photography – panache, perhaps

Grace Paley (poem & photograph).

Published on 09/19/2018 by taylor mardis katz1 Comment

HERE

Here I am in the garden laughing
an old woman with heavy breasts
and a nicely mapped face

how did this happen
well that’s who I wanted to be

at last a woman
in the old style sitting
stout thighs apart under
a big skirt grandchild sliding
on off my lap a pleasant
summer perspiration

that’s my old man across the yard
he’s talking to the meter reader
he’s telling him the world’s sad story
how electricity is oil or uranium
and so forth I tell my grandson
run over to your grandpa ask him
to sit beside me for a minute I
am suddenly exhausted by my desire
to kiss his sweet explaining lips.

Grace Paley by Sylvia Plachy — Photo of Grace Paley in Vermont, taken by Sylvia Plachy

October 10 by Wendell Berry

Published on 10/10/2016 by taylor mardis katz1 Comment

Now constantly there is the sound,
quieter than rain,
of the leaves falling.

Under their loosening bright
gold, the sycamore limbs
bleach whiter.

Now the only flowers
are beeweed and aster, spray
of their white and lavender
over the brown leaves.

The calling of a crow sounds
loud—a landmark—now
that the life of summer falls
silent, and the nights grow.

***

New England Aster Misha M. Johnson — New England Aster by Misha M. Johnson

Springtime poem (mine).

Published on 04/07/2016 by taylor mardis katz2 Comments

It’s springtime,

fling yourself
into the green
time, in the
meantime,
while there’s still
time, it’s clean
time, out with
what we don’t need
time, you know
what I mean:
let’s deem ourselves
better than fine,
let’s drink the last
sip of winter’s
wine.

gossamer dandelion

photo by Misha M. Johnson

Tiny revelation poem (mine).

Published on 09/04/2014 by taylor mardis katzLeave a comment

Something I’ve Learned From Author Photos

I don’t have the right glasses

to be successful.

A marriage poem for abundance (mine).

Published on 07/09/2014 by taylor mardis katz1 Comment

Abundance

for Scott & Josh

There will be days of singing & days of silent throats

There will be days of bouquets & days of empty vases

There will be days of thirst & nights of drinking

There will be raspberry days & days of stale crusts of bread

There will be days of nails in the wall & artless days

There will be harvest days & long nights of winter

There will days to gather & days to await the gathering

May the thin days make the days of fullness all the sweeter

May your fruits be many and your backs be strong

as you launch together

into your days

of abundance

July 5, 2014

(photo of the couple’s first steps toward marriage by Misha M. Johnson)

Yesterday’s morning poem (mine).

Published on 05/14/2014 by taylor mardis katz1 Comment

Just your average morning shoving

three goatbutts into a bright blue Kia

then heading off to work. I drive

along the first branch of a river,

past brandnew calves, sideways barns,

and the sign that reads FROST HEAVE

AHEAD which no one’s taken down

because just seeing it makes the green

of the pastures an even sweeter sight.

The silos this morning are brimming

with the years they’ve seen, the guineas

bold enough to eat the grass that runs

along the road, and the local library

has its OPEN flag highfiving the wind.

On days like this, it feels like everyone

and their mother is pushing a wellworn

wheelbarrow in the direction of joy.

(That image is a poemjoke. Do you get it?)

Poem with coffee dregs in it (mine).

Published on 05/12/2014 by taylor mardis katzLeave a comment

READING

I know pour over coffee

is all the rage but

I like mine stovetop

black as dirt and thick on the bottom

with the dregs all aligned

for the purpose

of prophesy.

These days’ treasures (photographs).

Published on 04/07/2014 by taylor mardis katzLeave a comment

For those of you who know me, you know I’m all about treasures.

Treasures can be

tiny shells, tiny dice, tiny bowls, tiny anythings; gemstones, sea stones, strawberry rocks, shards of ceramic plates, glass beads, photos (especially tiny photos), small frames, a small loop of purple thread, ojos de dios, dried hot peppers, small envelopes, colored thread, tiny bottles, jars, & vials; smooth sticks, pieces of bone, anything small a friend finds and gives me, necklaces made of beads or braided string, seeds, seedpods, beans, a padron pepper, pendulums, foreign coins, photo cards, pretty drips of beeswax…

Here are some of my current treasure scenes.

So tell me: what are your treasures?

Hanging with friends beneath lightbulbs (& other details).

Published on 03/26/2014 by taylor mardis katzLeave a comment

Kenneth Koch! Why didn’t anyone ever tell me to read him before?! He makes me laugh! Here’s the only poem of his I knew of before the other night when I got really into reading him. It’s his perfect joke on William Carlos Williams:

Variations on a Theme by William Carlos Williams

1
I chopped down the house that you had been saving to live in next summer.
I am sorry, but it was morning, and I had nothing to do
and its wooden beams were so inviting.

2
We laughed at the hollyhocks together
and then I sprayed them with lye.
Forgive me. I simply do not know what I am doing.

3
I gave away the money that you had been saving to live on for the
next ten years.
The man who asked for it was shabby
and the firm March wind on the porch was so juicy and cold.

4
Last evening we went dancing and I broke your leg.
Forgive me. I was clumsy and
I wanted you here in the wards, where I am the doctor!

John Ashberry, Frank O’Hara, Patsy Southgate, Bill Berkson, Kenneth Koch., 1964 (photo by Mario Schifano)

In other news, I should not be allowed to use eBay. eBay is not a conversation. It’s not, You want this item? Cool! What do you like about it? Wanna think about buying it? eBay is YOU BOUGHT IT. (I may have just bought two purses by accident. I definitely bought one by accident.) Forgive me. I simply do not know what I am doing.

In other other news, it’s a good thing I have two bathtubs, because one of them is filled with 15 peeping baby chicks. Photos to follow. Kate suggested we dress them up and take pictures of them and give them names and personalities. Yeah….probably gonna do that.

So spring is here because of little yellow chicks, and also because of this beautiful, good-smelling, blooming hyacinth that I was given for my birthday. Otherwise, spring is still hibernating.

On the move!

Published on 10/30/2013 by taylor mardis katzLeave a comment

Dear friends & family,

We are moving, and it’s all boxes and car rides and hefting and hauling for the next week or so. If I don’t return your calls and emails right away, I Really Apologize! We’ll have internet as fast as we’re able at the new place. In the meantime, I recommend you go check out these farmy blogs: longest acres (who will soon be our neighbors), Oliver & Abrahams, and Cinnamon Girl. Also Rough Draft Farmstead.

And I will leave you with this parting gift: man of the (new) house. Before it had our stuff in it and before it got cold (it’s been snowing this morning).

See you on the other side!