Placerville, CA
—And then scroll down for
Form Fiddlers’ Friday, with poetry by
Nolcha Fox, Stephen Kingsnorth,
Caschwa, and Joshua C. Frank
TRAIL FROM WOODS TO CITY PARK
Wild grape entangles cottonwood and oak,
willow and even tall snags,
a tapestry of greens.
Mallard floats on a pond of liquid jade
like a vision of the wild
here at peace with itself.
Suddenly straight ahead on this quiet
hiking trail—cars whizzing by—
is this where the trail ends?
And then across our path a small hawk flies,
its taloned prey—a field mouse?—
trailing like a streamer.
Behind that bush, a loud buzzing—insect?
in coat of neon-green, with
weed-eater proboscis.
Wild grape entangles cottonwood and oak,
willow and even tall snags,
a tapestry of greens.
Mallard floats on a pond of liquid jade
like a vision of the wild
here at peace with itself.
Suddenly straight ahead on this quiet
hiking trail—cars whizzing by—
is this where the trail ends?
And then across our path a small hawk flies,
its taloned prey—a field mouse?—
trailing like a streamer.
Behind that bush, a loud buzzing—insect?
in coat of neon-green, with
weed-eater proboscis.
WHO’S BOSS HERE?
Dog comes in the door looking like he’s
gone haywire in sheaves of dead grass, stickers
and velcro-seeds. He won’t stand for a brushing,
but flops on the carpet in anticipation,
hind leg high in the air. Connoisseur of belly-rubs
is he. The black cat in Egyptian statue pose
sits centerpiece on the table, observing
without comment.
ON THE PHONE
The niece calls, asks how
I’m doing. I tell her we
have no water from
our faucets, I’m waiting for
my handyman’s call.
Then niece talks nonstop twenty
minutes about who-
knows-what—perseverance or
just plain boorish mindlessness?
DARE I HELP?
Bovine
drooping one ear
looking soulful and pained
he must have a foxtail under
long horn.
MYSTERIOUS DESTINATIONS
It took perseverance, but the post
office finally delivered my
package, sent from Livermore, checked in
at Sacramento Regional, sent
to Placerville then on to Sutter
Creek, again to Sac Regional, then
again to Placerville, at last to
me—just three days delayed. I guess my
package hates to see a journey’s end.
(If they’d used GPS to find me,
it never would have arrived at all.)
BLACKBERRIES IN AUGUST
I wander summer trails
in flights of phoebe fancy
on the sunstruck air—
does cougar cross my mind? yes
but the berries are delicious.
_________________
Today’s LittleNip:
SHY
—Taylor Graham
On deserted path, suddenly
a doe—quick! my camera—click
after click... but no photo, she
magicked herself away.
____________________
Our thanks to Taylor Graham for her fine poems and photos today. Wildfires are popping up everywhere around here these days, including near TG's home. Here's hoping for safety for our longtime SnakePal, Taylor Graham.
Forms TG has used this week include a Kimo Chain (“Trail from Woods to City Park”); a Choka (“On the Phone”); some Normative Syllabics (“Mysterious Destinations”); a Word-Can Poem (Who's Boss Here?); a Ryūka (Shy); a Didactic Cinquain that is also a response to Medusa's Ekphrastic photo from last week (“Dare I Help?”); and a Tanka (“Blackberries in August”). The Didactic Cinquain was one of our Triple-F Challenges last week, and Perseverance was our Tuesday’s Seed of the Week.
In addition to El Dorado County’s regular workshops (go to http://medusaskitchen.blogspot.com/p/wtf.html and scroll down to Workshops), Moira Magneson and Robert McNally will have a conversation tomorrow, 7pm, at The Bookery in Placerville about his new book about John Muir and indigenous peoples, Cast Out of Eden; and next Monday, Poetic License read-around will meet in Placerville, 10:30am.
For more news about El Dorado County poetry—past (photos!) and future—see Taylor Graham’s Western Slope El Dorado Poetry on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ElDoradoCountyPoetry or see Lara Gularte’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/382234029968077/. (Poetry is Gold in El Dorado County!) And of course you can always 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 now it’s time for…
FORM FIDDLERS’ FRIDAY!
Check out our recently-refurbed 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 and other ways of poetry. 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 photo brought a response from Nolcha Fox, two from Stephen Kingsnorth, and one from Caschwa (Carl Schwartz):
SOME DAYS I CALL BULLSHIT
—Nolcha Fox, Buffalo, WY
Days like today are never worth
the work of getting up.
My hair’s a mess
no comb can cure.
One horn goes
everywhere but right.
How can I bully cows around
when I am such a sight?
I know the herd is giggling
when my big back is turned.
Today is shit,
I’ll just give up
and go out for a beer.
* * *
ROUND THE HORN
—Stephen Kingsnorth, Coedpoeth, Wrexham, Wales
This story, short of shaggy yak
is sort, just so, of why might be,
of how first cattle, would-be scene,
but escapee, just one stood firm.
With cloven hooves, two-finger toes
the lazy cows let horns arise,
but here, in independent steer,
it found a spin made talking point.
