Michael Gizzi

Sad today, late September, while the sun is shining. Can't really believe Michael Gizzi has died. ??

A brotherly, friendly, funny writer, a startling poet I kept crossing paths with, over the centuries. In the spring of 1971 we took what was the first "writing class" for both of us. Traded a lot of poems. He was a poet who worked as a TREE SURGEON, which impressed me (the college freshman)...

10 yrs later, I'm delivering supplies to local food coop on Camp St., suddenly Michael Gizzi, of all people, jumps out of a car to say hello, girlfriend beside him...

7-8 yrs after that, we're sitting in on another class together, this one the special Ezra Pound centennial seminar, at Brown...

in the 90s, the 00s, I run into him at readings in Boston & Providence... abbraccio, handshakes... have a drink with him & Robert Creeley's widow, down at Tazza reading last spring... our mutual friend Jim Chapin & I do some blues beforehand... they seem to like the harmonica-playing...

recently (a few weeks ago) bumped into him again, out walking on Prospect St. (with her)... 40 yrs goes by...

seems too soon to leave now, Michael...