Dave Church: In Memory

On his blog, Ron Silliman is reporting the death of long-time small press poet Dave Church. The article Ron has linked to is an overview of Dave's career; I have no further details on Dave's passing.

Dave published a couple of works in Lillie over the years. Recently, we had corresponded back and forth over some poems he had sent, sparred a bit, actually, and we had come to a friendly understanding. Once you got past the gruff, he was a generous guy. He knew what he was about and made sure you did, too. I'll miss his straight shooting approach.


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I think I'm mad
like I thought
my father was mad.

He used to float around the house at night
calling out for those long dead

I do the same thing now

only in reverse.

Dave Church
from Lilliput Review, #91 Sept. 1997

Mirrorspeak

I'm off Buddha's eight-fold path.
No God's speak to me. Past a blur.
Future
bone
black -
ashes in mountain air.

Dave Church
from Lilliput Review, #129, March 2003

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UPDATE: Ed Baker has sent along some along some additional information on Dave, which may be found on Bukowski.net. He evidently died behind the wheel of his taxicab on Thanksgiving.



best,
Don