I was really saddened to learn this past week that new friend Richard Leck passed away on December 19th. I had only met Richard once, at this year’s Small Press Fair in New York City where he shared a table with myself and the rest of the Blacksmiths for Literary Progress. He was one of those guys that you instantly label as a “character.” Richard was a funny bastard, with a real dry, offbeat sense of humor. He spent the afternoon quoting old W.C. Fields jokes, telling tales of Greenwich Village in the 1960s, and generally keeping us entertained. Richard couldn’t make the first day of the book fair (Saturday), so he failed to meet his biggest fan. As the show was closing down, a gentleman came up to the table in the final minutes. Quietly perusing some of the titles we had on display, he picked up a copy of Richard’s “Memory Hair.” He flipped to the poem “Empty” and read it to himself. Then he looked at me and said, “This man is a wonderful poet, you tell him I said so.” After handing over his $5, he left without saying another word.

Sadly, “Memory Hair” is his only chapbook of poetry. You can buy a copy of it by contacting Words Like Kudzu press. And his friend Karen Lillis has posted a bit more about Richard’s life here.

Here is my favorite poem by Richard, “Experience.” I think it sums up his style (and sense of humor) perfectly.

Don’t try
to catch the drops.
The drops
will find you.
And attach themselves
to you.
And engulf you.
And inundate you.
You can’t
wash off drops.
You’ll just
be adding
other drops.
They will just
intermingle
until you drop.