intentional pompadour …southern culture in images and words…
It’s Our Second Anniversary! fall 2019
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intentional pompadour ‌southern culture in images and words‌ is a free quarterly zine based out of Augusta, Georgia and published by Betsey Venom submissions accepted by southern creatives and subscriptions are available for $10/year send your work or subscription request in the body of an email to: betseyvenom@yahoo.com if you are published, you will receive a copy of the issue in which your work is featured and you will retain all rights to your work issue 8 fall 2019 find intentional pompadour online at: facebook.com/intentionalpompadour issuu.com/intentionalpompadour
Welcome to Fall! It’s Our 2nd Anniversary!
Hello and welcome to the fall 2019 issue of Betsey Venom’s intentional pompadour. It’s a biggie. We are celebrating here! This issue marks our second year of existence, and we wouldn’t be here without you the reader or all of the contributors who share their talents and bring light into the world. This issue features a ton of new-to-the-zine poets, so kick back and enjoy. As usual, there is no rhyme nor reason nor table of contents here, so flip the pages at your leisure to find the following: •
Poetry! Oh man, do we have the poetry! Check out the contributors for this issue: • Augusta, Georgia poet Jezibell Anat: “Prophecy of the Swamp Witch” and three of her haikus • Cumming, Georgia poet T. Leon Bigham: “Acrostics” • North Augusta, South Carolina poet Kathy Kotz: “Three Haikus” • Venice, Florida poet Kimberly Laettner: “Ethereal Pieces” and “Destiny in Tune” • Savannah, Georgia poet Echo LaVeaux: “Balsamic Moon” • Augusta, Georgia poet J. Martin-Moses: “Maternal” • Augusta, Georgia poet Middlecat: “Fissures of Men” • Augusta, Georgia poet Catherine Zickgraf: “Eighth Grade” and “Heroin User in Montreux”
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Augusta, Georgia chef Jai West from Go West Catering joins the zine family. Give her green hummus recipe a try. You’ll be thanking me for including it in this issue.
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Augusta, Georgia columnist Magnolia Lee returns with exciting Augusta fall festival information in her column Art Corner.
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Aiken, South Carolina musician Michael Eubanks shares “The Songs in Those Railroad Tracks,” the fourth featured story in his series Stories From Nashville and Music Row.
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Augusta, Georgia artist Francie Klopotic offers her portrait of Salvador Dalí.
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Last but not least, find out about Quickies at Le Chat Noir. Get your writer’s cap on and try out for a chance to have your original play accepted and performed at Augusta’s own black box theatre!
Email me at betseyvenom@yahoo.com if you’d like to be a part of this project. I am unable to pay in $ but will mail you a hard copy of the issue where your work is featured. You retain all rights to your work. Thanks for coming along. Enjoy the ride, and always remember to stay intentional!
DESTINY IN TUNE By Kimberly Laettner 
 Letting go in the ease of a dream we slip buoyed on the ether of awareness we tread the faded path ambling along in search of a tribe stepping in tune to destiny’s rhythmic beat. Call out the masses in hand as movement strikes a chord with the band we march on to the music of the mind, together or alone in the beauty of life we find a place that we can be free, to finally be. I heard the voices of the dead, like children whispering sweet secrets
never meant to tell, but we spill the beans in hope of finding one who will see all that we see, to hear the harmony we will create as voices rise into the starry night we come out to play once more without fear of the things that go bump in the night for we have the edge of a burning light, like a song whose words had been forgotten, we sing it loud gathering at the feast of the rhapsody, supping on the brilliance of the universe alive.
K. L. Laettner is a published author and poet from Venice Florida, via Hamburg NY. She resides in paradise with her husband and number one fan, Jeffery, and a menagerie of four-legged furry children. Tales From The Thrift and Diary of a Middle-Aged Mermaid are her first two fiction books, and both can be found on Amazon or at talesfromkllaettner.square.site. You can find her poetry blog with over 4,200 followers at zipsrid.wordpress.com
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ACROSTICS by T. Leon Bigham Georgia Generosity Endures Originality Resonates Gravy Is Allowed
Alabama Anyone Lost Ask Bubba About Maps Anytime
Louisiana Loves Oysters Under Intense Sauce In A Native Atmosphere
“I earned my Masters in March 2011 at University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL. I have been writing poetry since fifth grade, fifty years of words needed for catharsis.” - T. Leon Bigham
MATERNAL
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by J. Martin-Moses Her curves of life Forever a curious obscurity No finer home exists Oh sweet inner beauty Gifted is she To honor to grace Holding GOD’S breath of life in place Swaddled; Sheltered from all harm. Received by you from our LORD’S arm. Life! Such sweet blessing.
