Stephen Kalinich: My Memory Of Dennis

MY MEMORY OF DENNIS

MY MEMORY OF DENNIS
IS VIVID AND WONDERFUL.
I CLEARLY REMEMBER
DENNIS TAKING ME TO THE OPEN
AIR THEATER AT SANTA MONICA
CITY COLLEGE
IN SANTA MONICA AND
HAVING ME GET ON STAGE
AND RECITE ONE OF MY POEMS LIKE THE
GALACTIC SYMPHONIES OR A TALE OF MAN.
THEN HE WOULD DIRECT ME.
HE WOULD SIT WAY BACK
IN THE SEATS AND I WOULD BE
ON STAGE AND HE
WOULD DIRECT ME-INSPIRE ME-
ENCOURAGE ME.
HE WOULD SAY THE WHOLE
WORLD HAS TO HEAR
YOU POETRY.
THIS WAS AT A TIME IN MY LIFE
WHEN NO ONE KNEW WHO I WAS.
IT HELPED ME SO MUCH.
DENNIS LOVED ME-LOVED
WORKING WITH ME.
HE MADE ME FEEL I COULD DO IT.
THAT ART- MUSIC AND
POETRY WERE IMPORTANT
AND THAT IT WAS MY MISSION
TO BRING IT FORWARD TO HUMANITY.
TO HELP MAKE THE WORLD A
BETTER PLACE AND
SPREAD PEACE.
BRIAN WAS THE SAME WAY WITH ME.
THIS IS WHAT I REMEMBER MOST ABOUT DENNIS
AND ALL THE FUN THINGS WE USE TO DO.
DENNIS, BRIAN AND I WALKING ALONG THE BEACH
AFTER DARK NEAR THE MARINA.

lOVE

STEPHEN