jerome rothenberg jerome rothenberg

jerome rothenberg jerome rothenberg
the sadness to me that diana revealed
when we met at your reading in san francisco
the sadness that the time and the place we knew each other
became a time and a place you wanted to forget so much
so much so that you forgot me and it was awkward now
for me to give you my new book which I could not
have written if it were not for the openness you confirmed for me the
openness you confirmed in me in that place diane said
was the worst time and the worst place in your entire lives
I knew then you felt under-appreciated and I felt
you were under-appreciated but I knew your humanity
partly because you acknowledged my humanity
both on Conklin Street and when I was in the asylum ward when
you brought me books, your books, books you had written, books you had put together
to help me hold on to my humanity
and that touch of humanity was covered over, the opposite of revealed
when you whirled through san francisco to receive your recognition when all I wished to
recognize was your humanity.

Your homage to your poet brothers often brings out your best, this one is no exception.

Les