Boston Poet Walter Howard has passed....

Walter reading at Stone Soup---video from Chad Parenteau
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnF54wOtjho
 
Walter in the Somerville Times
 http://www.thesomervilletimes.com/archives/78768

Dear friends,

With her permission, I'm passing on a message from Joan Kimball, a good friend of Walter Howard. Please feel free to contact her at her email address below.

Dear Friend of Walter Howard,

                I am sad to tell you that we lost Walter today, Sunday, January 14, 2018. His brother Richard and Richard’s wife Pam called me this afternoon to let me know. After a private service, he will be buried in the family plot in Bridgewater, MA.

                I am glad that back in December he was able to enjoy the reading of his manuscript  by so many of his poetry friends.

                Also, just a week ago, Kay and I and some of Kay’s church choir sang to him while Verna held his hand and heard him sing a few notes along with us.

The book of 51 of his poems, “Walter Howard: Reflections in Moonlight,” edited by Debbie Martin and myself, to be published by Wilderness House, is almost ready to print. 

                From the book, here’s a piece toward the end of Walter's poem, “Apples of Immortality."

I am but an old harpsichord

With spine no longer steel.. 

I am but broken keys and spindly legs

A limp, faded old flag,

Father of uncertain notes. 

But I can still play

The old song

The earth sang in its youth.

    *     *     *

And we can flee! West!

West to the Garden of the Hesperides

West to the serpent-guarded gate!

West to the oasis where Christ stands!

Slay the serpent!

Storm the oasis!

Run with Christ!

Steal from the Tree of Paradise

Its apples gold!

In sorrow,

Joan

jawkimball@gmail.com