Disappearing
It’s another of those days: news of the death of Ron Kitaj, of the illness of Will Alexander, and of the possible collapse of the Centre International de Poésie in Marseille.
Ron I’ve not seen since his time in London, but I well remember him working on those portraits of Robert Duncan, Robert Creeley, Charles Olson and Ed Dorn. He’s gone, so nothing to be done.
Will has cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy. One of those (now) rare poets who has no solid academic position from which to denounce the world, he also does not have the accompanying heath care.
Poets in Need is coordinating efforts to raise money for him. You can make a (tax-deductible) contribution to them, earmarked for Will, and send it to:
Poets in Need
PO Box 5411
Berkeley CA 94705
In New York, there will be a benefit reading for Will at the Bowery Poetry Club, Thursday November 1, 6-8 pm (readers to be announced).
For C.I.P.M., which for almost 20 years has brought poets from all over the world (including the US and the UK) to Marseille for residencies, readings, conferences, exhibitions and workshops, the least you could do to help is to sign the petition here.
Just name and email: you’ll quickly get a confirmation email: that’s done.
