Remembering Stuart Bartow
Robin White
Unhurried. Humble. Wise.
The first time I heard Stu’s voice was when he was running late to his first-ever haiku gathering, where he was also a featured poet, reading from his first book of haiku, Quaking Marsh … “I’m on my way. Don’t worry, ok? See you soon.” He would arrive at Wild Graces, over the following years, in the same unhurried way, sometimes with his canoe sticking out of the bed of his truck, sometimes bringing his love from New York, the poet Barbara Ungar. Stu’s haibun also took the reader on a mindful journey. I was fortunate to have received dozens of them over the years as editor of Akitsu Quarterly, accepting many. Here’s one:
If You Grow It They Will Come
My screened porch is covered by trumpet vines. I can sit in the porch and watch the hummingbirds, just a few feet away, fight over the blossoms. Why fight? There are hundreds of blossoms. Hummingbirds are territorial. The Aztecs believed them to be reincarnated warriors. I’ve never seen them actually harm each other. They joust with their beaks and the females always win, which makes sense because only they care for the hatchlings. As the hummingbirds clash they squeak like rubber duckies.
nectar
for their long flight south
and my long siege through winter
I was also honored that he asked me to write book blurbs for all three of his Red Moon Press haiku collections (Quaking Marsh, one branch and full moon radio). I was sure it had something to do with my father, who Stu thought had the great features of a true New Hampshirite with “an unforgettable soul.” They were both diagnosed with cancer last summer, dying just months from each other. Stu pledged he wouldn’t write any cancer poems but couldn’t resist, sending me two in an autumn e-mail. One I’ll share …
asking the wind
how long I have. . .
a few leaves float by
Stuart Bartow loved flyfishing, all things nature, and cats. His haiku were both as wise and as as humble as was he. I especially like this one published in full moon radio …
what to listen to
the poet
or the catbird
About the Author
Robin White is the editor/publisher of Akitsu Quarterly and the founder of the Annual Haiku Gathering at Wild Graces. She is also a potter, beekeeper, master herbalist, and death doula. She lives in Deerfield, New Hampshire, with her husband, Marshall, a mental health clinician.