
monkeyflower, rainbow iris, sage rose.
Not far away, a deeply charred dead cedar
stands sheltering Indian lettuce and
a single ponderosa seedling; and here,
a handful of sprouting incense cedars
and what may become a towering Doug fir,
ranks of new green to take the field.
Today’s LittleNip:
ROYAL ESCAPE OF CHARLES II
—Taylor Graham
King
was
fleeing
for his life—
secret “priest hole” hid
him under floorboards cozy-tight.
ROYAL ESCAPE OF CHARLES II
—Taylor Graham
King
was
fleeing
for his life—
secret “priest hole” hid
him under floorboards cozy-tight.
* * *
Our thanks to Taylor Graham for her fine poetry and photos today! Forms she has sent this week include some Blank Verse (“Petals Around the Heart”); a Ryūka (“May Into June”); an Antonymic Translation (of the Ryūka, “November Out Of December”): and a Fibonacci that is also a response to Medusa's Ekphrastic photo last week (“Royal Escape of Charles II”).
Tomorrow (Sat. 6/10), from 9am-4pm in Placerville, is the conclusion of Golden History Days, the annual covered wagon trek from Lake Tahoe to Placerville. See https://visit-eldorado.com/event/golden-history-days-2/ for complete info.
For info about what’s going on in poetry in El Dorado County, go to Western Slope El Dorado poetry on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ElDoradoCountyPoetry/. Plus, El Dorado County Poet Laureate Lara Gularte has a Facebook page to announce poetry events and all things poetic in the county—see www.facebook.com/groups/382234029968077/. You can also click on Medusa's UPCOMING NORCAL EVENTS (http://medusaskitchen.blogspot.com/p/wtf.html) for details about 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.
And now it’s time for…
FORM FIDDLERS’ FRIDAY!
Tomorrow (Sat. 6/10), from 9am-4pm in Placerville, is the conclusion of Golden History Days, the annual covered wagon trek from Lake Tahoe to Placerville. See https://visit-eldorado.com/event/golden-history-days-2/ for complete info.
For info about what’s going on in poetry in El Dorado County, go to Western Slope El Dorado poetry on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ElDoradoCountyPoetry/. Plus, El Dorado County Poet Laureate Lara Gularte has a Facebook page to announce poetry events and all things poetic in the county—see www.facebook.com/groups/382234029968077/. You can also click on Medusa's UPCOMING NORCAL EVENTS (http://medusaskitchen.blogspot.com/p/wtf.html) for details about 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.
And now it’s time for…
FORM FIDDLERS’ FRIDAY!
There’s also a 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
Here are responses to last week’s Ekphrastic photo from Nolcha Fox and Stephen Kingsnorth:
NEVER TOO OLD
—Nolcha Fox, Buffalo, WY
I’m never too old to
wrap up in my favorite blankie,
read with a flashlight under the covers,
steal candy from the jar,
curl up and hide when I’m frightened
(as long as I can fit in the box with the cat).
* * *
HYPOTENUSE
—Stephen Kingsnorth, Coedpoeth, Wrexham, Wales
Why feign surprise when you climbed in,
contorted self for magazine?
Though flexible, out on a limb—
forget some selfie on a whim.
Do you reject the pose you chose,
object that you’re cut down to size,
not like the label soon supplied,
due custom export tax applied?
Of course it’s taxing, musclebound—
you’re no Houdini as you’ve found;
it is sheer cheek to muck around.
It’s open and shut, your case there,
both bent and folded, strongbox man.
Straight lines and curves in tension here;
that box for me, geometry,
Pythagoras, if schooling serves
to calculate hypotenuse,
if hanging from a triangle—
but is that angled right, my boy,
for after that, all Greek to me.
* * *
Stephen has been very prolific this week! In addition to last Wednesday’s post (https://medusaskitchen.blogspot.com/search?q=stephen+kingsnorth&max-results=20&by-date=true/), here are two Ekphrastic responses from him—for which he sent photos, so we’re calling these Ekphrastic photo responses which are in themselves Ekphrastic photo responses. In other words, photos for the photo:
The Angelus by Jean-Francois Millet (France), 1859
—Public Domain Artwork Courtesy
of Stephen Kingsnorth
—Public Domain Artwork Courtesy
of Stephen Kingsnorth
BURIED
—Stephen Kingsnorth
The hidden coffin in the field,
unwonted crop, nostalgia’s shield;
toll legacy, grandmother’s mood,
remaining after gleaners gone.
