Sounds like a great loss to your community there, Gerald. And your
sense of that loss is palpable.
Doug
On 31-Jan-05, at 11:02 AM, Jerry wrote:
> This is a shock, moreover a personal shock. Tom
> was so much to so many, with his energy, his wisdom,
> his politics... his performance... and his poetry.
>
> He did so much for so many, he did so much for me.
>
> i will take a wedge of stone
> chisel it with gentleness
> grind it with entusiasm
> polish it with peace
> remembering him
> all the while
> until the world is
> split off from its injustices
> carved away from its wars
>
>
> Love & Peace,
> Gerald Schwartz
>>
>>> The sad message below just in from Dan Wilcox. Tom Nattell was a
>>> great
>>> spirit here in Albany, NY -- the guiding light behind the "town" (as
>>> against, or rather parellel to, the "gown") poetry scene for more
>>> than
>>> 20 years -- the indefatigable organizer of yearly anti-war, anti-aids
>>> readings, of wonderful summer poetry events at the foot of the Robbie
>>> Burns statue in Washington Park, the neo-beat organiser who would
>>> bring
>>> the likes of Ferlinghetti, Ed Sanders or Anne Waldman to town, and
>>> who
>>> could be found at all anti-war rallies. He created and for 10 years
>>> hosted Albany's oldest continuous open mic series at the QE2
>>> nightclub.
>>> At parties Tom was always eager to talk not only to the poets but to
>>> everyone -- my son Miles remembers him fondly for talking with him at
>>> length & for teaching him how to juggle with fruit -- and, says
>>> Miles,
>>> for his incredibly cool green beret. Tom was the heart & soul of the
>>> Albany poetry scene, and a great poet-performer himself (often with
>>> Dan
>>> Wilcox and Charlie Rossiter as the "Three guys from Albany" -- who
>>> among other things travelled to all the Albanys in the country to do
>>> readings. Check out their epic "Central Avenue" :
>>> http://www.poetrypoetry.com/Features/3Guys/3Guys.html).
>>> He will be sorely missed -- may his spirit travel unhindered wherever
>>> it has to travel to, and may it visit us often for inspiration and
>>> courage. -- Pierre
>>>
>>> "It is with great sorrow that I must report the death of our friend
>>> Tom
>>> Nattell early this morning.
>>> He died peacefully at home with those he loved. I had been over
>>> earlier & read poetry to him.
>>> And it is with great joy that I recall the hours & days & words &
>>> miles
>>> I spent with him.
>>> He will live on in all that he left behind in the poetry community &
>>> in
>>> the community at large.
>>>
>>> When I have details about services, etc. I will pass them on.
>>>
>>> Peace,
>>> DWx:
>>>
>>>
>>> =================================================
>>> "Lyric poetry has to be exorbitant or not at all." -- Gottfried Benn
>>> =================================================
>>> For updates on readings, etc. check my current events page:
>>> http://albany.edu/~joris/CurrentEvents.html
>>> =================================================
>>> Pierre Joris
>>> 244 Elm Street
>>> Albany NY 12202
>>> h: 518 426 0433
>>> c: 518 225 7123
>>> o: 518 442 40 85
>>> email: [log in to unmask]
>>> http://www.albany.edu/~joris/
>>> =================================================
>
>
Douglas Barbour
Department of English
University of Alberta
Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E5 Canada
(780) 436 3320
http://www.ualberta.ca/~dbarbour/dbhome.htm
Reserved books. Reserved land. Reserved flight.
And still property is theft.
Phyllis Webb
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