—to the memory of Joe Brainard and to the heart of David Shapiro
I once met the fine poet Tony Tost. He was well-structured and constructed. I really liked him. There was a painting of boats behind him. A bit paunchy around the middle, he was, but solid.
I once met Todd Sandvik. He was paunchy as well. A true gentleman and I really liked him. He had a distillery in his house. But now he doesn’t write me anymore. Damn.
I once met Gabe Gudding. I really liked him. We read together. I gave him my $300 reading fee so he could buy gas for his trip to Rhode Island. Drive carefully, I said, Watch out where you’re going. Looking back on it, now, things come into better focus.
I once met Kasey Silem Mohammad. This was at our reading. I liked him. There were grad students from Brown all around. I said, Kasey, would you please pass me the salt? Go fuck yourself, you manufacturer of scandal, he said. (No, not really, I just made that up.)