The Brooklyn Rail

how did you get to be 
such the OG Poet

and then shave
your whiskers
and reveal that smile
of a delighted kid Neeli? 

whatever realm you bless with it
I'm praying to old Godless
that you remain in
this here one

for please one more
clear-hearted poem

*         *         *

Words written in the days after Neeli's death
March 2024

Funny, lyrical, soaring, down to earth, gnostic, wise guy, nature boy, jokester, baffler, mythic mystic .. Poet... generous loving friend

~
So much grief all around at the sad and shocking news, the loss of our beautiful quirky friend and Poet. We won't get another of his light-filled poems except as they come from him through us, but we have the treasures that he left us from his life in love with the muse. Neeli Cherkovski in glory and free, inherits the clouds of gold

~
a poet's Poet he was
so purely and devotedly
(almost maddeningly sometimes)
but what a keeper
and a lighter

of the flame!