Ray's guest book...NYTimes.
Please visit the Guest Book for Ray Pospisil.

Ray's obituary is in the Sunday Times Feb 3, 2008 in the small-type "notices' Ray's guest book link NYTimes.
Please click on this link to visit the Guest Book for Ray Pospisil. read or add entries

The Bell is also available at Amazon

Several friends of Ray puchased extra copies of The Bell to hopefully donate them to public librarys to make them available on the shelves. If you are interested in helping with this please contact Maureen McElheron at McElheron(AT)aol.com

Memorial Gathering on March 26, 2008 @ Nighingale Lounge 213 2nd Ave. @13th Street, NYC 7:30pm

If you have an idea of involvelment, question or suggestion
please email Su Polo

1. Ray Pospisil, Amber Light

2. Ray Pospisil, Empire's End

Ray Pospisil, The Ten Commandments

Ray is a character in the following poem which I wrote in 2006. He's not the first poet I mention (the featured reader on the evening in question) but the second one, my "fellow reader on the open mike." I thought it would be nice to share this with Ray's family and friends.

ONE STEP FORWARD

It is a night the featured poet
shows us how to put the super
back into superficial,
and nobody seems to notice my verses
especially not the new one I am trying out
for the first time.

One fellow reader on the open mike, however,
offers me words I expect to remember
forever.
And so I decide
that on this particular evening
poetry has taken another giant step forward.

Steve Bloom (Brooklyn, NY)

CHIAROSCURO
"Do your best, my nightmare snickers. What the hell, You've got some time before the bell.", Ray Pospisil, EXAM DAY

Your bell resounds, echoing
on though our nights-
the toll you thought would wait
a long day dreaming yet
tumbling us down into that blackness
you struggled to chart, lost and found
your way through time and again
by feel and tenacity.
But peeling for joy too
brilliance punching through
confounding gloom.
Black square after white, you
strove to game the whole board.
As quickly as light pierced dark
you smack into eclipse from sunlight.
Living in this chiaroscuro
hodge-podge of laughter and loneliness
insight and despondency
you watched illuminated angels
square-dance demon partners,
studying their steps, barking
the tune in peerless couplets
or eloquent blank verse.
Thinking there was time yet
you danced to get the steps down pat
relishing every do-si-do
time before the bell
a chance to tell it all,
you who told so well.

David Elsasser Manhattan, NY

WHEN POET'S DIE

When time has caught us
with our boots off
and the slow, steady reign of years
into eternity begins,
even poets pause

Uncertainty lies in the space
between life, and all else
that has been conjured,
between paths we walk
and the unknowable darkness.
Hesitant or canny, the poet digests
mood and moment, crochets ideas,
defines the unthinkable...
Sometimes we weep....

But when Death makes others
kneel and pray, the poet
sharpens tongue and writes --
And though galaxies will swallow
us whole into the memories
of those who loved us or feared
us, those who bestowed praise
or blame, who recall us with
anger or delight or desire,
who whisper our names
on moonless nights --
we will be enveloped in pillows
of infinite stars, take clouds
for beds in that seamless night...

Then let death come!
Not as the thunder of hoofbeats
under ochre desert skies,
but soft as butterfly wings
upon your cheek,
sweet as dew-drizzled lilacs,
light as winged hope ascending...
O let it be a rolling dreamless
iambic sleep....

(c.) 1993
www.leighharrison.com

Leigh Harrison (Rego Park, NY)

Page 2 of 6




March 29, 2008

"I'm just a simple country boy from Jersey" Ray once wrote me, "...with a Czech
soul"

Another excerpt from an email that was so typical of Ray's humor and mania for
detail:

After seeing the movie I am Legend, Ray wrote me:


"Mr. Know-It-All Energy Journalist gets his come-uppance. After my strident rant
about how the movie"I Am Legend" supposedly perpetuates the public's childish
ignorance about energy by assuming that, with the whole world wiped out, power
plants would somehow, magically continue to produce electricity for Will Smith's
computer, lights and tread mill......Well, I guess I'm not such a big shot. The
second scene in the movie shows portable generators in Will Smith's basement
-- small, Honda units that he could find from any hardware stores, and which are
easy to connect to a building's electrical system. And the film shows him
hand-pumping gasoline out of a filling station tank, into a container, to fuel the
generators. The film even shows a propane gas tank that feeds his stove and hot
water heater. No explanation for the water supply, though. I guess he could
periodically fill the tank from jugs of Poland Spring he could grab at grocery
stores. I know I'm a nerd, But am I too much of a nerd?"

