sw00721st46-connecting

Being reclusive has its advantages, but also its disadvantages.
My personal problems at that time aside: after the publication
in November 1972 of my first book, getting involved with the
Wisconsin Poets-in-the-Schools Program early in 1973 was
worthwhile; but pulling back into myself and away from being
actively engaged with other poets was--though I cannot prove
it--a major error.  As I have noted in Sprintedon Hollow's All
About Me section, I am reading Postmodern American Poetry.
Last night I got to and through Larry Eigner's pages.  So?  So:
Up until 1978 he lived in Swampscott, Massachusetts.  Before
that year in the 1970's I was in Swampscott, MA, at least once
because aunts of mine who had been born and raised in the
same Wisconsin town I was born and raised in owned a house
there.  I might have been able to visit Mr. Eigner.  I did visit
William Everson briefly at his home in California during the days
of one of my separations from Janice.  But I was in San Fran,
and even stopped at City Lights.  Did I try to connect with the
poetry community there after I was told the person I had come
to visit was out of town for two weeks?  No.  During another
separation I was in New York City.  Similar question.  Same 
answer.  How many times was I in Boston?  I lived for 3 years  
in Milwaukee.  My 24+ years in Gainesville, Florida?  There I 
only seriously connected with other poets during the singular
semester I was a Donald Justice student at UF.  So, after I
moved into Missouri late last year, I convinced myself that 
until my body's mind ceases to function/ I was going to re-
connect with and remain connected with other poets for as
long as they would allow me to.   


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Li-Young Lee on making poems


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Brian A. J. Salchert