More engagement with the « past » again today: particpated in a tribute reading following the death of an American poet who had been a pillar of the Anglophone poetry scene in Paris. Poets of all sorts came together to honor John, his work and his support for many of us.
Saw many people I haven’t seen for years. The « one » community of diverse individuals (that he had helped foster with a reading series, « Live Poets ») had come together. He would have loved the event, someone said. Too bad he couldn’t be here, another said.
Somebody brought the funeral urn bearing his ashes and put it on stage, with a pint of Guinness.
Something else was happening around, inside, beyond all that, though: « He » was there because « we » were there; « we » were there because « he » was there.
And then we were done and the bar hands pulled down a giant TV screen and broadcast big men playing rugby in the rain.