J. Martin-Moses resides in Augusta, GA where her passion for writing poetically speaks to and through the heart. Raised in Brooklyn, NY, she has always had a love and appreciation for the Arts. Just as her work demonstrates a fusion of City sass and Southern charm, she wanted to bridge the gap between musicians and poets; singers and spoken word artists. With this in mind, she answered the call of Mad Studios to begin hosting their weekly open mic sessions. It was there that she debuted her first original playwright “1st Works Spoken—The Play”. She later hosted weekly open mic sessions at That Place Coffee Shop and Joe’s Underground; all to unite the various artistic communities of the CSRA.
FISSURES OF MEN by Middlecat Pensive repenters revolve about the epicenter, where the denser splinters split and sink into the tender tissue fissures. Fishers of men bait bays to catch the passing rays of radiance squandered on fragile frames that cannot recall from where they crawled from the mire to evolve then be absolved. Aren't we all just crawling half-fish fishers of men? The atomic aquatic comprises 78% of the me you see. Though underneath, I'm evolved. I see God manifest in the changes. I see God in the order that springs from chaotic forms.
For, numbers represent parts of the whole, And symbols suggest something more as I've been told. For, knowing cannot be stolen in the night. The half-realized delight of plight and surmised insight is but a fleeting glance of being that only lasts so long. My senses can be wrong. For, the splits that sink leaves spaces in-between. And as Cohen said, that's how the light gets in. Fissures let the light inside, and from the divide a light unites.
ETHEREAL PIECES by Kimberly Laettner
We dominate the morning in blue hued whispers the echo of the tattered shoes move within the lines decorated with pavement made of shells as the heat rises with the sun. We run for the beat within still heard ten years gone the disease at bay as cars rush by too close for comfort we breathe the coming of dawn. I feel each step on calloused heels old and weary I move slower as time moves by and as I turn the curve to face the wind alive in the moment I soar. Sweat dampened skin glistens as the sun finds a soul like the ethereal pieces of the dying dragonfly
trapped in the latticed grill I set it free in pieces it falls, its essence empty. In living we die daily bit by bit we move through our moments trying to hang onto the self of yesterday with the breath of belief that we will fly away from death. Our wings caught in the hidden spaces where we chose to meander we lose the strength to set ourselves free waiting on the hands of the universe to guide us down roads of dreams. Still I walk these paths in eagerness and hope for something more each day to find and for the sight of the sky that beckons dipping into the energy stores to continue.
PROPHECY OF THE SWAMP WITCH by Jezibell Anat Think how it was time was beginning, All of space was shifting and spinning. A vortex of fire flew out of the sun, Gathering stardust as it spun. This mass of flame and dirt kept churning, Forming a planet as it was turning, Then it cooled and started to settle, As soil and sand, rock and metal. Hi the waters began to flow, The oceans to dance and the winds to blow. Life commenced in that salty sea, Evolving through the swirling deep As shapeless cells we took a breath, Beginning the cycle of birth and death. Moving from water onto land, We learned to crawl and then to stand, Fish and reptile, bird and mammal, All size and form and type of animal. Humans appeared upon the plains Puny critters with oversize brains. They ravaged the world with their tricks and tools, But they’ve become the biggest fools, Living on cables and optics and plastic. No wonder their minds are becoming spastic! This here’s the last of the natural places, The forest primeval, the untamed spaces, Destroy the swamp, and the earth will die, And people will be the first to fry.
Photo by Andi Sinclair
Jezibell Anat is an actress, writer and dancer who moved to Augusta from New York City with her husband Joseph Zuchowski (Joe) at the end of 2007. She was involved in independent and original theatre in Manhattan, and now she is the co-creator and organizer of Quickies, the short play festival featuring original scripts by local authors at Augusta’s black box theatre, Le Chat Noir.
THREE HAIKUS by Kathy Kotz
Sweet sweet dog of ours. No new tricks just same old love. We love her so much. My favorite fall. Football, food and great colors. Oh yeah, and baseball! The boys of summer. What a fun time you give us. Thanks for the love, guys!
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BALSAMIC MOON by Echo LaVeaux You’ve been called the Wishing Moon The cup of plenty, the chalice of life As you sail through the sky, collecting dreams Pulling from us our innermost wishes Preparing us to receive those things we desire At the beginning of another Moon From “Echo LaVeaux’s Book of the Moon,” available at Amazon.com
THREE HAIKUS by Jezibell Anat
DARK SUNSET Wreath of river mist. Black swans swim past the gravestones. The pines will not sleep. MIDNIGHT SKY Cloud whiskers tremble Lying uncut and uncombed On the cheeks of night. TRENDING Enlightened vampires Prefer to drink the blood of Vegetarians.