Tanaquil Taubes (New York, NY)



March 26, 2008

Dearer Su and Dave (and anyone else),

A few weeks ago I happened to open your site and saw there the mention of
Ray's passing. Perhaps this was before you organized tonight's memorial. In any
case, I didn't spot a Memorial listing then. Maybe I was too distracted by the
actual fact to see it.

I was quite struck by reading about Ray. We were never especially close, yet in
the time since I learned of his death he has been on my mind a lot. In some way I
felt he and I understood a small portion of each other even though we were only
acquaintances. I'm sorry I didn't learn until this very evening of the Memorial, long
after it would have been too late to attend. Even so, I'm not sure I would have
known what to read if I had known in time to come. But I remember him positively.
I think my response to this will emerge in time, maybe in a way not easily
recognizable to anyone else.

I am glad you arranged the Memorial. Ray deserved it and more.

Allen Tice

(sorry for any typos: this machine lacks a spell checker)

Allen Tice (Brooklyn, NY)
Contact me



March 26, 2008

Ray was a poet, friend and gentleman and one of my first supporters when I was
a newcomer to the circuit over 4 ¬&Mac189; years ago. I was fortunate to have had the
opportunity to hear him read at the Saturn Series. He will always be remembered
as a first class &Mac226;Äúmetrical&Mac226;Äù and &Mac226;Äúfree verse&Mac226;Äù poet. His legacy will live on in his
poetry.

In deepest sympathy,

Patricia Carragon

Patricia Carragon (New York, NY)
Contact me



March 24, 2008

The Memorial Gathering for Ray Pospisil is scheduled for this Wednesday, March
26, 2008 at Nightingale Lounge - 7:30 pm.
All are welcome. Located at 213 2nd Avenue, NYC on the Northwest corner of
13th Street on 2nd Avenue.

Su Polo (new york, NY)
Contact me



March 9, 2008

May peace and love be with family and friends on the passing of Ray. May he rest
in peace.

Hobobob (New York, NY)



March 4, 2008

I WANT TO THANK RAY POSPISIL FOR GIVING ME SOME SOUND ADVICE TO
APPLY WHILE PERFORMING ON THE STAGE...
-"OBSIDIAN!!!"

OBSIDIAN OBSIDIAN (NEW YORK, NY)
Contact me



March 1, 2008


Evie Ivy (Brooklyn, NY)
Contact me



March 1, 2008

Ray, thank you. It was wonderful sharing with
you.

Evie Ivy (Bklyn,, NY)
Contact me



February 26, 2008

Belated but sincere condolences to Ray's family and friends -- of whom he
obviously had a wealth.

A rush sadness at the news, was met by fond memories of Ray with whom we
shared our duplex home in San Francisco's Bernal Heights for a few years. The
relationship between my wife, Anne, myself and Ray quickly went from landlords /
tennant to friends in short order.

At the time (mid 90s)I worked out of our home as a freelance film and vodeo
producer, while downstairs in our garden flat Ray plied his trade covering the
energy beat. His work ethic was amazing and influenced my work no small
amount. He was an old school tough guy when it came to getting his copy out on
deadline.

But when the work was done there was always time to talk of the news of the day,
movies, sports, and the bizarre politics of San Francisco. I clearly remember
Ray's dismay and alarm when California's PUC was in the process of
deregulation. Ray saw all of the wretched crud Enron, Dynegy and other power
crooks pulled in California long before those events came to pass.

Here on the west coast we will remember Ray always as an interesting,
intelligent, intense, private yet personable man who met life on his own terms.

