completing a circle

 in the summer of 1967 I attended Indiana University Writers Conference to study with Gwendolyn Brooks.  at the concluding awards banquet I was surprisd & delightd when Miss Brooks announcd that I had won the poetry award. (this story was told in an article by Rasa Gustaitis -- who later wrote Turning On -- which appeard in Cosmopolitan the next year.)   shortly thereafter I wrote the poem “On Winning a Prize" which I dedicatd to Miss Brooks.

In 1969 Abraxas Press published my first book — a little chapbook with just 3 poems. one of those was the poem for Miss Brooks.

for a while now I've been working on what I call my Legacy Project.  this is finding good homes for my publications & art. I only had one copy left of that first book -- Into the Sea.  it didn't take long for me to realize the perfect match was the Lilly Library at Indiana University. & I was so happy when they agreed to accept it.

here I am in my study bidding bye to that copy which is now in Bloomington.