Call for Writers for Quickies 2020 Le Chat Noir, Augusta’s downtown black box theatre, is seeking original scripts by local authors for our eleventh annual short play festival. Performance dates are April 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 2020. Writer(s) must reside within the CSRA and environs, and there is no submission fee. We are accepting short plays, 5-15 pages, no monologues. We are open to all styles and genres; adult language and situations OK. Writers may submit up to 3 scripts. Please email them to lechataugusta@gmail.com. Put your contact information on the cover sheet only. Plays must be submitted in Word format, not PDF. This is a juried show, and cover sheets are removed before the plays are sent to adjudication.Scripts will be reviewed and ranked by our judges, and the top ones will be produced. If your play is selected, you will be notified in early February. Submission deadline is 11:59 pm, December 31, 2019.
Farewell, My Friend The Harv: 2011-2019
Welcome Cobie Coal aka C.C. da Chill
Over the summer, we at intentional pompadour had to say a sorrowful goodbye to our good boy Harvey, better known to readers as “The Harv.” His column was a fun little piece that reflected his kitten-like, playful personality. Just shy of his 8th birthday, Harvey succumbed to liver disease and died at home after three full years of battling an incurable illness. We have another good boy who is ready to take up where The Harv left off. His name is Cobalt, and he looks very much like Harvey. We adopted him from FUR of WNC, a Waynesville, North Carolina shelter that rescues displaced and abandoned cats. Cobalt’s column will be called Cobie’s Corner. Feel free to drop Cobie an email and ask him a question! Let’s get the ball rolling at betseyvenom@yahoo.com
IN THE KITCHEN WITH JAI WEST! Owner of Go West Catering
In her intentional pompadour debut, Jai offers us a simple yet delicious recipe for a signature dip! GREEN HUMMUS 1/2 POUND FRESH SPINACH 1/4 CUP CILANTRO 1 CUP CHICKPEAS 2 T TAHINI 2 GARLIC CLOVES 3 T FRESH LEMON JUICE SALT TO TASTE PUT ALL INGREDIENTS IN FOOD PROCESSOR AND BLEND UNTIL SMOOTH. YOU CAN "KICK IT UP A NOTCH" BY ADDING RED PEPPER FLAKES!
About Jai: “It was not my plan to spend my professional life in the hospitality and food industry. No one is more surprised than me, but here I am, 35 plus years later, still going strong and absolutely LOVING what I do! “I'm extremely passionate about what I do. I really enjoy being a part of someone's life moment...big or small. My objective is to make it even more memorable through food! I'm very easy to work with and do my best to fulfill the needs and desires of my clients. I'm reliable, organized and have an eye for details. And to top it off, I'm reasonably priced! If you hire me for your event I will personally be there to make sure everything goes as planned. “Please visit my Facebook page Go West Event Planning/Personal Chef to see what my satisfied clients have to say.”
EIGHTH GRADE by Catherine Zickgraf
We were empty-eyed cinderblocks, ringed keys unlocking the doorknobs. Among junior high’s sleepy congregation, an audience of our class’s generation, only some of us showed up praised and amen-ed. School taught me typing for college essays and gave me chances to run away. We’d flood from the school at 3:05— but only some return now for mid-life toasts. Just listen up for the morning announcement: we cannot know life while it lives so close.
HEROIN USER IN MONTREUX by Catherine Zickgraf We meet at a hook in the path. You lick your puncture, don’t look up, send the baggie down the hill in the wind. Should I interfere? rip out the venom you just sent in? I can relate. I too have sat in the dirt at the edge of a dream puncturing bruises, begging the sea to rise up and swallow me.
