—Public Domain Photo(s) Courtesy of Joe Nolan
—Poetry by Charles Mariano, Nolcha Fox,
Stephen Kingsnorth, Sayani Mukherjee,
Shiva Neupane, Caschwa, Robert Fleming,
and Joe Nolan
—Artwork by Robert Fleming;
—Poetry by Charles Mariano, Nolcha Fox,
Stephen Kingsnorth, Sayani Mukherjee,
Shiva Neupane, Caschwa, Robert Fleming,
and Joe Nolan
—Artwork by Robert Fleming;
Original Photo by Shiva Neupane
GATHERING
—Charles Mariano, Sacramento, CA
in between
anxious anticipation,
heavenly aromas,
in all our rooms
this day,
from the driveway
through the windows
and doors,
my family comes,
like a warm blanket
on a freezing day
we hold close,
then closer
...Thanksgiving comes
in this tiny,
sliver of quiet
before it all begins,
i feel my mother,
at the door
with open arms,
tears on her face,
she hugs me
the smell of Zest soap
and Avon perfume
Thanksgiving
was always
Mama's day
and i'm thankful,
so very thankful...
—Charles Mariano, Sacramento, CA
in between
anxious anticipation,
heavenly aromas,
in all our rooms
this day,
from the driveway
through the windows
and doors,
my family comes,
like a warm blanket
on a freezing day
we hold close,
then closer
...Thanksgiving comes
in this tiny,
sliver of quiet
before it all begins,
i feel my mother,
at the door
with open arms,
tears on her face,
she hugs me
the smell of Zest soap
and Avon perfume
Thanksgiving
was always
Mama's day
and i'm thankful,
so very thankful...
Too skinny to eat this Thanksgiving… yay!
—Public Domain Photo Courtesy of Joe Nolan
BOUNTIFUL
—Nolcha Fox, Buffalo, WY
Halloween of blacks and reds
and witches twitching on a switch
greet passersby when summer
won’t let autumn in.
Christmas decorates the stores
when ghosts and goblins
barely make their candy runs.
Thanksgiving gets a nod
with pumpkins, hay, and turkey
prowling through the aisles.
What a glorious holiday mess,
a bounty of festivities.
I’ll be exhausted by the time
the new year rolls around,
and will burrow in my bed
til Valentine’s sweet chocolates
lure me back into the seasons.
—Nolcha Fox, Buffalo, WY
Halloween of blacks and reds
and witches twitching on a switch
greet passersby when summer
won’t let autumn in.
Christmas decorates the stores
when ghosts and goblins
barely make their candy runs.
Thanksgiving gets a nod
with pumpkins, hay, and turkey
prowling through the aisles.
What a glorious holiday mess,
a bounty of festivities.
I’ll be exhausted by the time
the new year rolls around,
and will burrow in my bed
til Valentine’s sweet chocolates
lure me back into the seasons.
—Public Domain Photo
BOUNTIFUL
—Stephen Kingsnorth, Coedpoeth, Wrexham, Wales
’Twas mutiny, subconscious sound
that bounced, arose from sonar depths,
of Technicolor Brando—Bligh,
and Fletcher Christian, mutineer.
Then from that screen, another scene,
that for a choco bar of note—
confection from the planet Mars
with coconut ingredient—
and adverts from a tropic shore,
of Bounty hunters, paradise.
Beyond commercials, power of film,
I’m left, old fashioned gratitude,
the hymns of Harvest Festivals,
and poetry of Emily.
Theology of yesteryear,
as with the glow of summer suns,
along with word deployed just here,
a lexicon of lost appeal,
when daily feed is pain and loss,
and bounty more a hellish curse.
