Ted Kooser, US Poet Laureate from 2004 to 2006. Photo by UNL Publications and Photography.

Anton Chekhov, the master of the short story, was able to see whole worlds within the interactions of simple Russian peasants, and in this little poem by Leo Dangel, who grew up in rural South Dakota, something similar happens.

One September Afternoon

Home from town

the two of them sit

looking over what they have bought

spread out on the kitchen table

like gifts to themselves.

She holds a card of buttons

against the new dress material

and asks if they match.

The hay is dry enough to rake,

but he watches her

empty the grocery bag.

He reads the label

on a grape jelly glass

and tries on

the new straw hat again.

Ted Kooser was US Poet Laureate from 2004 to 2006. He is a professor in the English Department of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He lives on an acreage near the village of Garland, Nebraska, with his wife Kathleen Rutledge, the editor of the Lincoln Journal Star.

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 ©2009 by Donal Heffernan, whose most recent book of poetry is

“Duets of Motion,” Lone Oak Press, 2001. Poem reprinted by permission of Donal Heffernan.

Introduction copyright ©2010 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. We do not accept unsolicited manuscripts.

American Life in Poetry ©2006 The Poetry Foundation

Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

This column does not accept unsolicited poetry.

LUCERNE, Calif. – Harbor Village Artists will have free demonstrations from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 14.

The artists' colony is located at 6197 E. Highway 20 in Lucerne.

Learn to create a straw hat with the straw hat blocking technique from Toni Stewart at Lakeside Art Gallery, pine needle rim on a gourd with Rebecca Stark at The Gourd Gallery, create a dream catcher with willow, gourd or metal with Luwana Quitiquit at the Pomo Fine Art Gallery and learn how to create your own unique design on a jean jacket with Diana Liebe at Serendipity Art & Boutique.

The Lower Lake Historic Schoolhouse Museum in Lower Lake, Calif., will host the 17th annual Quilt and Textile Exhibition from Aug. 7 through 28, 2010. Courtesy photo.

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The public is invited to a free artist’s reception on Saturday, Aug. 14, from noon to 2 p.m. in the Weaver Auditorium at the Lower Lake Historic Schoolhouse Museum, 16435 Main St., Lower Lake.

Attendees can meet the artists at the reception and view demonstrations of weaving and spinning. Light refreshments will be served.

The Lower Lake Historic School Preservation Committee will host the 17th annual Quilt and Textile Exhibition which runs from Aug. 7 through 28.

Featured artists will include members of the Clear Lake Quilt Guild and Ladies of the Lake Quilt Guild; renowned, internationally acclaimed weaver Sheila O'Hara and her students; and members of the Sheep Thrills Spinning and Weaving Guild.

Works include quilts, weavings, tapestries, clothing and other fiber art items, in soft and subtle pastels to bold colors and textures.

Both the exhibit and reception are free.

For further information, call Dwain Goforth at the museum, 707-995-3565, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The local band Remnant has been invited to play at the Washington Monument in Washington, DC, on Saturday, September 11, and Sunday, 12, 2010. Courtesy photo.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – A small Lake County band known as Remnant has been invited to perform in Washington D.C. at the Washington Monument on the weekend of Sept. 11 and 12.

It is estimated that over one million people attended last year’s event, and this year promises to be even greater.

Join the band at 6 p.m. this Saturday, Aug. 14, as they prepare to represent Lake County in Washington, D.C.

The band will perform at a free benefit concert at the Soper-Reese Performing Arts Theatre, 275 S. Main St., Lakeport.

Local artists Jonathan Wynacht and Anna Mix, both sharing lead on vocals and acoustic-electric guitar, plus Joshua Hammond on bass and John Mix on drums, have been working together since 1992, serving and leading worship in an area church as well as Lakeport’s Library Park.

While developing a catalog of nearly 300 original songs, they produced and recorded their first project in 1994 and later produced two more CDs under Wynacht's own name. That first project was entitled “Remnant” and the name later stuck.

Today, as a small but seasoned Christian band, Remnant is incredibly honored for the opportunity to represent its hometown community at the nation’s capitol.

The free Saturday event will feature live and silent auctions aimed at allowing individuals the opportunity to share in the excitement of kicking off Remnant’s journey.

Also, Remnant will be performing a live, sneak-preview set of select songs slated for D.C., including new material only recently put down.

As the September date arrives, they will then begin posting their travels on Facebook.

“It doesn’t matter where people are from or where they are in life right now – we want them to be blessed,” the group said.

Ted Kooser, US Poet Laureate from 2004 to 2006. Photo by UNL Publications and Photography.

Marilyn Kallet lives and teaches in Tennessee. Over the years I have read many poems about fireflies, but of all of them hers seems to offer the most and dearest peace.

Fireflies

In the dry summer field at nightfall,

fireflies rise like sparks.

Imagine the presence of ghosts

flickering, the ghosts of young friends,

your father nearest in the distance.

This time they carry no sorrow,

no remorse, their presence is so light.

Childhood comes to you,

memories of your street in lamplight,

holding those last moments before bed,

capturing lightning-bugs,

with a blossom of the hand

letting them go. Lightness returns,

an airy motion over the ground

you remember from Ring Around the Rosie.

If you stay, the fireflies become fireflies

again, not part of your stories,

as unaware of you as sleep, being

beautiful and quiet all around you.

Ted Kooser was US Poet Laureate from 2004 to 2006. He is a professor in the English Department of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He lives on an acreage near the village of Garland, Nebraska, with his wife Kathleen Rutledge, the editor of the Lincoln Journal Star.

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 ©2009 by Donal Heffernan, whose most recent book of poetry is

“Duets of Motion,” Lone Oak Press, 2001. Poem reprinted by permission of Donal Heffernan.

Introduction copyright ©2010 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. We do not accept unsolicited manuscripts.

American Life in Poetry ©2006 The Poetry Foundation

Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

This column does not accept unsolicited poetry.