I love this short poem, which collects a fried chicken bucket of all too many dreary details and dresses them out in graceful formal rhyme.

It's by Matthew Buckley Smith, who lives in North Carolina, and is from the Fall, 2017, issue of Rattle, one of the best of the contemporary literary journals.

His most recent book of poems is “Dirge for an Imaginary World,” published by Able Muse Press.

Undergrads

The place we lived was only an idea,
Nothing to do with the failed cotton mill town
Where a record shop, some bars, and a pizzeria
Were all we ever cared to call our own.

From nightmares of a happy life with kids
We'd wake in boozy sweat to find the floor
Still cobbled with bottle caps and take-out lids,
Our twenties crumpled safely in a drawer,

Unspent like all the hours ahead that night
We met each other in the common room
And found somehow without the help of light
Our way across the river by the time

Dawn spilled down from the campus to the banks
We'd come to, single, sobered-up again,
To see the morning glories give their thanks
For things we had, and hardly noticed, then.

American Life in Poetry does not accept unsolicited manuscripts. It is made possible by The Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry magazine. It is also supported by the Department of English at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Poem copyright ©2017 by Matthew Buckley Smith, "Undergrads," from Rattle, (No. 57, Fall, 2017). Poem reprinted by permission of Matthew Buckley Smith and the publisher. Introduction copyright ©2018 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.

VENOM (Rated PG-13)

The best thing that “Venom” has going for itself as a superhero film in the Marvel Comics universe is that the titular figure, a creature of a lab experiment gone horribly wrong, does not take himself seriously.

Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy), a muckraking journalist who delights in being a contrarian, relishes annoying the editor of his man-on-the-street video interviews with his brash indifference to any boundaries.

Anxious to take down the haughty Carlton Drake (Riz Ahmed), a shady corporate titan modeled perhaps after Elon Musk, Gary blows up his romance with Anne Weying (Michelle Williams) by taking confidential information about his target from her computer.

True to his hell-bent nature, the motorcycle-riding Eddie turns a puff piece assignment of an interview with Drake to a full-blown inquisition about rumored lab research that resulted in wrongful deaths, and this ends up sending him to unemployment.

Cast adrift and struggling to find work, Eddie encounters Drake’s disgruntled scientist, Dr. Dora Skirth (Jenny Slate), and then penetrates Drake’s secret lab outside San Francisco where he’s exposed to a powerful symbiote that transforms him into alien creature Venom.

The alien invasion of his body turns Eddie in a schizophrenic character that goes on some hilarious rampages, such as jumping into a restaurant’s lobster tank and feasting on live crustaceans to the horror of the dinner patrons.

Even more zany is the riffing that Eddie has to endure with the alien symbiote who constantly mocks his host, egging him on to reckless behavior that winds up with thrilling chase sequences on the San Francisco streets.

There are satisfying moments when Eddie uses the unwelcome guest in his body to right some wrongs. His transformation into a grotesque monster saves the cashier at his favorite bodega from a menacing, gun-toting extortionist.

To a great extent, “Venom” is about Eddie’s endless stream of one-liners with the bantering Venom who turns nasty when he gets hungry and anxiously bites the heads off assorted bad guys.

“Venom” takes a bite out of the superhero genre, but one could reasonably ask if Eddie as Venom truly fits the mold or is he just an antihero fighting to protect civilization in spite of his predilections for mayhem.

There is something to be said, however, for the fact that Riz Ahmed’s Drake is a wealthy, self-absorbed psychopath who justly deserves to be on the receiving end of alien parasite destruction. “Venom” delivers, at least, on the righteous revenge.



‘A MILLION LITTLE THINGS’ ON ABC

When one television network discovers the success of a new format for a series, it’s inevitable that competitors will search for their own version to capture a receptive audience.

Arguably, that’s the case with “A Million Little Things” on the ABC network, where the similarity in theme and execution draws the almost inescapable conclusion that it is patterned, even if loosely, after NBC’s “This is Us.”

