18 March 2024

04 March 2024

"Ten from Tenn"

altho I have the documentary pages I never photographd the envelopes for this piece. so I sometimes wonder what mite be left out there in the world. when I discover someone has saved it I'm thrilld. I'm grateful to Cynthia for saving & to Jenny for bringing it back to me. & then it will all go to my collection at Kent (which was Cynthia's wish if I died before getting her files).






03 March 2024

yesterday I had lunch with Jennifer Pramuk. she's a biologist & artist. & the daughter of a dear friend who died 2 years ago.



 she found among Cynthia's "things" 2 packets with notes that they shd be given to me. & so she brought them with her. 


I'm working my way thru this treasure trove with great emotion. Cynthia saved every letter & photo & poem & art work I'd sent her. & I'll be sharing some of it here.


19 February 2024

in front of the camera

 in my long life I've been lucky to have been photographd by some of the best. I now add to the list Randall Whitehead. he flew in from San Francisco for his birthday weekend & did a quick shoot in Sunny Dunes.



15 January 2024

"Antipodism"

 sometimes writing poems

is like foot juggling


I try to remember

Lou Bogert performing 

at the county fair

when I was a boy

& he was on his back

balancing balls

on soles of his feet


writing this

I see myself

on my back

legs flailing 

in anticipation

of contact

with word balls


such a silly scene

seems perfect

for a poem

13 January 2024

Tom Shales (1944-2024)



 another shock. in recent years I lost touch with Tom. but he was a meaningful person in my life.


film historian David H. Shepard introduced me to Tom & we had an immediate rapport. his wit & intelligence made him ever so likable. & at that time he was a cute twink as well. our flirtation didn't last long but our friendship grew. he of course became the best known television critic in the country. I believe he was the first tv critic to ever win the Pulitzer. with age he became a darker figure. but I can never forget laughing with him. the young Tom will forever be in my catalog of dear boys.

this is the only photo I have with him. it's not the best. & of course you don't even see my face. it was taken at the only Kennedy Center Honors I attended. & it was sweet Tom who got me a ticket because he knew how much I loved Stephen Sondheim who was being honord that nite.