Rest in peace, Ray.

john cremer (san francisco, CA)
Contact me



February 22, 2008

I have been a regular at the Saturn Series reading for the last two years. During
that time I was honored to get to know Ray a little bit. Ray was a craftsman as a
writer, but he was big enough to recognize the value in what the most
inexperienced writer was doing, and to point that out to them. I always tried to sit
next to him at the reading to get his angle on things. I think we learn most from
those who are different from us, and I think Ray felt that way too. As I will miss the
little connection that Ray and I had, I send my sincerest condolences to his family
and loved ones whose loss is greater, and share a poem I wrote in honor of him.


Elegy for a Fallen Poet


Buttoned down anguish
Regular guy
Close shave maelstrom
Behind sunken eyes
Cool reserve pressed chinos
Faraway pallid smile
Wheels within wheels revealed
The workings of your inner mind
I remember you working it out
I remember you pacing the floor
On a sultry summer evening
In the muggy month of July
In the city of crashing subways
And smoky killer cars
Of insomniac static
And cold sweat staring dreams
You reasoned with the demons
Evaluating data streams
You had fun with the conundrum
Every breathing moment leaves
Can we people live together?
Can mankind endure world pain?
Anxiety, destiny, guilt
Grief, self-loathing and regret
The bulls and the bears and your federal reserve
Che Guevara and the baseball game
Snowfort sliding memories
With a hint of fresh rainbow shine.
I did not really know you
But could someone really know you?
I know it's hard to be a human being
A mighty challenge to be yourself
But I'll remember you pacing the floor
Rocking forward onto your toes
I wanted you to work it out
I wanted you to show me the way
But a poet is like a children's top
It topples when the momentum stops.

David Lawton (New York, NY)
Contact me

Page 3 of 6




February 21, 2008

I'm shocked and terribly saddened to hear this news. I knew Ray from his
wonderful poetry, sharing meals after many a reading in Brooklyn, and from
casual visits and larger celebrations to discussions of things politic and feline.
What a loss to poetry -- to life. My deep condolences to his family and friends.

Janet Kaplan (Brooklyn, NY)
Contact me



February 20, 2008

Condolences and gratitude to all who've created/contributed to this site in
memorial of Ray. He's deeply missed. I didn't know Ray well, but I always looked
forward to talking with him and hearing him read at the Modern Metrics poetry
reading series and other venues around town. He did stalk the stage like a tiger,
as one of you said. He was wonderful on stage, rendering his
grounded-yet-lyrical poems. He was a uniquely intelligent, lyrical soul grounded
in a basically edgy landscape: a consumate realist. Such a terrible loss. So sorry.

Wendy Sloan (New York, NY)
Contact me



February 17, 2008

Carl and all,

This is my second entry regarding my close friend Ray. When I bought a sailboat
too large for my experience, Ray had guts to sail with me several times when
seasoned sailors called me nuts to take the boat out in its questionable
condition. Ray purposely miss used sailing jargon to annoy me with hilarious
effect. In his apartment there hung a framed copy I gave him of a blown up photo
he took for me from Hell Gate Park in Astoria. It shows my boat passing under
the Triboro at slack tide. I treasure that photo since at the time I did not know he
was even there taking it and it is highly unlikely I'll ever sail through Hell Gate
again. Another copy hangs over my fireplace (please dispose of Ray's copy
unless someone wants it). I have a short but impressive video mpg of he and I
sailing at hull speed (fastest) in Long Island Sound. If anyone would like me to
email this short intense vid, easily downloaded in under a minute on any
connection, let me know via the contact link here and I'll send it. We got a few
funny stories of voyages between Port Jefferson and Port Washington.

Al

Al Samuel (Pasadena, MD)
Contact me



February 17, 2008

I was shocked and saddened to learn of Ray's death. He was a gentle soul with
a tough exterior, as someone else has already pointed out, and could write
poetry in form like no one else I knew in Brooklyn. He was also a lot of fun to
watch football with, and I remember a fateful Sunday when my husband and I
watched the Jets actually win a playoff game with Ray celebrating at our side.
Mostly, I know he was a serious journalist and poet, and his poetry was growing
and strengthening all the time. Still waters run deep and Ray ran deeper than
most. I will miss him a great deal.

