Robert Creeley

Creeley died today. He was one of my favorite poets, and a very generous guy. Here's an email he sent to me in response to mine, telling him that my mother had read one of his poems at my wedding.

> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Wed, 23 Sep 1998 07:26:19 -0700
> From: Robert Creeley
> To: Martin Lane
> Subject: Wow!
>
> Dear Martin,
> It sounds to have been a very happy day and I'm
> pleased that "For Friendship" had a part in it. Best luck and blessings to
> you both for all the days to come.
>
> Sincerely,
> Robert Creeley

I once had the opportunity to talk with him for about an hour, sitting outside in springtime, by a great big tree ... about Jazz, Poetry, rhythms and inspiration. It was an experience that still lives with me and informs me constantly.

Necessity, the mother of invention,
father of intention,

sister to brother to sister, to innumerable others,
all one as the time comes,

death's appointment,
in the echoing head, in the breaking heart.