L’Shana Tova: Haiku for David Shapiro

POETRY Iheartheram’shorn. Doyou?Doyouremember father,son,mountain? L’shanatova oldfriend,mentor,fellowJew, youfromNewJersey, IfromManhattan, andwemetnotintemple butColumbia, anddoyourecall whenIvisitedCambridge Ileftyouanote withtheClareporter. Theworldischarged(Iwrote)with thegrandeurofyou! Andthenyoucamehome andItookyourplaceover there:atClareCollege PeterAckroydcame andaskedmeifIwouldspeak tothegrouponJohn Ashberywhosenew book“TheDoubleDreamofSpring” hadjustbeenpublished. HowcouldIsayno? Theytoldmeyouhadspoken onFrankO’Hara andAaronFogel hadspokenonKennethKoch. Itwasagoodomen Ithoughtbutthenwhat happenedwasrainrainrainand morerain.Andnomail becauseofastrike inEngland.Therewasalways astrikeinEngland. Nomail,nophonecalls toAmericawheremy fatherlaydying. Thegardenersburned theleavesandIcrossedtheCam onClareCollegebridge daily,anddaily IwenttoHeffer’sandbought booksbyHölderlin, Mann,Gide,HenryJames. IimitatedRilke. Thesonnetforyou ranin“Poetry.” Morerain.Coldtoilet.Badsmell. AndIcouldn’tfind anEnglishpoet youngerthanLarkintolike. Nomail.Pubhours. Beerbetterthanwine. Awfulfood.Alwayshungry. Hadtolearntocook. Andthat’swhereIwent —totheseaofmemory— intempletoday whenIheardthesound oftheshofarandprayedfor thelivinganddead. L’Shana Tova Haiku for David Shapiro –DavidLehman S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E 2 0 0 8 W W W. T I K K U N . O R G T I K K U N 65 culture.qxd:MA 2007 8/10/08 12:57 PM Page 65 ...