NOTE: this is written for Glenn Buttkus, an actor, writer, poet, humanitarian, and a friend of nearly two decades. He left this earth on February 17, 2023. I will genuinely miss Glenn. We shared a love of poetry and sensitivity to the world. The middle section (in parenthesis) of my poem here, are Glenn’s words and spirit verbatim. His wonderful poetry blog was “Feel Free To Read”.
Between wakefulness
and REM
there is a place
a dimension that I know
a dimension we both roamed
that dimension
the neuralspace of fantasy
of illusion
where imagination roams
a place where poetry lurks
it was each of us hunting
the fleetingly elusive poem
or powerful piece of writing
that eventually lead us
to where first our ideas met
here in this magical place
way far out in the ether
in the deep cyberspace
called the internet
for us two aging men
it was fresh and new
which made each day ahead
a most wonderful adventure
when
from site to site
from day to day
week to week and year to year
we’d write poetry
or we would just rant
about the world situation
kind congratulatory comments
offered to each other
on our boldness
on our brashness
on our badassness
or our dead-on accuracy
on the asshattery we encountered
and showing our respect
for other fine poets
and powerful writers
whose heads remained
in daylight
eyes wide open
everyday we found fodder
new things to write about
as time rolled ever on
our paths would uncross
from time to time
and we’d get separated
by circumstance or illness
or simply down time
but we’d eventually reconnect
new site with new energy
and we’d vigorously relaunch
our cyber-poet relationship
I remember so very well
our first encounter in 2005…
…This piece thumps & bumps
and shakes its ass, Rob,
written from the gut, and
rife with gems of recall from
the poet who was there. It
is like Raymond Chandler
meets Dashell Hammett for
a beer and a bump at the
Gladiator across the sticky
table from Larry Levi, where
even Scorsese could dream
of plots, and Paul Schrader
would bullshit with you until
dawn, where Ledbelly drops
in just before the sun and his
six string heralds the events
to come. I like your line
/steel-heart working girls/
for those ladies still stroll in
the subterranean streets midst
most of our souls…
that beast of writing
was all you my friend
when I read it
I knew…
we were kindred spirits
you took my breath away
with this amazing comment
left on my then poetry site
‘From The Red Chair’
in responce to my piece
“4:00 AM Omelettes”
the piece was about my years
as a catholic high schooler
starting at age 16-years-old
singing in the mafia-run
all night covert gambling dens
and nightclubs of Northern KY
I would later update and expend it
retitling it “sneakin’ up on breakfast”
all those wonderful years ago
you blew my damned mind
with that uber-brilliant
bit of outstanding writing
our ongoing encounters differed
in that sometimes I’d write a poem
then you’d compose a witty comment
or you would write a rantin’ ripper
and I’d be the mouth-gaped commenter
but our welcomed encounters
at first occasional
continued to increase
year after wonderful year
each filled with many fine days
when we were energized
by some brand new site
offering brand new challenges
represented by new writing prompts
or some bonehead world figure
or ridiculous world event
so many to choose from
sometimes humor
or memories of younger days
our lives were different
quite different externally
and yet we resonated
remarkably similar in our views
and deeper in our spirits
in looking at our common time
from our own unique perspective
we saw the world as a whole
all those thousands of days
stimulating days
wonderful days
those special days
and when
after many years
we finally met
zoom face to zoom face
and spoke together
with other fascinating poets
from around the globe
hearing them share their poetry
on dVerse OLN
those were truly great days
but not these recent days
not since you passed
the night before
my 76th birthday
an upsetting night for me
when I read of your death
never got to say adios
to you
or to your Buck
I am now bent
not only by the weight
of advancing age
and ever more consuming disease
but now by the yoke of sorrow
I am heavy
with the weight of loss
I am haunted
by the ghost of memory
how can such a void be filled
when one so mentally vital
with a huge spirit
is gone
so much wit and wisdom
frustration at the world
robbed from this world
lost when you passed
one who understood
the need for giving
in a careless crazy world
darkened by political greed
political stupidity
by a global pandemic
by war after war
a kind heart
truly unselfish
whose welcoming embrace
included all
Glenn — I will not forget
I will remember you
and all those days and years
that’s how I’ll fill this void
with the seeds of friendship
planted deep in cyber-soil
and inside my heart
now filled with grief
may they grow
to make the memories
richer and more precious
grow to make me gentler
and more grateful
for my loved ones
for my friends
and for the cyber poet buddies
still in my life
good-bye Glenn
farewell my friend
I will not forget
I will tend these seeds
you planted deep
and think of you
I will not forget
*
rob kistner © 2023
More poetry at: dVerse
We used to dig talking about our younger years, and crazy lives, you as an actor, and me as a traveling blues/rock singer — well my friend, this one’s for you…
Rob, as much grief as I feel at Glenn’s passing, you knowing him close to 20 years has got to mean you feel it so much more. Poets link soul to soul and yours and Glenn’s flew linked with resonance over a lot of turf in time and space. I will never forget Dear Glenn and his fearlessness in confronting the truth and his always gentle encouragement of others.