Devotion on the workers’ walls,
insistent peal in living space,
and Dali’s school, another art,
tower added to inspire dusk hope.
Did Thomas doubt, forget collect,
not realise the gold he missed?
How Salvador should know the ground,
aspect of bodies, sunset gloom?
The angelus, story unfolds,
and untold frame—so little left;
death, memory, earth-gathered food,
far bells to ring in all our ears.
* * *
—Stephen Kingsnorth
The hidden coffin in the field,
unwonted crop, nostalgia’s shield;
toll legacy, grandmother’s mood,
remaining after gleaners gone.
Devotion on the workers’ walls,
insistent peal in living space,
and Dali’s school, another art,
tower added to inspire dusk hope.
Did Thomas doubt, forget collect,
not realise the gold he missed?
How Salvador should know the ground,
aspect of bodies, sunset gloom?
The angelus, story unfolds,
and untold frame—so little left;
death, memory, earth-gathered food,
far bells to ring in all our ears.
* * *
—Public Domain Photo Courtesy
of Stephen Kingsnorth
of Stephen Kingsnorth
BEQUEST
—Stephen Kingsnorth
In silhouette, except for girl,
was this her first of birds in flight,
impression stark on sunset field,
above the cobs of growing maize?
Engendered hair and clothing shape,
the field as shield set glowing rose,
not male swans, cobs in mirror form,
nor her amazed to reflect crop.
My mindset culture affirms scene—
your baggage too will carry on;
our words ascribe owned context drawn,
though core remains of wonderment.
This flock, time, space, find final roost,
and soon this little one needs sleep;
despite the terrors, daily news,
will our bequest crop sunset birds?
* * *
And here is a Triolet by Keith Snow, who claims he is not a mathematician:
—Stephen Kingsnorth
In silhouette, except for girl,
was this her first of birds in flight,
impression stark on sunset field,
above the cobs of growing maize?
Engendered hair and clothing shape,
the field as shield set glowing rose,
not male swans, cobs in mirror form,
nor her amazed to reflect crop.
My mindset culture affirms scene—
your baggage too will carry on;
our words ascribe owned context drawn,
though core remains of wonderment.
This flock, time, space, find final roost,
and soon this little one needs sleep;
despite the terrors, daily news,
will our bequest crop sunset birds?
* * *
And here is a Triolet by Keith Snow, who claims he is not a mathematician:
BY THE NUMBERS
A triolet
—Keith Snow, Harrisburg, PA
I'm not a mathematician.
But you can count on me
to be driven by my vision.
I'm not a mathematician,
I befriend by intuition.
I always show my loyalty.
I'll never be a mathematician
but you can always count on me.
_____________________
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!
A triolet
—Keith Snow, Harrisburg, PA
I'm not a mathematician.
But you can count on me
to be driven by my vision.
I'm not a mathematician,
I befriend by intuition.
I always show my loyalty.
I'll never be a mathematician
but you can always count on me.
_____________________
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!
•••Huitain (wee-TEN): https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/huitain-poetic-form
•••AND/OR this wee Irish form that’ll drive ya nuts:
•••Lethrannaegecht Mor: https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/lethrannaegecht-mor-poetic-forms
•••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 “Just Before Sunset”.
____________________
MEDUSA’S FORM FINDER: Links to poetry terms mentioned today:
•••Antonymic Translation: https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/antonymic-translation-poetic-forms
•••Blank Verse: literarydevices.net/blank-verse AND/OR www.masterclass.com/articles/poetry-101-what-is-the-difference-between-blank-verse-and-free-verse#quiz-0
•••Ekphrastic Poem: notesofoak.com/discover-literature/ekphrastic-poetry
•••Fibonacci (Fib) poem: https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/fibonacci-poetry-a-new-poetic-form
•••Huitain (wee-TEN): https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/huitain-poetic-form
•••Lethrannaegecht Mor: https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/lethrannaegecht-mor-poetic-forms
•••Ryūka: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryūka
•••Triolet: www.writersdigest.com/personal-updates/triolet-an-easy-way-to-write-8-lines-of-poetry
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
Make what you can of today's
photo, and send your poetic results to
kathykieth@hotmail.com/. (No deadline.)
* * *
—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.
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.