Autumn Girl
—Public Domain Photo Courtesy of Joe Nolan
RIBBON
—Sayani Mukherjee, Chandannagar,
W. Bengal, India
My mind's a ribbon blue
Black-hued parsley green
Ivy lead open
My further glance into
My Casanova smile
Delicacy lasts long
Old enough to fly
My cookies know that shape
Criss-cross suburban South
Too ordinary for living
A motel of sky scrapers
Munich to Vienna
Topples into
Swimming nothing
My hats are over there
Hibiscus-orange
Playing with fire
Rituals of ordinary ordinance
That shape still plunges
My mind's a ribbon blue.
Saanvi and Devyanshi Neupane,
with two of Shiva’s books
—Photos by Shiva Neupane
—Photos by Shiva Neupane
MY GIFTS AND GOSPELS
—Shiva Neupane, Melbourne, Australia
I'm blessed to have beautiful kids.
The tremendous learning curve,
Brimmed with potential.
The road of their future is immaculate.
I'm presenting my books to them
for achieving a psychological victory
over their pessimistic tendency in life.
These gifts would nurture their can-do attitude.
I'm lucky enough to celebrate the moment
with them.
Every day I have an appetite for what I could
teach them.
My goal is to nourish them with moral erudition.
I’m excited what the future holds for them.
I hope my kids will treasure
the academic life and bring
the difference in this world.
—Shiva Neupane, Melbourne, Australia
I'm blessed to have beautiful kids.
The tremendous learning curve,
Brimmed with potential.
The road of their future is immaculate.
I'm presenting my books to them
for achieving a psychological victory
over their pessimistic tendency in life.
These gifts would nurture their can-do attitude.
I'm lucky enough to celebrate the moment
with them.
Every day I have an appetite for what I could
teach them.
My goal is to nourish them with moral erudition.
I’m excited what the future holds for them.
I hope my kids will treasure
the academic life and bring
the difference in this world.
—Public Domain Photo
RAILROAD MONOPOLY
—Caschwa, Sacramento, CA
a train has the right of way,
so if a person gets in the
way and gets run over and
killed, the blame falls to the
person; we all know that
free enterprise has given our
big and giant corporations
that same sort of right of way,
so they use that as a privilege
to make us all into test dummies
to try out new product changes
members of the public die driving
their cars, eating their food, and
even sleeping in their cribs; we all
know that, sort of, or do most of us
need a reminder?
—Caschwa, Sacramento, CA
a train has the right of way,
so if a person gets in the
way and gets run over and
killed, the blame falls to the
person; we all know that
free enterprise has given our
big and giant corporations
that same sort of right of way,
so they use that as a privilege
to make us all into test dummies
to try out new product changes
members of the public die driving
their cars, eating their food, and
even sleeping in their cribs; we all
know that, sort of, or do most of us
need a reminder?
—Public Domain Photo Courtesy of Joe Nolan
DARN DETAILS
—Caschwa
back around the middle of the last century,
school teachers instructed that all the little
boys and girls put a comma after each of
the 3 or more items listed in a series, but
exclude the comma before the last “and”.
This worked well for me until 2007, when I
took California’s test for Office Technician,
and ALL OF A SUDDEN they were using a
different serial comma rule. That was the
only thing I got wrong on the test.
Fast forward again to November, 2023, when
the Sacramento County Assessor sent me a
Change In Ownership Statement form for me
to review, sign, and submit. That form contained
a Certification clause to sign, which was set forth
as: “I certify (or declare) under penalty of perjury
under the laws of the State of California that the
information contained herein is true, correct and
complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.”
Sure enough, all those little boys and girls never
got the memo that the serial comma rule had
been changed, and we are now using the Oxford
or Harvard system that does, in fact, put a comma
before the last “and” in a series.
You would be very proud of me for all the effort I
exerted to stifle my humility, give it a rest, and not
notify the County of Sacramento that its Certifica-
tion language was woefully obsolete, and needs to
be revised. Having been a state worker, I know that
they already have a few other, more pressing
matters on their plate before letting one resident’s
comma riot affect their busy day.
