William S. Gainer
Photograph by Christopher Kildow Moon |
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THE WRONG SIDE OF DIRT
by William S. Gainer Visited an old friend, Bob, was glad to see that someone, probably his sister, the one from up in Reno, had finally placed a headstone. After wiping the snow and reading the inscription:
an extraordinary artist a creative thinker March 19, 1951 – April 21, 2005 The guy was once somebody, had won one of the big ones, an Academy Award, way back when, for a stop-motion-animated short film thing he did in college. I heard it was down hill from there. That his world was an alien place – it didn't love him as much as we did. His sister said he took the dark way out: a piece of cord, a rented room, the city cops pushing the door in, him hanging there – done... She said because of the way he left the priest wouldn't bury him, so they did some kind of Indian thing, burnt some sage, banged on some drums and chanted something that meant something to somebody, who knows... After all the crap, the craziness, the booze, the dope, the good times, the bad, the women, the fighting, the falling in love, I always loved the falling in love, even the meds, yeah they put you on the meds when they think you've gone a little goofy. After all of it, here I am, an old man left standing in the snow, talking to an old friend, who's long gone, wondering which one of us, is truly, on the wrong side of the dirt... 
William S. (Bill) Gainer is known for the openness of his confessional poetry and is recognized as one of the founding contributors to the modern movement of "After Hours Poetry." Gainer has contributed to the literary scene as a writer, editor, promoter, publicist and poet. He is a co-founder and current board member of the Nevada County Poetry Series. Gainer has read and worked with a wide range of poets and writers, including readings on KUSF with Punk-Rocker Patti Smith and a recent performance with California's Poet Laureate, Al Young. He is widely published and continues to be a sought after reader. Gainer can be previewed at billgainer.com. |
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