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« Lear is an anagram for real [by DL] | Main | Save the Date: Thursday, September 22, 2011 - The Best American Poetry 2011 Launch Reading. 7 PM, Tishman Auditorium of the New School (66 West 12th Street, NYC)* »

August 27, 2011

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This is quite an extraordinary post, David. I am reading it from my sister-in-law's house in santa cruz, california. At our hotel, the tvs in th lobby all point toward the east where Irene is bearing down. Here we are in the sunny yard, asembling rented tables. There are hummingbids, and the plants are tropical. Two wet wooly dogs, and breaks assembling for tears. Her sister's husband, a woodsman, a journeyman electrician, motorcycle rider, ukelele player, just 63, has died. Tomorrow is the musical service. Marilyn and I are spending time here with her old childhood friends, and last night she laughed as I haven't heard her in 9 years. I feel as if I am traveling into this cave of someone else's sadness with a quirky resilient person with whom I fell in love with over a decade ago, but haven't seen for some time. Around the house, the phone rings with today's well-wishers who may be tomorrow's new rituals.

To you, and Emerson, and Stacey--wherever you are now huddled, my love.

Dear D:
I find that level of emotional transcendence---or transcendent detachment---in the face of life's losses to be extremely hard to achieve, if not impossible, at least for me. But nonetheless it is good to be reminded that the most difficult experiences can have unexpected and beneficial side effects. Meanwhile, the wild, orgasmic reporting on this hurricane, often almost content-free, really jacks up my anxieties, which doesn't take much, in truth. I can't believe we still have electricity down here. We have the worst power company in the country (Pepco).

That photo of Emerson kind of reminds me of you, weirdly.

Loved the Washington Sq Park video.

Stop your rambling, stop your gambling, stop staying out late at night!
yrs,
T

Thank you for these comments. Jenny, I am so glad to be in your thoughts. We've weathered the worst of the storm in good shape. Terry, my anxieties are in an uproar due to the relentless hyping of the hurricane -- and other things as well, such as my annual dismay as summer's warmth and liberty fade into the obligations of autumn. I hope the hurricane left you undisturbed and with electricity to spare. DL

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That Ship Has Sailed
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"Lively and affectionate" Publishers Weekly

Radio

I left it
on when I
left the house
for the pleasure
of coming back
ten hours later
to the greatness
of Teddy Wilson
"After You've Gone"
on the piano
in the corner
of the bedroom
as I enter
in the dark


from New and Selected Poems by David Lehman

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