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Beginning writers often tell me their real lives aren't interesting enough to write about, but the mere act of shaping a poem lifts its subject matter above the ordinary.
Here's Natasha Trethewey, who served two terms as U. S. Poet Laureate, illustrating just what I've described. It's from her book Domestic Work, from Graywolf Press. Trethewey lives in Georgia.
Housekeeping
We mourn the broken things, chair legs
wrenched from their seats, chipped plates,
the threadbare clothes. We work the magic
of glue, drive the nails, mend the holes.
We save what we can, melt small pieces
of soap, gather fallen pecans, keep neck bones
for soup. Beating rugs against the house,
we watch dust, lit like stars, spreading
across the yard. Late afternoon, we draw
the blinds to cool the rooms, drive the bugs
out. My mother irons, singing, lost in reverie.
I mark the pages of a mail-order catalog,
listen for passing cars. All day we watch
for the mail, some news from a distant place.
American Life in Poetry does not accept unsolicited submissions. American Life in Poetry is made possible by The Poetry Foundation ( www.poetryfoundation.org ), publisher of Poetry magazine. It is also supported by the Department of English at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Poem copyright ©2000 by Natasha Trethewey, “Housekeeping,” from Domestic Work, (Graywolf Press, 2000). Poem reprinted by permission of Natasha Trethewey and the publisher. Introduction copyright © 2016 by The Poetry Foundation. The introduction's author, Ted Kooser, served as United States Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 2004-2006.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – One of the great things about living in Lake County is the closeness to nature and fascinating wild creatures.
This week, Cassie Hulbert of Clearlake had a visit from a Cooper's hawk in her backyard.
The hawk stopped in for a meal, Hulbert said.
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Middletown Senior Center was recently honored with a community champion award by Assemblymember Bill Dodd for the organization's passion and dedication to helping senior citizens and serving the community.
Lori Tourville, the executive director of the Middletown Senior Center, accepted the award on behalf of the organization.
"I’d like to thank Assemblymember Dodd for taking the time to recognize our organization,” said Tourville. “Our work at the senior center is a labor of love, and we look forward to continuing our work to provide a better quality of life for local seniors.”
The Middletown Senior Center is a private, nonprofit agency committed to providing quality services to the seniors of the Middletown, Cobb and Hidden Valley areas. They respond to the needs and interests of older adults and provide activities and services to help them maintain independence.
In the aftermath of the 2015 Valley fire, the Middletown Senior Center served as a disaster recovery center, connecting impacted residents with important services from the Department of Motor Vehicles, county records, Red Cross, Employment Development Department, Federal Emergency Management Agency and others.
“The Middletown Senior Center is a great resource for the community and represents the caring spirit of Lake County,” said Dodd. “Particularly in the wake of the devastating wildfires over the past couple of years, the Middletown Senior Center has gone above and beyond in caring for the community. They are the definition of a community champion.”
The Middletown Senior Center also offers a wide variety of programs and services to seniors, everything from congregate and home delivered meals, to adult day care and senior legal assistance. If you would like more information on the Middletown Senior Center, you can contact them at 707-987-3113.
Dodd represents the Fourth Assembly District, which includes all or portions of Lake, Napa, Sonoma, Yolo, Colusa and Solano counties. Learn more about the district at www.asm.ca.gov/dodd .
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Regional author Kevin Griffin will facilitate a daylong retreat titled “Living Kindness: Buddhist Teachings for a Troubled World” on Saturday, Dec. 3.
The retreat will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at A Positive Light Meditation and Spiritual Center at 6470 Kelsey Creek Drive in Kelseyville.
Loving kindness, or metta, is sometimes depicted as a simple “open your heart and love everybody” practice, but a closer look at the Buddha’s teachings reveals a more complex and nuanced picture.
In a time of great conflict and contention in our society, it can be extremely valuable to see how the Buddha addressed these relevant topics, such as, the challenges of living with other people; the risk of hating anyone, even your enemies; and the dangers inherent in conventional loving relationships.
Griffin uses his teachings on loving kindness to emphasize the importance of sila, or ethical behavior; the potential for opening into deeper meditative states of peace and equanimity; and the importance of developing a non-discriminating, unconditional love on the path of awakening. The retreat will include meditation, lecture, small group discussion, and questions and answers.
Griffin is a dharma teacher at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, Calif., and has authored several books on recovery and Buddhism, including “One Breath At A Time,” “A Burning Desire,” “Buddhism and the Twelve Steps” and his most recent book, “Recovering Joy.”
He is a leader in the mindfulness recovery movement and a founder of the Buddhist Recovery Network. A longtime Buddhist practitioner and 12-step participant, he teaches nationally on the synthesis of these two traditions.
Griffin is hosted by local meditation teacher, Reiki Master, and proprietor of A Positive Light in Kelseyville, Joanie Lane, and local author, mindfulness teacher and life coach, JoAnn Saccato, MA.
"Kevin is one of my favorite recovery authors. I feel so incredibly blessed and grateful for the opportunity to host him again this year," said Lane. "He is an internationally recognized author bringing his generous heart and message to us. It is a real gift."
"I appreciate his unique way of clearly bringing together mindfulness and recovery from a heart-centered space," said Saccato. "I'm looking forward to learning more about working with a loving kindness approach to difficult times and relationships."