The basic story is about four guys that became friends after the ordeal of being trapped in an elevator, but one of them, Jon Dixon (Ron Livingston), soon departs this mortal coil when he inexplicably commits suicide in the first episode.

During the summer TV press tour, show creator DJ Nash told the assembled critics that he wanted to do a show “about a group of people who are all stuck in life,” which is appropriate as the four friends all met when they were stuck in an elevator.

Of this group of middle-aged friends that find common cause as die-hard fans of the Boston Bruins hockey team, Ron appears to have the most success as a developer with his life mostly in control, though he’s apparently unaware of his wife Delilah’s (Stephanie Szostak) infidelity.

Meanwhile, David Giuntoli’s Eddie Saville, a stay-at-home dad and musician, puts on a good façade while engaged in a steamy affair and planning his escape from an unrewarding marriage to Katherine (Grace Park), an intense workaholic attorney.

Rome Howard (Romany Malco), even though happily married, is an unfulfilled commercial director who yearns to use his talents on a feature film. He comes close to downing pills in a suicide attempt aborted only by persistent phone calls from Gary Mendez (James Roday).

As the fourth member of the band of friends, Gary probably has the best reason for pessimism given that he’s the very rare case of a male recovering from breast cancer and fearing the disease won’t stay in remission.

Moreover, Gary has the most personality given his wry sense of humor and his cavalier attitude toward everything. He’s connecting with Maggie (Allison Miller) in the breast cancer support group and brings her on a date to Jon’s funeral.

“A Million Little Things” should have surprises in store as the friends try to figure what Jon meant in his usual mantra that “everything happens for a reason.”

To that end, we may anxiously await to find out why Jon’s assistant Ashley (Christina Ochoa) is hiding the blue envelope that Jon left behind just before jumping off the balcony of his office patio.

Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Middletown Art Center’s Restore Project features a writers workshop with Georgina Marie this Saturday, Oct. 13, from 1 to 5 p.m.

Adults and children ages 12 and up are invited to write in the company of others in a safe a supportive environment. Writing exercises will include ancestor writing and an ode to Dia De Los Muertos, writing from objects, and visiting the MAC gallery to draw inspiration from the current exhibit, “A New Story.”

“A New Story” is the MAC’s Third Fire Anniversary exhibit. It includes work in response to the emergency, aftermath, living with fire, recovery, and rebuilding, and moving on to a new story – or new series of art works. A poignant show, participants will have opportunity to respond and express in words their own experience.

Please register in advance for all Restore classes at www.middletownartcenter.org/restore, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 707-809-8118. Space is limited and reservations are required.

Georgina Marie is Lakeport poet. She has been writing poetry for more than 15 years, is a regular contributor to the Record-Bee’s Creative Expression segment. She was one of three finalists for the 2018-2020 Lake County Poet Laureate term, and is a current member of the MAC Board of Directors. She is also facilitating the monthly Lakeport Writers circle for October, November and December of this year at the Main Street Gallery.

A participant in MAC’s Resilience writing and painting workshops in 2017-18 she co-curated the Resilience chapbook and reads regularly at MAC poetry readings.

During this fire anniversary season, she has participated in poetry readings in response to the North Bay 2017 fire in Mendocino and Napa counties and the 2018 Mendocino Complex fire that affected Lake and Mendocino counties.

Restore writing workshop participants will have opportunity to contribute to MAC’s second chapbook of writings and images, and to participate in quarterly readings readings or exhibition.

The first chapbook, “Resilience – a community reframes disaster through art,” is available for purchase at MAC or on the MAC Web site.

The Restore Project provides Lake County residents with low-cost art classes and the opportunity to learn or refine skills in a variety of materials techniques. Classes take place most Saturdays through May 2019. Fall and winter classes include clay, woodworking, metalworking, felting, concrete, dry point, block printing, and more. Late winter and spring classes will focus on personal and collaborative projects, studio time, mentoring and guidance to create personal and group work.

On Saturday, Oct. 20, Restore features pastel making from locally sourced natural materials with Channing Rudd, and on Oct. 27 Nicholas Hay will lead a dry point etching class. Please preregister at www.middletownartcenter.org/restore.

