In the early 70s I was Allen's secretary. I understand how both of these men felt (feel). Reading all the remembrances has been trying. This one has been beautiful. I had to have met Steven in the 60s because I met the Fugs then.
A lovely, literary remembrance. The abstract theoretician in me wonders what we're the big picture lessons of the by-gone years from the world of Burroughs, Ginsberg, Kerouac et al? Having done an excruciating chapter on James Baldwin--"The Loneliness of the Long Distance Leader for Racial Justice--I've slowly rid my habits of the "theoretic."
I'm now into the "real work" that the off Beats, Snyder & arguably
Alan Watts as well, what were the maddest Beats all about. The Naropa Institute is instructive, yet somehow feels esoterically lacking. Where's The Rub. Don't mean this in a pejorative way, just asking. Nearly 60 years after reading Watts's," THE BOOK: On The Taboo of Knowing Who You Are," and Snyder's, "The Practice of the Wild" are there any connections to the Running Wild allies, who seemingly dwelled in drinking, coke, etc? Both Timothy Leary and Ram Dass (AKA, Richard Alpert) in differing spiritualities, not unlike Jiddu Krishnamurti took many of us on a jet ride to a seeming higher, yet "grounded" path to the Self. My gut tells me that the strangers who became friends for three days in the Catskills in '69, whom Joan Didion and even one of my heroes, James Baldwin, disdained are still seeking that "Magic Carpet Ride."
Beautiful tribute to such an important man. I had recently visited Lawrence Kansas in December of 2025 to visit the Burroughs archive at the Kenneth Spencer Research Library. I wish circumstances were better and I had the opportunity to meet with him, but it was not to be. It has been lovely reading about all the lives he touched.
A sage commentary- revealing and insightful- I dig Naropa influence - jazz dance Merce Cunningham style as I trained in Martha Graham technique- Kansas also contributed zmichael McClure - Plymell - Bruce Conner nice excorcism by Shaman - visions of the Bowery & Lower East Side and heroin infested streets of The Big Apple FriscozTony
So many beat poets and supporters gone in the last two years. Death in the wings ready to take her bow. I dug your words on James and his devotion to Burroughs. At 74 I tend to worry about dying more than living. Anyway I am sorry you lost someone who meant a lot to you and hope that 26 does not harbor death in it's grasp
In the early 70s I was Allen's secretary. I understand how both of these men felt (feel). Reading all the remembrances has been trying. This one has been beautiful. I had to have met Steven in the 60s because I met the Fugs then.
A lovely, literary remembrance. The abstract theoretician in me wonders what we're the big picture lessons of the by-gone years from the world of Burroughs, Ginsberg, Kerouac et al? Having done an excruciating chapter on James Baldwin--"The Loneliness of the Long Distance Leader for Racial Justice--I've slowly rid my habits of the "theoretic."
I'm now into the "real work" that the off Beats, Snyder & arguably
Alan Watts as well, what were the maddest Beats all about. The Naropa Institute is instructive, yet somehow feels esoterically lacking. Where's The Rub. Don't mean this in a pejorative way, just asking. Nearly 60 years after reading Watts's," THE BOOK: On The Taboo of Knowing Who You Are," and Snyder's, "The Practice of the Wild" are there any connections to the Running Wild allies, who seemingly dwelled in drinking, coke, etc? Both Timothy Leary and Ram Dass (AKA, Richard Alpert) in differing spiritualities, not unlike Jiddu Krishnamurti took many of us on a jet ride to a seeming higher, yet "grounded" path to the Self. My gut tells me that the strangers who became friends for three days in the Catskills in '69, whom Joan Didion and even one of my heroes, James Baldwin, disdained are still seeking that "Magic Carpet Ride."
I know I am....
Beautiful tribute to such an important man. I had recently visited Lawrence Kansas in December of 2025 to visit the Burroughs archive at the Kenneth Spencer Research Library. I wish circumstances were better and I had the opportunity to meet with him, but it was not to be. It has been lovely reading about all the lives he touched.
A sage commentary- revealing and insightful- I dig Naropa influence - jazz dance Merce Cunningham style as I trained in Martha Graham technique- Kansas also contributed zmichael McClure - Plymell - Bruce Conner nice excorcism by Shaman - visions of the Bowery & Lower East Side and heroin infested streets of The Big Apple FriscozTony
Some rich and free association, Tony.
So many beat poets and supporters gone in the last two years. Death in the wings ready to take her bow. I dug your words on James and his devotion to Burroughs. At 74 I tend to worry about dying more than living. Anyway I am sorry you lost someone who meant a lot to you and hope that 26 does not harbor death in it's grasp
Beating heart’s beat