This chubby checker, make up time,
‘let’s twist again’ its daily theme,
a scheme raising Facebook profile,
‘What’s up?’ in WhatsApp portraiture.
So now it welcomes tourist lens,
another shot, endearing face,
as patiently, but with good grace
it waits space to adjust again.
Were it a bull, there’s cape involved—
bold matador, calms Carmen’s ways—
with noise, wave tides as Cape Horn throws,
but, settle down, you shaggy dog.
* * *
BEYOND THE FRINGE
—Stephen Kingsnorth
Why would our hairstyle cause such angst,
from perm to rinse, those blues and curls
to shjpshape scalping, crewcut clean,
and lanky strands, male hippie stance,
though beehive, bouffant hair-raising
while Afro claimed proud heritage.
Though Beatle fringe passed muster lines—
bald staff wore wigs, combover strives—
my school expulsions, shoulder length,
effective Stones and Animals,
our heroes, disestablishment—
as Jimi Hendrix, Woodstock pile.
Like paper, hair clips mother wore—
and hatpins that my grandpa saw
held not a fashion statement rôle,
as rainbow bands, grips, ties today,
flamboyant scrunchies, bobbles, rings
for plaited pig or pony tails.
* * *
WHERE DID MY VERTIGO?
—Caschwa, Sacramento, CA
first up
then down
completely lost track
of my footing
maybe
it’s time
to shorten my mane
deforest it
I used
to be
able to stand here
sure-footedly
just gaze
at all
that there was to see
like I owned it
now I
am bound
to spin endlessly
ad nauseam
* * *
Carl played his fiddle on yet another form of Cinquain, the Oddquain. Here is a chain of ‘em:
MAN OF LETTERS
—Caschwa
picks
random words
carefully to fill
a sentence or paragraph
up
it
doesn’t rhyme
or carry meter
just states an idea that is
odd
he
signs his name
under the title
which he got from random words
too
this
ownership
eventually
may be worth dollars and cents
hah!
* * *
Here is a Villanelle from Joshua Frank as he, too, chases sleep:
—Caschwa
picks
random words
carefully to fill
a sentence or paragraph
up
it
doesn’t rhyme
or carry meter
just states an idea that is
odd
he
signs his name
under the title
which he got from random words
too
this
ownership
eventually
may be worth dollars and cents
hah!
* * *
Here is a Villanelle from Joshua Frank as he, too, chases sleep:
ENDLESS DREAMING
—Joshua C. Frank
I lunge ahead in bed and start to scream.
The nightmare’s end is far; I’m still inside
A dream within a dream within a dream.
I fall out my front door at heights extreme
(Since now my house sits on a mountainside);
I lunge ahead in bed and start to scream.
My bed becomes a boat and floats downstream;
I’m carried out to where the waves are wide—
A dream within a dream within a dream.
I wake up on my boat at dawn’s first gleam.
I’m sucked beneath the waves by roaring tide!
I lunge ahead in bed and start to scream.
The things in dreams are never what they seem.
I navigate this world without a guide:
A dream within a dream within a dream.
No longer can I trust a morning beam.
Will someone stop this endless nightmare ride?
I lunge ahead in bed and start to scream—
A dream within a dream within a dream.
(prev. pub. in The Society of Classical Poets)
* * *
On last Monday’s post, Carl Schwartz mentioned in his “After Bar Mitzvah” that he was poor at sight reading on the piano, and Stephen Kingsnorth responded by email that he wasn’t any good at it, either. This photo, also posted that day by Medusa, struck a “chord” (pardon the pun) with Stephen, so he sent this Ekphrastic poem:
WHETHER EAR
—Stephen Kingsnorth
Each Monday night, slow metronome,
my music teacher cracked the whip.
I learnt a piece, could execute,
and duly passed exams in line,
Distinction, Merit—‘poor at sight’—
C Major, slow, distinct delight.
But having learnt, I played by ear,
and not by reading notes. Aware
I never mastered play by sight:
what kind of teacher fails to see
I learnt the text then parrot played?
But now when house is empty site,
I plant myself upon that stool
and roll out favoured hymns of youth,
a weather ear on key turn click
that tells me I should close the lid.
I’m caught when older neighbour rings
to thank my wife for concert time;
my forte, many tunes are Welsh—
“Cwm Rhondda”, “Calon Lân”, et al.
* * *
And we close with some waggery from Stephen, based on my struggles with the local deer over my poor wee tomato plants. Last Monday I commented on the plants’ perseverance in sending up new shoots and blossoms. Stephen wrote: “…good to hear your plants are preparing a second course on the menu for that saucy Jane D…”
So Stephen sent an Ekphrastic based on our Jane Doe. If puns were a crime, Stephen would’ve been clapped in the slammer long ago:
—Stephen Kingsnorth
Each Monday night, slow metronome,
my music teacher cracked the whip.
I learnt a piece, could execute,
and duly passed exams in line,
Distinction, Merit—‘poor at sight’—
C Major, slow, distinct delight.
But having learnt, I played by ear,
and not by reading notes. Aware
I never mastered play by sight:
what kind of teacher fails to see
I learnt the text then parrot played?
