I have been blessed with many mentors like this—in my spiritual journey, in my career, in my passions, and in life in general. He sounds like a lovely person. I am glad you had him in yours. Also, I love when the cosmos puts pieces like this together. 😊
My college freshman professor, who taught Poetry I, was someone I never forgot. We dissected “Spring and Fall” by Gerard Manley Hopkins. I never forgot that. It’s one of my most favorite poems. My father died that semester and he guided me through the first poem I wrote about that experience. All these many years, he’s popped into my mind now and then. We’re finally Facebook friends and he’s 80 years old. I feel so lucky to have connected with him. I should probably tell him that before it’s too late, right? I will do so.
Oh, Maggie! I met David a few times—as you know, he and our dear Bob Flanagan were friends, and he visited OWU while
I was an undergrad. And he came to UC during my grad school time as well. This is such a lovely tribute, and the birthday confluence gives me goosebumps! 💖
Maggie, I loved David Citino's poetry and presentations, though I didn't know him well. I loved pulling apart his poems to see how they worked. After his death I asked his wife for permission to republish "Neanderthal, with Help from Cave and Bear, Invents the Flute" in my anthology _Reeds and Rushes--Pitch, Buzz, and Hum_, for which you shared two poems, "Alum Creek, Late Summer" and "Gigging." I haven't had a formal poetry education aside from a course with Kip Knott, but I've been in two and three critiquing groups--one since 2002. Jen Bosveld and Roy Bentley have been mentors, and the critiquing groups have sustained me and tuned my ear. And you have been a sustaining and mentoring force in the lives of many students of poetry. Thanks for this episode and all you do.
David Citino was such a lovely man. He began his career at The Ohio State U. on the Marion campus, where, a few years after he'd transferred to main campus, I became a teacher. He returned often to Marion, creating poems for specific landmark events. Somehow he always found the exact words and phrases to highlight whatever person or new building or program had brought him to campus. Sometimes he walked with confidence, sometimes with a cane, but a special warmth seemed to radiate from the man. I'm so glad you knew him.
What a sweet, endearing story. It is a rare and beautiful thing to have someone further along the path share from their pockets hard-won accumulated advice and watch over you a bit. Thank you for the introduction to David and his poetry. I spent time this morning reading his poems. "Smelling the Snow" was one of my favorites. "But any old fool can smell love." Whew. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/browse?contentId=39128
I love thinking about my mentors and feeling a rush of gratitude. He sounds like a gift. Especially meeting him again after all those years. Clearly the universe placed him in your life for a reason!
I feel a level of optimism when I read about women who have had positive male mentors like this. He sounds like a really good man
I have been blessed with many mentors like this—in my spiritual journey, in my career, in my passions, and in life in general. He sounds like a lovely person. I am glad you had him in yours. Also, I love when the cosmos puts pieces like this together. 😊
My college freshman professor, who taught Poetry I, was someone I never forgot. We dissected “Spring and Fall” by Gerard Manley Hopkins. I never forgot that. It’s one of my most favorite poems. My father died that semester and he guided me through the first poem I wrote about that experience. All these many years, he’s popped into my mind now and then. We’re finally Facebook friends and he’s 80 years old. I feel so lucky to have connected with him. I should probably tell him that before it’s too late, right? I will do so.
Mentors are earth angels. I’ve been so lucky to also have benefited from the investment and generosity of a few extraordinary mentors.
What a lovely tribute to such an important person in your life. And what a blessing that you were lucky enough to have him in your life.
Oh, Maggie! I met David a few times—as you know, he and our dear Bob Flanagan were friends, and he visited OWU while
I was an undergrad. And he came to UC during my grad school time as well. This is such a lovely tribute, and the birthday confluence gives me goosebumps! 💖
Maggie, I loved David Citino's poetry and presentations, though I didn't know him well. I loved pulling apart his poems to see how they worked. After his death I asked his wife for permission to republish "Neanderthal, with Help from Cave and Bear, Invents the Flute" in my anthology _Reeds and Rushes--Pitch, Buzz, and Hum_, for which you shared two poems, "Alum Creek, Late Summer" and "Gigging." I haven't had a formal poetry education aside from a course with Kip Knott, but I've been in two and three critiquing groups--one since 2002. Jen Bosveld and Roy Bentley have been mentors, and the critiquing groups have sustained me and tuned my ear. And you have been a sustaining and mentoring force in the lives of many students of poetry. Thanks for this episode and all you do.
I'm not sure why but here I am, in tears at the café. Thank you for sharing these sacred memories.
David Citino was such a lovely man. He began his career at The Ohio State U. on the Marion campus, where, a few years after he'd transferred to main campus, I became a teacher. He returned often to Marion, creating poems for specific landmark events. Somehow he always found the exact words and phrases to highlight whatever person or new building or program had brought him to campus. Sometimes he walked with confidence, sometimes with a cane, but a special warmth seemed to radiate from the man. I'm so glad you knew him.
What a sweet, endearing story. It is a rare and beautiful thing to have someone further along the path share from their pockets hard-won accumulated advice and watch over you a bit. Thank you for the introduction to David and his poetry. I spent time this morning reading his poems. "Smelling the Snow" was one of my favorites. "But any old fool can smell love." Whew. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/browse?contentId=39128
I love thinking about my mentors and feeling a rush of gratitude. He sounds like a gift. Especially meeting him again after all those years. Clearly the universe placed him in your life for a reason!