Site Title (Page 7)

Rob the Recounter

Dec. 27 “It’s typical, I guess, for an older man, a dad of sorts, to linger in the past. To claim some importance to people I first heard about in my youth. Must steer myself, like a car in first gear, onto the streets of the present.” Haha, that

To Stay Kissed

Nov. 15 “Praises us in ways we already know…our muscular school in Washington…the band has yet to play their greatest hit…” A lovely, vivid walk through fall and through some of our shared experience. You’ve given me many gems like this to read and re-read. You’

Fifty Years Later

May 13 Tomorrow’s the 50th multi-year reunion. Tonight was a gathering of just our class. Happiness and warmth all around. Everyone seemed in good health, even Mark Balven, who had aortic surgery four days ago and was supposed to be home recovering, not out partying. Sixty-seven doesn’

Home Again and Shakespeare

May 6 When I came back to Missouri I expected a Canaan’s Land of lower prices, and was disappointed. The restaurant prices were lower, but not by much. My grocery bills seemed about the same size. The only significant financial difference, by my lazy and perhaps incorrect reckoning and

Planning With Schoolmates

April 19 Letter to Rob — Last night attended a planning meeting for next year’s 50th year class reunion. Chatted with Cabby Berard, Mark Ditch, Dawn Dozier, Talu, and Joyce Tobben. Sat next to Joyce and we kind of cheated off each other’s meeting notes. There was an instant

Iambic and Meaning

April 9 You know, a funny thing about style: when a sentence is iambic it seems to say better what it’s saying. The logic seems better. And not just the iambic, but when it flows better. And when you take out the extra words. Sometimes you could say either

Literature Forever?

March 15 You are a nimble old artist. Always were—nimble beyond your years. Old when young and now vice versa. I wonder though: If you and I lived to be 300, would either of us be reading with excitement the literature of that far time? But that raises a

Some Poetry and Movies

Feb. 14 Letter to Rob — Read some Billy Collins tonight. Yes, I like his stuff. Not striking me like I described to you, as too easy and thin. If anything, I’m a little bummed out that it’s almost too much to my liking: that is, too close to

The Black Stallion Returns

Less poetic, less believable, but the romantic power carries over When we last saw Alek Ramsey and his horse, “the Black,” they had just survived a shipwreck and won “the match race of the century.” The tale of their adventures was poetic, visually stunning and, in a wistful mood, almost