Thursday, April 13, 2017

Mayflower Breeze

Ocean West Drive (Silkscreen, 1974)
—Poems by B.Z. Niditch, Brookline, MA
—Artwork by Helen Frankenthaler (1928-2011)



PLYMOUTH

Amid the rocks
and sand on the beach

the trees reached out
after the storm hid me

in the Mayflower
breeze

glowing in the
sun shower.



 Blue Atmosphere, 1963



ROCKPORT

This time against
the water and ibis

from Pigeon Cove
to the harbor of waters

flowing out of the mouth
of breezes blowing off the shore

paths of knowing the intense
love of nature.



 Mountains and Sea, 1962



HELEN FRANKENTHALER

At the paintings
Jacob's Ladder

and Mountains
and the Sea


the surging ocean
in the rudder’s tides

you navigate
your oils

in painted spirals
from whirlpools of motion.



 Jacob's Ladder, 1957



LOCKED IN CABIN FEVER
(JOHN CLARE)

Locked in cabin fever
becoming a believer

first in sorrow and sadness
then in tomorrow's madness

then in despair
was I upon my bed

John Clare
lived in dread.



 Cloud Burst, 2002



SIMONE WEIL

I feel your
long suffering

in a pure soul
that sought for justice

as a fearless cloud
being assured

another will take
your hand.



 The Human Edge, 1967



NEWS

Access
to the process

of deciphering news
with banner headlines

behind unmasking
deadlines

asking for a manner
of what you choose

to believe the press
by asking questions

demanding answers
the public will still

in private lose in views
to testify with intelligence

as they spy to impress
and we the public

confess to a chance crisis
of surveillance only to guess.

_____________________

Today’s LittleNip:

WHEN
—B.Z. Niditch

When there are
war clouds in the air

pray for peace
do not despair

be aware of life
not of strife

your mind's thoughts
are beyond compare.

____________________

Many thanks to B.Z. Niditch for his fine poems today!

National Poetry Month continues throughout April; frank andrick sent a link to Tweetspeak and its poetry coloring book for National Poetry Month: www.tweetspeakpoetry.com/2016/03/24/de-stress-way-national-poetry-month-new-coloring-page-poems-coloring-book/. Tweetspeak is a fun site for poets, including poetry prompts, poem-a-day, and lots of articles. Check it out at www.tweetspeakpoetry.com/.

—Medusa



 —Anonymous Photo
Celebrate poetry tonight at Poetry Unplugged at 
Luna’s Cafe, 8pm,  featuring Josh Hernandez and 
Ian Kappos plus open mic;
or harness up the filly and head over to Winters for 
Winters Out Loud (open mic), 15 Main St., 
Berryessa Gap, Winters, 7pm. Scroll down to 
the blue column (under the green column at the right) for info 
about these and other upcoming poetry events in our area—
and note that more may be added at the last minute.









Photos in this column can be enlarged by clicking on them once,
then click on the X in the top right corner to come back
to Medusa.