—Caschwa
back around the middle of the last century,
school teachers instructed that all the little
boys and girls put a comma after each of
the 3 or more items listed in a series, but
exclude the comma before the last “and”.
This worked well for me until 2007, when I
took California’s test for Office Technician,
and ALL OF A SUDDEN they were using a
different serial comma rule. That was the
only thing I got wrong on the test.
Fast forward again to November, 2023, when
the Sacramento County Assessor sent me a
Change In Ownership Statement form for me
to review, sign, and submit. That form contained
a Certification clause to sign, which was set forth
as: “I certify (or declare) under penalty of perjury
under the laws of the State of California that the
information contained herein is true, correct and
complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.”
Sure enough, all those little boys and girls never
got the memo that the serial comma rule had
been changed, and we are now using the Oxford
or Harvard system that does, in fact, put a comma
before the last “and” in a series.
You would be very proud of me for all the effort I
exerted to stifle my humility, give it a rest, and not
notify the County of Sacramento that its Certifica-
tion language was woefully obsolete, and needs to
be revised. Having been a state worker, I know that
they already have a few other, more pressing
matters on their plate before letting one resident’s
comma riot affect their busy day.
Choosing a Christmas Tree 1
—Visual by Robert Fleming
—Visual by Robert Fleming
ASSEMBLE THE MONSTER
—Robert Fleming, Lewes, DE
don’t pick up that blue square
you can’t make a monster with blue
close your eyes
extend your fingers
onto the one-inch rectangles
rub the bottom connector
bumps onto your scalp
open your eyes
connect ten-blue six-red four-yellows
say the prayer three times
press down
touch a yellow
enter the Lego-verse
pet your creation
the monster is you
—Robert Fleming, Lewes, DE
don’t pick up that blue square
you can’t make a monster with blue
close your eyes
extend your fingers
onto the one-inch rectangles
rub the bottom connector
bumps onto your scalp
open your eyes
connect ten-blue six-red four-yellows
say the prayer three times
press down
touch a yellow
enter the Lego-verse
pet your creation
the monster is you
Choosing a Christmas Tree 2
—Visual by Robert Fleming
—Visual by Robert Fleming
CRASHING SNOW*
—Joe Nolan, Stockton, CA
It was long ago
When the roof of a Plymouth Duster
Was crushed-in by snow,
Heavy and wet,
That slipped from the roof of a home,
Down onto a Duster
In a driveway
Where it
Had been parked.
Oh, how sore
The brother was
Who owned the victim car—
Struck without warning
By a sudden crush
Of heavy snow and slush
From a roof above an attic,
Three storeys, up.
It wasn’t the first time
For a massive drop of snow.
It wouldn’t be the last.
Winter has such pitfalls
For the unwary,
The careless,
Tempters of fate,
But we expect it
More-so from below—
To slip on ice,
To fall down,
Even a stoop of stairs.
How rude to be
Done-in
From above
By a sudden
Crash of snow.
There was nothing for it
But to have it hauled away.
Bad luck.
Sad day.
*true story!
—Joe Nolan, Stockton, CA
It was long ago
When the roof of a Plymouth Duster
Was crushed-in by snow,
Heavy and wet,
That slipped from the roof of a home,
Down onto a Duster
In a driveway
Where it
Had been parked.
Oh, how sore
The brother was
Who owned the victim car—
Struck without warning
By a sudden crush
Of heavy snow and slush
From a roof above an attic,
Three storeys, up.
It wasn’t the first time
For a massive drop of snow.
It wouldn’t be the last.
Winter has such pitfalls
For the unwary,
The careless,
Tempters of fate,
But we expect it
More-so from below—
To slip on ice,
To fall down,
Even a stoop of stairs.
How rude to be
Done-in
From above
By a sudden
Crash of snow.
There was nothing for it
But to have it hauled away.
Bad luck.
Sad day.
*true story!
