Katherine Anne Porter Remembered

Michael Scott

41 / Michael scott michael scott, a former student at Loras college, in dubuque, iowa, was working in Washington, dc, in the summer of 1964 when he met Katherine Anne Porter through his former professor raymond roseliep (1917–83), with whom Porter had been corresponding since 1960. A diocesan priest and poet, roseliep seemed to have an amatory interest in Porter that she did not return.18 source: michael scott, “A classic manner,” The Spokesman 63 (spring 1965–66): 19–22. An evening with Katherine Anne Porter is something like a moveable feast: you not only remember it, but the experience grows and becomes an image of reality which is both true and beautiful. father roseliep, my english professor at Loras college in dubuque, was spending his summer as Georgetown University’s poet-in-residence, and i was working for the U.s. department of Agriculture. We were enjoying lunch at the 1789, the campus restaurant and pub, and were having a grand time deciding upon the week’s activities when he posed the question: would i be able to escort Katherine Anne Porter to his poetry reading the coming friday evening? i was taken back a bit, but there wasn’t much i could say, except yes. the humid friday in Washington’s impossible summer arrived. As i left for Katherine Anne Porter’s house, i tried to imagine what she would be like. i entertained myself with various visions, oblivious to the fact that the car needed gas. i drove along the tree-lined streets of Washington, a city in which getting lost seems to be a habit with me. As i turned a corner, the car sputtered, choked, and coasted down an incline and stopped against the curb. As it happened, Katherine Anne Porter’s house was only a few blocks from where the car had quit, but this wasn’t going to help me get her to the poetry reading. the house nestled on a corner lot. it was large and impressive, in the elizabethan style, with a sharply gabled roof and panelled sides. the entryway was hidden , like a heavy monastic door, beyond the wide stone steps. i walked up the 198 / Katherine Anne Porter remembered steps, lifted the brass door handle, let it fall, and waited. it wasn’t very long before the door opened, and there stood my hostess in a dazzling white evening gown. Her smile was gracious and her voice had a particular friendliness which set me at ease. she invited me in, and as we began a tour of her house, we got acquainted. she didn’t hesitate to tell me about her paintings, imports, keepsakes, and antiques . When we went into her library, she pointed out the fifteenth-century walnut table which was centered in the room.there was a fireplace green with age on one wall, and her shelves of books scaled the walls around the rest of the room. As we walked into the dining room and living area, she switched on the gold and silver chandelier, which flooded the walls with light. the room seemed very dignified . i remember now that she had bought quite a few things in venice, and the chandelier was one of her prized imports. there were many little wall lamps located around the room, and Katherine Anne went about turning them on, assuring me that she enjoyed the effort. As we walked into the entryway, she ruffled the copper tuft of hair on her statue of eros, the god of love. she took her wrap from the chair, and i suddenly realized that i had forgotten about the car. Abruptly, i blurted out the difficulty with more than a little embarrassment. i expected the bit of sympathy which i got. Katherine Anne made light of it and called a service station. i left to get the car and arrived back at the house within a few minutes, and we were on our way with only ten minutes to spare. We arrived at the Georgetown University Union at precisely five minutes to eight. i parked, opened the door of the car and helped Katherine Anne onto the sidewalk. All the while she chatted merrily about diplomacy and the punctuality required for social affairs in europe. As we entered the large double doors of the union, all eyes focused on Katherine Anne. Her white hair was lustrous in the light. she smiled and moved gracefully, stopping for slight moments only to gather her thoughts...