But now when house is empty site,
I plant myself upon that stool
and roll out favoured hymns of youth,
a weather ear on key turn click
that tells me I should close the lid.
I’m caught when older neighbour rings
to thank my wife for concert time;
my forte, many tunes are Welsh—
“Cwm Rhondda”, “Calon Lân”, et al.
* * *
And we close with some waggery from Stephen, based on my struggles with the local deer over my poor wee tomato plants. Last Monday I commented on the plants’ perseverance in sending up new shoots and blossoms. Stephen wrote: “…good to hear your plants are preparing a second course on the menu for that saucy Jane D…”
So Stephen sent an Ekphrastic based on our Jane Doe. If puns were a crime, Stephen would’ve been clapped in the slammer long ago:
TOMATO SAUCE
—Stephen Kingsnorth
A source of cheeky pleasure that
for Baby Jane, a second course
may soon be served up on a plate.
You maybe think, it’s saucy tail
that flickers as it eats your fruit.
From perplexed ‘Doh?’ see, all it means,
we could have been, all this time, friends.
___________________
Many thanks to today’s writers for their lively contributions! Wouldn’t you like to join them? 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!
•••Diminishing Verse: https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/diminishing-verse-poetic-form
•••AND/OR now try the Diminishing Hexaverse, which is completely different:
•••Diminishing Hexaverse: https://poetscollective.org/poetryforms/diminishing-hexaverse
•••AND/OR re-visit the Oddquain, like Carl Schultz did (see above):
•••Oddquain (and variations): www.shadowpoetry.com/resources/wip/oddquain.html
•••See also the bottom of this post for another challenge, this one an Ekphrastic one.
•••And don’t forget each Tuesday’s Seed of the Week! This week it’s “The Dangers of Winning”.
____________________
MEDUSA’S FORM FINDER: Links to poetry terms mentioned today:
•••Choka: poetscollective.org/poetryforms/choka
•••Cinquain, Didactic: https://poetscollective.org/poetryforms/didactic-cinquain
•••Diminishing Hexaverse: https://poetscollective.org/poetryforms/diminishing-hexaverse
•••Diminishing Verse: https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/diminishing-verse-poetic-form
•••Ekphrastic Poem: notesofoak.com/discover-literature/ekphrastic-poetry
•••Kimo: www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/kimo-poetic-form AND/OR poetscollective.org/poetryforms/kimo
•••Normative Syllabics: hellopoetry.com/collection/108/normative-syllabic-free-verse AND/OR lewisturco.typepad.com/poetics/normative-syllabic-verse
•••Oddquain (and variations): www.shadowpoetry.com/resources/wip/oddquain.html
•••Ryūka: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryūka
•••Oddquain (and variations): www.shadowpoetry.com/resources/wip/oddquain.html
•••See also the bottom of this post for another challenge, this one an Ekphrastic one.
•••And don’t forget each Tuesday’s Seed of the Week! This week it’s “The Dangers of Winning”.
____________________
MEDUSA’S FORM FINDER: Links to poetry terms mentioned today:
•••Choka: poetscollective.org/poetryforms/choka
•••Cinquain, Didactic: https://poetscollective.org/poetryforms/didactic-cinquain
•••Diminishing Hexaverse: https://poetscollective.org/poetryforms/diminishing-hexaverse
•••Diminishing Verse: https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/diminishing-verse-poetic-form
•••Ekphrastic Poem: notesofoak.com/discover-literature/ekphrastic-poetry
•••Kimo: www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/kimo-poetic-form AND/OR poetscollective.org/poetryforms/kimo
•••Normative Syllabics: hellopoetry.com/collection/108/normative-syllabic-free-verse AND/OR lewisturco.typepad.com/poetics/normative-syllabic-verse
•••Oddquain (and variations): www.shadowpoetry.com/resources/wip/oddquain.html
•••Ryūka: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryūka
•••Tanka: poets.org/glossary/tanka
•••Villanelle (rhymed or unrhymed): www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/poetic-forms-villanelle
•••Word-Can Poem: putting random words on slips of paper into a can, then drawing out a few and making a poem out of them
___________________
—Medusa
•••Word-Can Poem: putting random words on slips of paper into a can, then drawing out a few and making a poem out of them
___________________
—Medusa
Today's Ekphrastic Challenge!
Make what you can of today's
picture, and send your poetic results to
kathykieth@hotmail.com/. (No deadline.)
* * *
—Public Domain Photo
Courtesy of Joe Nolan
Make what you can of today's
picture, and send your poetic results to
kathykieth@hotmail.com/. (No deadline.)
* * *
—Public Domain Photo
Courtesy of Joe Nolan
A reminder that
Rhythm & Truth Spoken Word Show
takes place in Sacramento tonight, 7pm.
For info about this and other
future 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?
Guidelines are at the top of this page
at the Placating the Gorgon link;
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!
Rhythm & Truth Spoken Word Show
takes place in Sacramento tonight, 7pm.
For info about this and other
future 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?
Guidelines are at the top of this page
at the Placating the Gorgon link;
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!