Alexandra van de Kamp (Port Jefferson, NY)
Contact me



February 15, 2008

I have worked professionally with Ray for about 15 years. Ray wrote great prose,
great stories about arcane electric power issues. He&Mac226;Äôs one of the few people I
know who could define both BACT and trochee, and he had the cleanest copy
this side of Noe Valley. It was also precise and well written. So I didn&Mac226;Äôt often have
to call him for clarification on a story he had written. On the occasions when I did,
we would often end up swapping stories. I have a long tape loop of his one-liners
in my head that will be running for a long time to come, but I still miss him.

Peter Maloney (Brooklyn, NY)
Contact me



February 15, 2008

New York has lost a tremendous talent and a tremendous person. I met Ray
through his poetry. When he was outraged, in Richard Loranger's words, he
stalked the stage like a tiger. But he also had a sweet, affectionate side which
was all the more moving for being concealed in a tough-seeming exterior.

James Wilson (Brooklyn, NY)
Contact me



February 15, 2008

I was shocked & saddened to hear of Ray's passing. We met at the Saturn
Series Reading years ago, often discussing the writing process as poets back
then. Ray got on my jazz/poetry performance mailing list & after attending some of
my gigs, would give thoughtful, insightful feedback. I especially remember his
comments on my phrasing of Cole Porter's "Every Time We Say Goodbye". I
appreciated his listening, & his voice.

DeeAnne Gorman (New York, NY)
Contact me



February 14, 2008

I remember the sensitivity of Ray's voice and the precision of his words. His love
of poetry, his kindness and intelligence, sense of rhythm, curiosity, laughter and
talent. My deepest sympathy to his family and friends. Ray is greatly missed.

Jane Ormerod (New York, NY)
Contact me



February 14, 2008

I was one of Ray's editors at Platts. I'm writing this around that time of the
morning when I would normally be getting an e-mail from Ray &Mac226;Äì like clockwork &Mac226;Äì
"I'm in all day, will call with news" was usually what he wrote. Over the course of a
typical day, we'd talk three of four times at least, most often about the stories he
was working on, but at times digress to other of Ray's favorite topics, such as
New York politics, movies and of course his poetry readings. I and other editors
here were always impressed with the precision of Ray&Mac226;Äôs stories, how cleanly
written and clear they were. He was an editor's dream in that regard. As a
practice, he was usually one of the last to file a story, waiting until just around
deadline, wanting, I figured, for his story to be perfect. I always ascribed that habit
to the fact that Ray was a poet first and foremost, and the words were all
important to him. I can still hear his voice in my head calling to pitch a story. I
miss him.

Rod Kuckro

Washington DC

Rod Kuckro (Washington, DC)
Contact me



February 12, 2008

Ray

Ray was much a part of my life for the past twelve years, and I will always
appreciate his talent, kindness, sense of humor, and many good times. I also
appreciate having had the chance to get to know his many extraordinary friends
and family members.

In response to a few requests, I am posting a photo of Ray, about three years
ago with his "#1 girlfriend", his late cat Molly. She was a loyal companion, and as
we often joked, a demanding editorial assistant, sometimes contributing vocally
to important interviews!

My best wishes to all of you at this time.

Anne Chamberlain (Brooklyn, NY)
Contact me

Page 4 of 6




February 12, 2008

Ray was a regular at the Saturn Poetry Reading, which I co-host with Su Polo. A
modest and retiring guy, he was one of the finest poets on the circuit. He
regularly de-emphasized the formal metrical structure of his work, with a reading
style that suggested free verse. Unlike many formalists, he embraced the
every-day in his poems. Ray was both as accomplished and real as they come,
and regularly offered helpful feedback to others. He aided me in improving mine
more than a few times.

I&Mac226;Äôm going to miss Ray&Mac226;Äôs new poems, friendly smile and fresh insight. Everyone at
the reading will miss him.