Catherine Zickgraf’s main jobs are to hang out with her family and write poetry. Her work has appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Pank, Victorian Violet Press and The Grief Diaries. Her recent chapbook, Soul Full of Eye, is published through Aldrich Press. Read and watch her at caththegreat.blogspot.com
Stories from Nashville and Music Row The Songs in Those Railroad Tracks An Essay by Michael Eubanks
(Photo credit: Flikr)
What is it about musicians and creative types that are consumed by wanderlust? The urge to explore, travel, experience new faces and places...whether you carry out your dreams or not. This was a favorite hang. Radnor Yards in Nashville. A huge southeastern hub for CSX, among others. When time permitted, I could park within 10' of the tracks and watch trains go by...mesmerized by the sights and sounds. All of my "old" favorite lines were represented. AT&SF becoming Santa Fe (blue/yellow, red/yellow/silver) then BNSF. Southern, Conrail, Florida East Coast, Norfolk Southern, Frisco, SOO Lines, Southern Pacific, Rio Grande, Wabash, Seaboard Coast Line, Atlantic Coast Line, Union Pacific, on and on. Colorful flags and paint schemes that were worn proudly on Diesel Locomotives that logged millions of miles on the rails. I was fortunate to meet some of the yard employees as well. One, in particular. He was an inspector and moved up the ladder. His name was "A.T." That's what he went by. I would have never known that A.T. was a former champion rodeo cowboy from the Midwest. He was relatively young, and slim, but had the walk of
a champion. A.T. and I would chat at times if he wasn't in a cart inspecting trains in the yard. He had been a rodeo champion for years, but at a cost. Years of large crowds, rough rides, dusty and dirty arenas, and trophies of all types were offset by steel plates, rods, screws, and other hardware that held him together. He told me that one day it all hit him...his career was getting to the point he wouldn't physically last much longer, and that he needed to find something else to do. A friend recommended welding, so he became a welder. He met welders that worked at Radnor Yards...so he applied. In a few short years, he worked his way up to "Inspector". Great pay and union work. A.T. taught me a lot about locomotives, the day to day activities in a rail yard...how to change springs or shoes on a railcar. It was always interesting. Soon, I found myself listening to the rhythmic thump thump thump of a railcar wheel that had a flat spot on it. I returned to my childhood many times while I was hanging out at Radnor. I was a kid...with my HO Gauge Tyco Train sets, or Lionel Warbonnet Locomotives...and I'm forever grateful to "A.T." for taking me back again.
(Photo credit: Michael Eubanks)
Michael Eubanks teaches music in Aiken, SC! Look him up and connect with him at www.facebook.com/MikeEubanksMusicLessons
Magnolia Lee’s Art Corner A Look at the Performing Arts Scene in Augusta Well, it’s September. If you live in Augusta and don’t live under a rock, then you know that means there are more art pickings than you can shake a stick at. If you are new to the area, you’re forgiven, but only for this year. You will be expected to know that Arts in the Heart of Augusta happens the third weekend of September, and right on its heels is the Westobou Festival the first week of October. Arts in the Heart is celebrating its 39th anniversary this year. A couple of hints when it comes to the festival. Take your time. This isn’t an event you can just come to and spend a few minutes here and there and leave. Stay for the long haul. Watch as many performances as you can. There’s all sorts of music including the new “Women Sing” featuring some powerhouse voices paying tribute to Lilith Fair. You can find any genre of music that’s your favorite. There’s even a stage devoted to jazz alone. Sadly, you can’t watch all the performances because they are taking place on five stages simultaneously! Your badge is good for the entire weekend so if you overdo it in the sun on Saturday, you can go home and rest and come back on Sunday. There are about 150 fine arts vendors who will be in booths along Broad Street. If you’ve got kids, then bring them. There’s a whole section just for children with performance and activities. Be sure to stop by the Book Tavern and say “hi“ to the artists who will be creating magic by painting as part of Artzilla and then make sure to buy a book from a local author in the Author Alley. There are about a dozen wordsmiths who have published books and will be there to sign them with a smile. One of the best things about Arts in the Heart is the food because it’s been prepared by your neighbors. Members of area cultural groups will have amazing cuisine from 23 nations so sample food from all parts of the world without leaving Broad Street. Badges tend to sell out before the event so get yours ASAP to get the advance discount. Then you’ll get a one weekend breather before the next big artsy event – the Westobou Festival. This year, the festival is centrally located near the Westobou Gallery on Broad, and unlike in years past, this year’s festival has no overlapping performances so you can take in everything. Speaking of taking in everything. If you do decide to go to all the events, buy a festival pass for the entire event. It’s your best value. A day in the life of Westobou starts in the morning and goes until late at night. Some special performers will be at the after-parties. There will be an art exhibition, yoga, poetry and lots of music. Be sure to stop by Westobou Central where there will be a Ferris wheel and more. And don’t forget about the meal series which is about more than just the amazing food. It’s about the whole experience associated with it. This popular piece was introduced last year. Look for badges and passes for both festivals online. Arts in the Heart is www.artsintheheartofaugusta.com, and for Westobou, check out www.westoboufestival.com.
The Artist Series: Salvador DalĂ An Art Series by Francie Klopotic
Graphite and Prismacolor on Bristol Board
Find Francie at www.francieklopotic.weebly.com
Fall Festivals in Augusta, Georgia ARTS IN THE HEART, SEPTEMBER 20-22, 2019
WESTOBOU FESTIVAL, OCTOBER 2-6, 2019