| |
Letter
from the President
Dear Friends of the Foundation,
Greetings
once again from Riverrun, William’s home and now the
Meredith Center for the Arts, designated an historic landmark
by the State of Connecticut after his death in 2007. We have
had a very busy spring and summer as you will note in Recent
and Past Events including the launch and several readings
for the first William Meredith Award for Poetry given to to
David Fisher. I was delighted to be able to visit David Fisher
in Sacramento this August, the first time in 30 years since
I’d seen him, to present him with copies of his book,
I HEAR ALWAYS THE DOGS ON THE HOSPITAL ROOF. In the summer
we organized several screenings of MARATHON in New London,
Groton and Minneapolis, two art exhibitions at the VonSchlippe
Gallery at U Conn and the New Haven Free Public Library, the
publication of William’s poetry in French and English
"illustrated" by the renowned French artist, Sooky
Maniquant and finally, the introduction of a new award-winning
wine, William Meredith Red by Warehouse Winery. We were also
able to welcome a visiting artist from Holland through the
Griffis center and will greet her most recent visitor from
Bulgaria at the end of the month. Please take a minute to
scroll through Recent and Past Events for background on all
these projects, as well as the just-prodcued new poetry series
at the Courtyard Gallery titled Hidden Treasures. I’ve
written to Ravi Shankar and Gray Jacobik to thank them for
their wonderful performances in the inaugural reading as you
see.
We look
forward to exciting new initiatives this coming fall and spring
including a launching of CROSSING OVER in Paris in May, welcoming
Valentin Krustev as resident fellow in October, the introduction
of two new wines with Warehouse Wines, a January reading in
the Hidden Treasure Poetry Series, the publication of Lyubomir
Levchev’s new and collected poems, production of a cd
of William Meredith reading his poetry at Harvard, development
of the William Meredith Bookstore to promote our publications
and books we recommend, a poetry workshop I’ve been invited
to conduct on Fishers Island with presentation of copies of
Meredith’s THE WRECK OF THE THRESHER, and several other
projects that will depend on state funding to be announced
as grants are decided.
I plan
to be in York, Pa during the month of October visiting family
and attending to my 91-year- old mother. But before I leave
we will schedule the necessary board meeting and bring folks
up to date on what we have been up to this year and where
we are going. One new member of the board I hope to propose
will be Blake Cass, the Ct. College student who used to come
and read with William. He’s been a great help in getting
review copies out for David’s book and is anxious to
help on our projects. I had the pleasure of introducing him
to his new bride and was honored to read one of William’s
poems this August at his wedding in Boothbay Maine.
Do please
consider ordering some Meredith Red. It really is special
and we hope copies of our two recent publications may intrigue
you as well. All net profits go to supporting our programs,
and we are in particular need as Riverrun now requires more
and more maintenance. This summer we installed 8 new windows,
for example, one of which was literally being pulled out by
the air conditioner attached to the sill. Any contributions
to our upkeep will be gratefully appreciated. It is beautiful
here on the Thames, and we welcome anyone who would like to
come for a visit and visit the library and grounds. The colors
of autumn are "becoming audible through the haze,"
as William says in one of the Hazard poems. We wish you peace
and all the beauty and stimulation of the season.
Richard
|
|
 |
|
|
| |
P.S.
Last Sunday I was pleased to be invited to read William’s
poetry and my own at a charming Bulgarian event at the Griffis
Art Center, in part to welcome a special visitor, Ivo Hadzhimishev.
Photos from that event follow the Courtyard photos.
P.P.S.
I recently received word from board member John Hracyk that
Rollin Williams has passed away. Rollin was William Meredith’s
longstanding friend and supporter of the foundation. William
dedicated a poem to Rollin years ago, and at John’s urging
I penned an appreciation of Rollin without knowing he had
died on that very same day. Sadly, I was not able to read
it to him, but I finish these "current news" with
a memorial photo, and both poems that can be found at the
very end of this message. More information on memorial services
are forthcoming.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Photo:
Deborah Curtis
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Dear
Ravi and Gray, Here is a shot of you two on stage and one of
a little sea otter that I loved
from one a Del’s paintings. He seemed to be listening attentively
from the waters below as you
read. I have some video clips of both of you reading which I
will hope to be able to put on our
website. And Deborah Curtis will have some good photos soon,
I am sure. How wonderful to have you with us, in any case. Thank
you so much for making it a great success. And Gray, thank you
too for the beautiful poem on Paris which I will send to my
friend Nancy who I hope to invite to France this winter. You
are both such talented, generous people. Please let me know
whenever I may hope to have the pleasure of hearing you read
your work again. And do let friends and students know about
the next reading when it is announced.
Love, Richard |
|
|
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * *
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Rollin
Williams
|
|
| |
Sociologist
and Professor
|
|
| |
(March
19, 1922 - September 24, 2012)
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Walter
Jenks' Bath
For Rollin Williams
These are my legs. I don't have to tell them, legs,
Move up and down or which leg. They are black.
They are made of atoms like everything else,
Miss Berman says. That's the green ceiling
Which on top is the Robinsons' brown floor.
This is Beloit, this is my family's bathroom on the world.
The ceiling is atoms, too, little parts running
Too fast to see. But through them running fast,
Through Audrey Robinson's floor and tub
And the roof and air, if I lived on an atom
Instead of on the world, I would see space.
Through all the little parts, I would see into space.
Outside the air it is all black.
The far-apart stars run and shine, no one has to tell
them,
Stars, run and shine, or the same who tells my atoms
Run and knock so Walter Jenks, me, will stay hard and
real.
And when I stop the atoms go on knocking,
Even if I died the parts would go on spinning,
Alone, like the far stars, not knowing it,
Now knowing they are far apart, or running,
Or minding the black distances between.
This is me knowing, this is what I know.
William
Meredith
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Paen
for Rollin
Rollin
rolls into his nineties now
with the same delight that
brightened his life and those
around him decade after decade
along the Salem Turnpike.Lena Horne, William Meredith,
Mercedes John, Kent and Arthur,
his talent for friendship transcending
time and race and gender, enfolding
legion.
Witty
Rollin, campy Rollin
roll your eyes for me. Somber Rollin,
stone-faced Rollin, don't let them
get away with it. Snappy Rollin,
sports car Rollin, teach me how
to live. Share the secret of your
joy. Hum your favorite aria, tell me
a nasty joke, you who have
paid your dues with such grace.
Wave
to us, dear Valedictorian,
bringing commencement to a close.
Richard
Harteis
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