Space is limited for the event. For more information registration, visit http://www.apositivelight.com or call Joanie Lane at 707-279-6031.
“Autumn leaves a fringe of frost when pumpkins turn to gold.” – from poetry by Myra Cohn Livingston
“When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock.” – James Whitcomb Riley, 1881
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – People have been carving their fall harvest veggies for display for over 10,000 years.
Gourds were frequently carved by the Maori as far back as 7,000 years.
Our current autumn pastime of visiting a pumpkin patch and selecting the perfect pumpkin for carving began in Ireland during the 19th century, not with pumpkins, but with hollowed turnips.
It was customary in Scotland and Ireland to celebrate the festival called Samhain. The Samhain festival, for those who believed, was when souls rambled about, therefore, the turnip carvings were designed to frighten the spirits.
Jack-o-lanterns as a concept, are derived from English folklore when “will-o-the-wisp,” a sort of glow which can occur over bogs or swamps, was simulated with carved lanterns.
Will-o-the-wisp was also known as “foolish fire,” when sticks or other combustible material was gathered, then lit as a light, or torch. There are numerous stories in folklore to describe will-o-the wisp, or jack-o-lanterns.
In some European countries the story of “Stingy Jack” is told, in which demons and villagers chase Jack.
The folktale gets quite involved, culminating with Jack cutting his trusty turnip into a lantern to roam the lands in search of respite.
Literature is peppered with pumpkins and Jack-o-lanterns.
For example, in Washington Irving's story, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” a pumpkin plays a part when one is found by Ichabod Cranes' cap.
Numerous poems portray pumpkins in their stanzas, such as John Greenleaf Whittier's “The Pumpkin” and “Totem” by Eamon Grennan.
You may choose to view a spinoff of cartoonist Charles Schulz' “Peanuts” comic in the animated television show called, “It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.” It's hard to believe that the Great Pumpkin is now 50 years old!
Kathleen Scavone, M.A., is a retired educator, potter, writer and author of “Anderson Marsh State Historic Park: A Walking History, Prehistory, Flora, and Fauna Tour of a California State Park” and “Native Americans of Lake County.” She also writes for NASA and JPL as one of their “Solar System Ambassadors.” She was selected “Lake County Teacher of the Year, 1998-99” by the Lake County Office of Education, and chosen as one of 10 state finalists the same year by the California Department of Education.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control has a mix of big and little dogs waiting for new homes this week.
Available dogs include mixes Anatolian Shepherd, Chihuahua, German Shepherd, Labrador Retriever, Papillon spaniel, pit bull, Rottweiler and wirehaired terrier.
Dogs that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed, microchipped and, if old enough, given a rabies shot and county license before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.
If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets hoping you'll choose them.
The following dogs at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (additional dogs on the animal control Web site not listed are still “on hold”).
Pit bull terrier mix
This female pit bull terrier mix has a short sable coat.
She's in kennel No. 5, ID No. 6245.
'Tank'
“Tank” is a male pit bull terrier mix with a short brindle and white coat.
He's in kennel No. 7, ID No. 6253.
'Calle'
“Calle” is a young female border collie mix with a medium-length black and white coat.
She already has been spayed.
She's in kennel No. 8, ID No. 6369.
'Perchuan'
“Perchuan” is a male Rottweiler mix with a short black and tan coat.
He's in kennel No. 11, ID No. 3557.
German Shepherd mix
This male German Shepherd mix has a short black and tan coat.
He's in kennel No. 13, ID No. 6328.
'Dutchess'
“Dutchess” is a female terrier mix with a short brown coat.
She already has been spayed.
She's in kennel No. 14, ID No. 6341.
'Paco'
“Paco” is a male terrier and Chihuahua mix.
He has a short reddish-brown coat.
He's in kennel No. 15, ID No. 6298.
'Beau'
“Beau” is a young male Anatolian Shepherd mix.
He has a short brown and white coat.
He's in kennel No. 19, ID No. 6399.
Pit bull terrier mix
This male pit pull terrier mix has a short blue and white coat.
He's in kennel No. 20, ID No. 6380.
Labrador Retriever mix
This female Labrador Retriever mix has a short black coat with white markings.
She already has been spayed.
She's in kennel No. 21, ID No. 6308.
Rottweiler mix
This female Rottweiler mix has a black coat with some brindle markings.
Shelter staff said she need some training and is manageable on a leash. They said she is a very nice dog and knows not to jump when excited. After proper introductions, she has gotten along with other dogs she has met, including off-leash play. She would do best in a home with no cats.
She's in kennel No. 25, ID No. 5947.
'King'
“King” is a wirehaired terrier mix.
He has a coarse brown coat.
King is in kennel No. 29a, ID No. 6332.
'Shadow'
“Shadow” is a male Papillon spaniel mix.
He has a long black coat with white markings.
He's in kennel No. 30b, ID No. 6334.
Pit bull puppy
This female pit bull puppy has a short black coat with white markings.
She's in kennel No. 30a, ID No. 6333.
'Calie'
“Calie” is a female shepherd mix with a short black and tan coat.
She already has been spayed.
She's in kennel No. 34, ID No. 5065.
To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .
Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .
For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.
Email Elizabeth Larson at