For Jim Harrison
I want to die at my writing desk
as Harrison did, offering his
one-eye body to what Gods
would have it, but only after
writing ’til his soul was empty;
he would have written more
had he more time (which he
didn’t); he would have written
more letters to that Russian poet
who hung by his neck in a Leningrad
hotel, a poet who wrote with blood
since he had no ink (I think that’s why
Harrison loved him so) – all why I
want to die at my writing desk.
— also for Sergei Yesenin
8 thoughts on "For Jim Harrison"
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Beautiful.
Know you love him. As do I. Writing ’til his soul was empty. Seems like the right time to go.
It reminds me of David Olney who died on stage singing a self-penned song while taking a deep breath. You pack a lot in this power pack!
Fantastic, Lee. I think of Harrison in the Montana episode of Bourdain’s Parts Unknown, quiet, warm and welcoming, so straightforwardly contemplative. A poet to keep in your heart.
“writing ’til his soul was empty” is a wonderful concept and phrase
Cool. I didn’t know that about Harrison.
Suggestion: end after “since he had no ink.”
Thanks, everyone. This is a slightly revised vedrsion:
I want to die at my writing desk
as Harrison did, offering his
one-eye body to what Gods
would have it, but only after
writing ’til his soul was empty;
he would have written more
had he more time (which he
didn’t); he would have written
more letters to that Russian poet
who hung by his neck in a Leningrad
hotel, who wrote with blood
since he had no ink (I think that’s why
Harrison loved him so) – all why I
want to die at my writing desk.
— also for Sergei Yesenin
love “he would have written more/had he more time” – great piece