I was saddened this week to visit a poet who has been a great inspiration to me. He is 96 and was able to keep working until this year. His Parkinson's has finally caught up with him, and he's now too tired to be able to work. It is also beginning to affect his memory, so now after many, many years of writing he is not able to anymore.

I spent some time reading him some of his poetry, which he enjoyed immensely (even though I think his meds made him fall asleep once or twice). It was beautiful and heart-wrenching and made me think about the nature of the universe.

I'd love to be able to share a particular poem of his here, but it hasn't been officially published yet so I can't. Instead I'll share a rather humorous poem that might give you a sense of his, well, humor. It was published in the Beloit Poetry Journal in 1952.

Amoeba to Amoeba

Fission will unearth us,
Far and near agree.
Copulation's rampant
In air, on land, in sea.

Ah! for antique manners;
Oh! for piety.
Each Jeremiah praises
Past society

When amoeba to amoeba
Sang in jubilee
"Olden times were better times
Before this cell of me."

- Norman Nathan

If you can spare a good thought, a candle, or a prayer, I'd appreciate it if you sent some his way.