Yes… Even though I knew he was dealing with health issues, that morning I learned that he had passed was a difficult time. I shed a few tears, and I miss the son of a bitch! He was bold and brash — and always told me like it was, certainly like he thought it was.. I love that about him. Shine on and rant on Glenn. I miss you buddy. ;(
Rob, this is so moving! It so beautifully exemplifies that the ties that we form here virtually are no less. Glenn may no longer be with us but his words will forever remain with us. A very touching tribute, my friend. You moved me to tears. Thank you for writing this.????????
You are most welcome Punam. Thank you for giving me the platform to say goodbye to a man, a poet, who became a friend, and whom I came to love — and will miss dearly. ;( That Linda Ronstadt song says exactly ehat I ferl.
You are welcome, Rob. You have honoured his memory so beautifully..
Thank you Punam. We were lke brothers from different mothers. He chose acting, I chose dinging and playing.
I am glad you wrote this for Glenn, I thought about doing it as well, i have not known him as long as you have. I hope that you will love the Open Link tomorrow. Glenn had been away a few times before, but he always came back. I had started to fear when he didn’t return, but it still came as a shock.
I couldn’t not write about my bold brash buddy! Yeah, I knew he’d been struggling — as you said Björn, but it was still a sad shock. He and I began sharing poetry around 2003, on the site that came before Dana Guthry’s 2 sites “Poetry Thursday” and “Read Write Poem”, and quite a few more sites along the way, including Tess Kincaid’s “Magpie Tales”, and the two poetry prompt sites I published, Matinée Muse and “Writers Islsnd”. There were 5 or 6 others, including an earlier site of Brian’s, I think cslled “One Shot” —- and obviously dVerse.
I came along much later and joined this community around 2011… I remember when dVerse OLN had 150 links…
Yes Björn, I remember when all the sites like Poetry Thursdays, Read Write Poem, early Magpie Tales, and my Writers Island site were busy with poets…
A beautiful tribute to your friendship with Glenn. And yes, thank God that Bjorn started OLN LIVE where we got to meet and see and be with Glenn!
I’m hosting OLN tomorrow and it’s dedicated to Glenn. I hope you like the post I’ve done for him…..Perhaps you’d like to link this up again or write another.
And hoping answers are in sight for you and K.
I will gladly link it again tomorrow Lil. My pleasure and honor. Kath has entered into what we hope will only have to be radiation treatment. It may sounds unnerving, and it is. However, her oncologist feels it is better, and it is less invasive than surgery. I pray this will prove to be the solution that delivers a cure. Thank you for your graciousness my friend.
He will always be remembered. Thank you for honoring him with your words and your happy memories. Its funny how one can read someone’s poems and know the person as in real life too. That’s the connection that only poets can appreciate.
Glenn was one-of-a-kind Grace. It is a type of connection that only occurs when the essence of an individual is freely shared, and poets do that best.
Hi, Am sending a cyber hug in support of your sorrow. Your poem is a beautiful tribute to Glenn and the friendship you shared.
Thank you Carys… 🙂
This is a wonderful tribute to Glenn, Rob, which touched me deeply. I felt I knew him a little over the past eight years or so, but you had the pleasure of being his online friend for nearly two decades. It is fitting that you have taken a line from one of his poems. I love that you could meet in that ‘a place where poetry lurks / that lead us to where first our ideas met’. I think it was the ranting about the world’s situation was one of the many things that endeared him to all of us – and, of course, Buck.
Thank you so very much Kim. I dug a little deeper to discover that we first encountered each other in 2005. It was memorable. After that we’d crosspaths caduslly, but more and more increasingly. Our relationship shifted into a higher gear, on Tess Kincaid’s “Magpie Tales”. Incidentally, I think this might have been the first site, upon which I encountered Björn. I edited my tribute to Glenn, to which I’m linking on this coming Thursday’s OLN. I included a little more detail.
An awesome tribute, Rob. Thanks.
Thank you Ron… 🙂
Oh my heart.. this is such a beautiful poem and tribute to Glenn! Twenty years is a long time .. a bond and a connection that links one together with the other in ways we cannot fully understand. It’s almost as though that friend is our soulmate. I can feel the deep sorrow and sense of loss in your words, Rob. I echo the pain. We will all miss Glenn and his voice very much. Sending hugs.
Yes we will Sanaa… 🙂
You pay fine tribute, Rob. Glenn will be missed.
Thank you Ken… 🙂
RE the updated version posted at OLN today.
“kind congratulatory comments
offered to each other
on our boldness
on our brashness
on out badassness
or our dead on accuracy
on the asshattery we encountered”
Glenn would LOVE these words.
And the words of Glenn’s comment in 2005….the only thing better would be to hear him say those words on OLN LIVE. That’s him to a T! Thank you for reworking, Rob. A wonderful tribute to Glenn and the power of friendship, if even over the ways of cyber space.
