Galway Kinnell: It's the poem ... it's the story ... it's the poet

Word online is that our "neighbor" (about 30 miles distant) and gentle friend Galway Kinnell died yesterday -- and since The Poetry Foundation and Wikipedia have already closed his entry with that date, I suppose there is no real chance that the word is wrong.

What a loss ...

These photos (thank you, St J Academy -- were these taken by Denise? Jean?) are from the last time we helped create an event at St. Johnsbury (Vermont) Academy for Galway, in November 2007. He read just five poems -- but braided them together with generous stories about each one that kept the students (and the rest of us) captivated. I learned a lot that day about what it is to care about your audience: the people you write for, and the people you read your poems to.

There will be many longer pieces written in the days to come about this great poet who has left us with such treasures. I wish he could have stayed longer ... and with my husband Dave, we offer sympathy to his family and to his many friends and readers around the world.

If you don't yet know the poems of Galway Kinnell, here's a place to start.