Saturday.

Today I am crestfallen.  Today I found out that Leslie Scalapino died.  Today I found out that I will not be going to Oakland for the seminar.  My ride out there decided to withdraw from our plans and with said withdrawal tears flooded me.  Shall I always live in the periphery of contemporary poetry?  I, the uneducated poet.  I the little working class poet.  I'm doing my damnest to enter into the discussion, but it doesn't work.  Not today.  Today I have to make money and write articles to eat and I cannot.  A part of me says "See, it wins.  Capitalism always wins." Today it has.  Today it takes the crown.  Today I realized I must defer and go get a real job.  Something real.

photo from University of Chicago website

Dearest Leslie,

I will need your help.  Lead me to your books.  You are loved.

Sirama Bajo