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I Sail for Naples

Here’s a letter from Fred to Patrick, probably 1963. Perhaps the date could be made more exact if we knew when Ann B was born since she is referenced here.

The letter includes a poetry critique, some personal observations, and mentions several friends including Bob and Edmund.

Completely unrelated. I just transcribed the recording about how Patrick learned Spanish.

As usual, click on an image to see a larger version.

Continue reading “I Sail for Naples”
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standing silently together each day at sunset

(e-mail from Fred on 12 Aug 2001, part of a large collection Patrick sent to me in Aug 2015)

Subject: greetings

Dear Stephanie & Pat,

Full of music, good food (no small admission from one who lives in Firenze), dance, incredible landscapes, some new friends, & best of all, affection. I have printed them out as shared them — the best of his eccentric prose. & I received yr gorgeous card. I now have an impression of yr inviting & interesting (horrible word — should be dropped from critical vocabulary) house. I learn that both of you became stone masons over the yrs to achieve ‘your place’.

& learn anew, Stephanie, that you are extraordinary & dear. However, he did not mention that you sang for him. Continue reading “standing silently together each day at sunset”

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Greetings . . .

e-mail letter from Fred to Patrick and Stephanie on 14 Feb ‘1, which Patrick sent to me on 8 Sep ’15 as part of a large collection.

Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2001

Subject: Greetings . . .

to you’all,

dere Stephanie & Pat, i miei valentini,

Yep, I finished a whole novel. Loved AN EQUAL MUSIC. Is Tononi a real violin maker? Cremonese?

Thus is the Genome Project mapped. & race is not a scientific concept. What WILL the bigots do?????? No that they ever depended on reason. Continue reading “Greetings . . .”

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But …

e-mail letter from Fred to Patrick and Stephanie on 31 Jan ‘1, which Patrick sent to me on 8 Sep ’15 as part of a large collection.

Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2001 19:08:46 -0500

Subject: But . . .

Merwin DID say, ‘If I wasn’t human I wouldn’t be ashamed of anything’

& Oooo how we need Iraq. You know . . . Your tax bill is losing favor, sir. BOMB IRAQ. I’ll make a strong statement to begin my administration. BOMB IRAQ. Ms L. may testify. BOMB IRAQ. Some say, sir, that women should decide the disposition of their bodies. BOMB IRAQ. Etc., you know, someone let the blacks get away, so now it’s Iraq.

But, despite being human, I say Greetings Stephanie & Pat, Continue reading “But …”

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Yep, did get yours

e-mail letter from Fred to Patrick and Stephanie on 31 Jan ‘1, which Patrick sent to me on 8 Sep ’15 as part of a large collection.

Yep, did get yours

& yours, dear Stephanie,

& have no explanation.  suspect it was my server.  Address remains the same & is in order now — I think.

Still can’t raise the nonet.  But am glad to have the op. 134 made clear.  Geez, that must be something to SEE performed — not to mention heard. Continue reading “Yep, did get yours”

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musick & cosi varii

e-mail letter from Fred to Patrick on 27 Jan ‘1, which Patrick sent to me on 8 Sep ’15 as part of a large collection.

Date: Sat, 27 Jan 2001 14:52:22 -0500
Subject: musick & cosi varii
Greetings J & p,

Can not pull up the S. T. Coleridge nonet. Try it again please. Sounds interesting. Periodically the PBS stations play something by him — yes, very romantic — but I have to hear things over & over. I agree with you about Glass & Gorecki — both bore. Without trying for a definition, it seems to me that art must affect the head &heart (one without the other won’t do) permanently. Continue reading “musick & cosi varii”