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I like the part about “enjoy the political uncertainty”. I once met a Tibetan Lama who said, “Look, if you’re going to be depressed, at least enjoy it.”

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Greg, Anne Sexton came to my college in the ‘70’s and gave a reading to the general public. I was chairperson of the poetry workshop, and a group of us had lunch with her. I had the honor of introducing her at the general reading. She told me my introduction was marvelous. She drank straight vodka at lunch, and at the after party that I did not attend. I was stunned when after I graduated, my teacher called me and told me she had suicided. I have the reading on cassette somewhere. She was an amazing poet.

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Oh, wow, that's fantastic! I'd love to hear it, if you could ever find it.

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That would be great to read, right? Her intro. Must have been touching for Sexton. Artists so rarely hear those. And people who are deeply moved, it’s difficult to find those words to express.

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You are so lucky to have met her. That must have been some introduction you gave. You must have connected with something…very personal for her.

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Oct 31, 2021Liked by Greg Olear

Beautiful poem.

Love the history too

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Thanks for the historical perspective. This is one of my LEAST enjoyable "holidays" of the year. So, I usually turn off my lights, close the blinds and settle down with a good (not scary) book!

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I was at a conference once with Joyce Carol Oates, when I thought, well, I should go. It was stark. She was stark. It was so strange. It was completely angelic. She levitated almost but reading her is still my horror movie with ghosts characters. I want to talk to anyone who can tell me why they love her. I just bought a book of Coleridge poems tho. Maybe that will work better. Happy Halloween. Your cigar Greg reminded me of so much fun, sittting out in the crunchy snow in New Jersey, with my son, smoking Cohibas with a fire and drinks. Thanks.

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