The Restore Project was made possible with support from the California Arts Council, a state agency, with additional support from local organizations, businesses and individuals.

Visit www.ca.arts.gov to learn more about the California Arts Council’s important work in communities and schools throughout California.

Middletown Art Center is located at 21456 State Highway 175 at the junction of Highway 29. Be a part of the growing arts scene in south Lake County by becoming a MAC member, by joining MAC this Saturday and participating in Restore, or by attending one of the many arts and cultural events or classes at MAC.

Visit www.middletownartcenter.org or “Like” Middletown Art Center on Facebook to stay up-to-date with what’s happening at MAC.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Psychedellos, along with The Fargo Brothers and other special guests, will perform at a special dance party on Friday, Oct. 19, at the Soper Reese Theatre.

The event begins at 7 p.m. Open seating tickets are $15 and the dance floor will be open.

The show is a fundraiser for the Jillian Billester Scholarship, established in 2015 and open to local area students showing a commitment to both the arts and their community.

The 2017 recipients were Gleb Kondratieb and Bianca Torres.

This year two more Lake County students will each receive a $1,000 scholarship which will be awarded at the concert.

The scholarship is in honor of the late Jillian Billester, one-time executive director of the Lake County Arts Council and the visionary behind the transformation of a shuttered 1947 movie theatre into what is today the Soper Reese Theatre, a renovated, vibrant performing arts center for the Lake County community.

Those wishing to make a contribution to the scholarship fund can contact Mike Adams at the Soper Reese at 263-0577 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Tickets to the benefit concert are now available at www.soperreesetheatre.com or at The Travel Center, 1265 S. Main St., Lakeport, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The theater is located at 275 S. Main St., Lakeport. For more information call 707-263-0577.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The theatre company that brought you Shakespeare at the Lake, “Animal Farm” and “The Producers” is at it again, this time with Rodgers and Hammerstein’s first collaboration, “Oklahoma!”

The joint production between the Lake County Theatre Co. and Mendocino College Lake Center is directed by John Tomlinson, who most recently directed “As You Like It” (also a co-production).

That show, you may recall, was originally to be performed outside at Library Park until the smoke from the River and Ranch fires and the eventual evacuation of Lakeport delayed production. Ultimately the Soper Reese stepped in and donated its venue so that the show could go on.

This current production got off to a bit of a rocky start also due, in part, to the evacuation. Originally the company wanted to do an edgier musical but were turned down for the rights due to a Broadway revival and touring version of the show (which shall remain nameless in the hopes that they can secure the rights in the near future).

In addition to delaying “As You Like It,” the fires pushed out the audition dates for “Oklahoma!”, and also cut into the rehearsal time for the show.

That was followed by a change up in casting for a couple of roles, but the smoke has cleared and LCTC and the college promise a show that will have you singing on your way out the aisles.

The cast and crew include many of the members of The Divas, a well known a Capella group in Lake County, including music director Marie Schrader. She was also the music director for last year’s hit production of “The Producers.”

Other members of the group appearing in this production are former member Claudia Listman, current members Susan Yeagan, Jo Fay, Barbara Clark and Laura Sammel.

Sammel, who plays Laurey, the headstrong farm girl, hasn’t been on stage with LCTC for quite a while, but she is well known for her role as the Wicked Witch in the 2012 production of “The Wizard of Oz.”

Clark plays Ado Annie the gal who “Cain’t Say No” and most recently appeared as Rosalind in “As You Like It” and Nellie in “South Pacific.” She is also the new director of the Lake County Arts Council.

But, the men in this production are also not to be ignored.

Stepping into the role of Curly is Tim Barnes. You may recognize him from just about anywhere in Lakeport. He is a former Mr. Lake County, the mayor pro tem of Lakeport and former co-owner of Cheese’s Pizza in Lakeport.

He could have been your propane guy, or your DJ, or you may have seen him working around the fairgrounds or on stage as Franz Liebkind in “The Producers” as the Nazi turned author turned actor whose most memorable line was, “I brrroke my leg!” Either way, his portrayal of Curly is not to be missed.