Thsnk you Lil… 🙂
RE the updated version posted at OLN today.
“kind congratulatory comments
offered to each other
on our boldness
on our brashness
on out badassness
or our dead on accuracy
on the asshattery we encountered”
Glenn would LOVE these words.
And the words of Glenn’s comment in 2005….the only thing better would be to hear him say those words on OLN LIVE. That’s him to a T! Thank you for reworking, Rob. A wonderful tribute to Glenn and the power of friendship, if even over the ways of cyber space.
🙂
Such a heartfelt tribute! “with the seeds of friendship planted deep in cyber-soil and inside my heart now filled with grief” so poignant!
Thank you Tricia
Beautifully sustained Rob – a fine tribute…
Thank you Scott…
This is a most beautiful and loving tribute to your dear friend Glenn. I found it very touching and filled with so many good memories! Thank you for sharing this. I think Glenn would be honored to call you his friend!
Thank you Dwight, Glenn was a good man.
Rob – You have known Glenn for a long time. I’ve been blogging for about 10 years and Glenn certainly has had an impact on the community. A free spirit who always spoke from his heart. I know you will never forget. A passionate tribute to a friend.
I was thinking of him a couple of weeks ago and feared something had happened to him. My heart is heavy today.
Thank you True, he was a singular individual.
He was an amazing individual; I believe he lives on and I know he believed; though the human shell dies; his energy lives on,
Grieving here I am so emotional about souls that have touched my life,
He was True, and his energy is now released into the universe to expand infinitely.
Such a heartfelt tribute, Rob. I always enjoyed how you two played off of each other at OLN live. May his memory be a blessing.
Thank you Merril
Beautiful and moving Rob a lovely tribute <3
Thank you… 🙂
A wonderful, heartfelt tribute, Rob. Captures the spirit of Glenn.
JIM
Thank you James.
Rob, this is such a wonderful and touching tribute to Glenn. Your words fall like tears across the page as I read. It is so good when we come across a person in our life who connects with us and we click, Thank you for honoring Glenn in this way!
We both lived our individual lives from boundary to boundary — and often beyond. When we met in cyberspace as older, wiser men, there was a kindred recognition. I understand that even clearer now, after his passing. The special thing Glenn and I shared is that we were both “bad boys” in our own way, who survived our own breaking of the arbitrary rules of ‘polite society’ — and we recognized that ‘upright outlaw’ in each other. There have only been a small handful of such meaningful outliers in my life. There are two that have genuinely sustained now for over half a century. I firmly believe Glenn would have been one, had we met much earlier in life, as we pursued our personal muses — both on the stage… he on the ‘boards’, me amongst the chords. I miss the special son-of-a-bitch.
This is very “American Pie” in the best of ways. You have created a whole set of images for a person which makes both of you so relatable and real. Your tribute is keeping your friend alive in the best of senses.
I’ve a number of friends in my life Kim, but with Glenn, our minds met 20 years ago through our poetry, and it was for me, as meaningful a friendship as any I had face to face — maybe deeper in some ways. He was a unique soul, and his heart and mind were always open — and he was willing to share both, without caveats or judgement. He truly was no bullshit! 🙂
Rob, this is such an amazing tribute to Glenn. I love how you have included his words.
Somehow I missed the news last year – but we were grieving my father in law, and everything was erractic.
So sorry about your father-in-law Kim… 😐
Rob, thank you once again for sharing this. It had moved me when you had first shared it, it has moved me again. Glenn would have surely appreciated such a heartfelt tribute. Thanks for sharing. Sending you hugs, my friend.
Thank you Punam. My sad privilege to honor my friend of over 20 years. I miss the dude greatly, and his candid spirit. Glenn was wholly unique, and for me, definitely a kindred soul. I enjoy and respect all the poets who visit dVerse, but he and I stayed linked through prompt site after prompt site over the past two decades — and we just resonated harmonically on a common frequency.
A lovely tribute, Rob! And it’s beautiful reading about your friendship. 🙂
Thank you… 🙂
Hi Rob, this is an extraordinary poem and tribute to your friend. I joined d’Verse recently and I am enjoying the great prompts and talented poets very much. I can see how you developed such a deep friendship and lasting admiration.
I’m Rob… sorta like you Rob-bie. Glenn was a unique spirit. I miss the cranky old fool. That is another trait we shared — cranky old fools. Glad you joined Robbie. Welcome to the community. You’ll find I can get dark at times, but I just like writing in all the shades. 😉
What an enviable friendship, Rob, and one immortalized through your words. Glenn was quite a figure in the dVerse community and he is sorely missed. Your tribute is a reminder that he will not be forgotten.
No he won’t Dora… 🙂
Rob,
a fine tribute to Glenn. I don’t write much anymore, but was looking at some old pens and saw one of his comments, and wondered about him and googled – and this came up. Thank you for honoring him and your friendship.
~ Michael
I miss the cranky, talented, beautiful sonuvabitch. I always, to this day, look longingly for one of his posts, or comments — even though I know I will never see one again. 😐