—Public Domain Photo Courtesy of Joe Nolan
WINTER’S COLD
—Joe Nolan
Winter is the coldest word.
White the coldest color
That shrouds the world
Beneath its snow
In weary months,
Still to go,
Before there’s fresh, green fields.
A time of rest
For resting things
Like bears borne-down in sleep, but
Wolves are running still,
Through forests,
Steaming forth each breath,
Searching for the weakest ones,
The easiest to death,
Warm meat to eat.
Oh! Winter, cold!
Bane of those who’ve
Yet grown old
And are unsure of feet,
Lest they fall
And break a hip,
Taken down
By ice, below,
Frozen in the night
After warmer day.
—Public Domain Photo Courtesy of Joe Nolan
SURVIVAL OF WILL
—Joe Nolan
Does the will to live
Disappear upon death,
Or does such will survive?
Why do ghosts
Appear as though mists,
Looking somewhat similar
To their hosts,
When they were alive?
Do they try to connect with the living,
To find someone who still cares
For their souls—
Fallen to shadows,
Trapped between panes of glass
In the afterlife?
—Public Domain Photo Courtesy of Joe Nolan
INSOMNIA AND FLIGHT
—Joe Nolan
There’s what you do
And why you do it.
From the outside,
Things you do
Might look the same,
But inside,
It’s a question of
Altruism versus
Compulsion,
Of drawn-to
Versus dread,
Of living in light
Versus wishing for death.
Oh, insomnia!
The incinerator of souls
Melter of all things metal—
Good, bad or indifferent.
Stripper-away
Of virtue and glaze—
The luster-shine of wax.
It hobbles a walking-pace,
Hollowing-out
Your inner-space
Where there should be a soul.
If you miss your nightly flight with the angels,
What good could you be the next day?
Pray for a peaceful death, each night
And consign yourself to the stars
With abandon,
Into a lover’s arms.
___________________
Today’s LittleNip:
—Robert Fleming
___________________
Welcome to the tail-end of turkey time! Our bountiful poetry and visuals today are indeed Bountiful (our Seed of the Week), as we all recover from Thanksgiving’s tryptophanic family fun and frolic. Be sure to check each Tuesday for the latest Seed of the Week, and you’d better hit the treadmill—Christmas feasts are just around the corner!
___________________
—Medusa
—Public Domain Photo Courtesy of Joe Nolan
A reminder that
David Holper and Andrena Zawinski
will read at Sac. Poetry Center tonight.
For info about this and other
upcoming poetry happenings in
Northern California and otherwheres,
click on
UPCOMING NORCAL EVENTS
(http://medusaskitchen.blogspot.com/p/wtf.html)
in the links at the top of this page—
and keep an eye on this link and on
the daily Kitchen for happenings
that might pop up
—or get changed!—
during the week.
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.
Find previous four-or-so posts by scrolling down
under today; or there's an "Older Posts" button
at the bottom of this column; or find previous poets
by typing the name of the poet or poem
into the little beige box at the top
left-hand side of today’s post; or go to
Medusa’s Rapsheet at the bottom of
the blue column at the right
to find the date you want.
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!
David Holper and Andrena Zawinski
will read at Sac. Poetry Center tonight.
For info about this and other
upcoming poetry happenings in
Northern California and otherwheres,
click on
UPCOMING NORCAL EVENTS
(http://medusaskitchen.blogspot.com/p/wtf.html)
in the links at the top of this page—
and keep an eye on this link and on
the daily Kitchen for happenings
that might pop up
—or get changed!—
during the week.
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.
Find previous four-or-so posts by scrolling down
under today; or there's an "Older Posts" button
at the bottom of this column; or find previous poets
by typing the name of the poet or poem
into the little beige box at the top
left-hand side of today’s post; or go to
Medusa’s Rapsheet at the bottom of
the blue column at the right
to find the date you want.
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!
(A cookie from the Kitchen for today)
navigating life~
fitting a big ship
into a small harbor…