And, speaking of Mr. Lake County, this show features three of them. Former Mr. Lake County (2015) and Dancing with the Stars and Stripes pro Larry Richardson taps his way across the stage in “Kansas City” as Will Parker, the guy who gives Ado Annie an ultimatum in “All ‘Er Nothin’.” He’s been choreographing shows for the company for years, and now he’s stepping into the spotlight once again.

And, what LCTC production would be complete without an appearance by the current Mr. Lake County, Gary Deas, the man with a perpetual smile. You’ve seen him sneaking his trademark green tutu into every production since his reign began, but it will be hard to work it into this production in which he plays a hired hand with a morose and vindictive temperament whose obsession with Laurey takes a dark turn. The only time you will see his smile in this production is when you see his photo in the program.

Don’t miss this groundbreaking and innovative musical that gave us “People Will Say We’re In Love,” “Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin’” and “Oklahoma,” and set the standards and established the rules of musical theatre that are still being followed today.

Oklahoma! runs Oct. 26, 27 and 28, and Nov. 2, 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11 at the Soper Reese Theatre in Lakeport. Friday and Saturday performances are at 7 p.m. and Sunday performances are at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $22 and $17 in advance or $27 and $22 at the door and can be purchased at http://www.soperreesetheatre.com/ or via box office phone at 707-263-0577.

For more information please visit www.lctc.us .

UKIAH, Calif. – The Mendocino College Theatre Department is excited to announce its first ever showing of a production written by the award winning American playwright Tina Howe.

Museum will run for two weekends only, Oct. 19 to 28 in Mendocino College’s Center Theatre at the Ukiah Campus.

Tina Howe’s delightful comedy takes place in a major American museum of art. Over the course of the play, 40 people walk through the closing day of a modern exhibit. These characters include art lovers, skeptics, tourists, students, lost souls, fellow artists, and a very frustrated museum guard.

The play is about the movement and yearning of the people it involves. According to director Reid Edelman, one of the many delights of this farcical play is seeing the talented cast of 22 students and local actors embody the huge and eclectic cast of characters.

The play examines the way people respond to art, often spinning into a wildly zany romp, though there are some serious and touching moments as well.

Edelman explained, “Howe is a playwright who loves quirky and unexpected moments; she creates worlds that are at once absurd and very authentic.”

Howe’s other plays include “The Art of Dining,” “Painting Churches,” “Coastal Disturbances,” “Approaching Zanzibar” and “Pride's Crossing.”

Howe is an Obie Award winner, and has also been nominated for a Tony Award and a Pulitzer Prize.

This Mendocino College production and preshow entertainment is a collaboration of the college art, theatre, and music departments and showcases the emerging talents of seven Mendocino College conservatory students as well as other college students and local community actors.

“This talented ensemble cast just bursts with creativity and energy,” said Edelman. “They have embraced Howe’s comedic landscape with gusto!”

The production’s impressive scenery, lighting, costumes, and sound design are also being created by Mendocino College students under the direction of faculty and staff members Steve Decker, Kathy Dingman-Katz, and David Wolf. The production stage manager is Gary Hudson.

Performances are Friday, Oct. 19, and Saturday, Oct. 20, at 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, Oct. 25, Friday Oct. 26, and Saturday, Oct. 27, at 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Oct. 28, at 2 p.m.

Preshow entertainment and activities begin 30 minutes prior to each show. Full of unexpected surprises, the preshow experience will lead audiences into the play in a refreshing manner.

Tickets ($20 general; $15 students and seniors) are available at the Mendocino Book Co., Mendocino College Bookstore and online at www.ArtsMendocino.org.

The performance on Thursday, Oct. 25, is a special discount night, with all tickets costing only $10. Attendees are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance.

For information, call 707-468-3172 or visit http://www.mendocino.edu/the-arts/theatre.

The Mendocino College Ukiah campus is located at 1000 Hensley Creek Road, Ukiah.