Here is a poem I&Mac226;Äôve written in tribute to Ray:

CHIAROSCURO


&Mac226;ÄúDo your best,&Mac226;Äù my nightmare snickers. &Mac226;ÄúWhat the hell &Mac226;Äì
You&Mac226;Äôve got some time before the bell.&Mac226;Äù
Ray Pospisil &Mac226;Äì &Mac226;ÄúEXAM DAY&Mac226;Äù



Your bell resounds, echoing
on though our nights-
the toll you thought would wait
a long day&Mac226;Äôs dreaming yet
tumbling us down into that blackness
you struggled to chart, lost and found
your way through time and again
by feel and tenacity.
But peeling for joy too &Mac226;Äì
brilliance punching through
confounding gloom.
Black square after white, you
strove to game the whole board.
As quickly as light pierced dark
you&Mac226;Äôd smack into eclipse from sunlight.
Living in this chiaroscuro
hodge-podge of laughter and loneliness
insight and despondency
you watched illuminated angels
square-dance demon partners,
studying their steps, barking
the tune in peerless couplets
or eloquent blank verse.
Thinking there was time yet
you danced to get the steps down pat
relishing every do-si-do &Mac226;Äì
time before the bell
a chance to tell it all,
you who told so well.


David Elsasser &Mac226;Äì Manhattan, NY
delsasser@ix.netcom.com

David Elsasser (New York, NY)
Contact me



February 9, 2008

I was so sorry to hear about Ray's death. I didn't know him well, but it is the mark
of his excellence as a poet and his kindness and dignity as a human being,
which I sensed, that started what I felt might be the beginning of a deep
friendship, just from having met him a few times. He truly seemed to be a
wonderful person, and a charming and erudite poet. My deepest sympathy to his
family.

I am enclosing an original poem I wrote, and read at the memorial for other poets
that I also admired deeply, and it's called

WHEN POET'S DIE

When time has caught us
with our boots off
and the slow, steady reign of years
into eternity begins,
even poets pause

Uncertainty lies in the space
between life, and all else
that has been conjured,
between paths we walk
and the unknowable darkness.
Hesitant or canny, the poet digests
mood and moment, crochets ideas,
defines the unthinkable...
Sometimes we weep....

But when Death makes others
kneel and pray, the poet
sharpens tongue and writes --
And though galaxies will swallow
us whole into the memories
of those who loved us or feared
us, those who bestowed praise
or blame, who recall us with
anger or delight or desire,
who whisper our names
on moonless nights --
we will be enveloped in pillows
of infinite stars, take clouds
for beds in that seamless night...

Then let death come!
Not as the thunder of hoofbeats
under ochre desert skies,
but soft as butterfly wings
upon your cheek,
sweet as dew-drizzled lilacs,
light as winged hope ascending...
O let it be a rolling dreamless
iambic sleep....

(c.) 1993
www.leighharrison.com

Leigh Harrison (Rego Park, NY)



February 8, 2008

I worked with Ray professionally for about 15 years. He wrote great prose, great
stories about arcane electric power issues. He's one of the few people I know
who could define both BACT and trochee, and he had the cleanest copy this side
of Noe Valley. It was also precise and well written. So I didn't often have to call
him for clarification on a story he had written. On the occasions when I did, we
would often end up swapping stories. I have a large tape loop of his one-liners in
my head that will be running for a long time. I miss him.

Peter Maloney (Brooklyn, NY)
Contact me



February 7, 2008

Ray and I emailed a lot and we often sent each pictures of cats, our own and
others. In mid-rant about politics, Ray sent me this photo of a soldier in Iraq. I
think it expresses Ray's appreciation of love and tenderness in the face of an
often hostile world.
With love, Oriane

Oriane Stender (Brooklyn, NY)
Contact me


Show picture



February 7, 2008

Carl and Family,
I am deaply saddened to hear of Ray's passing. My memories will always be of
my "big" cousin who I chased around and annoyed.
Irene Pospisil-Lightcap

Irene Lightcap (Califon, NJ)
Contact me



February 7, 2008

I already signed this but forgot to include my name. Ray, Sorry.


February 3, 2008
I'm not sure if I'm addressing Ray or Ray's friends. Either way, he was intensely
interesting and so devoted to finding the meaning. I saved two emails from
Ray--he responded to my poetry with insight and creativity. I told him he was an
honorary Swede...he sometimes tended to a northern style of recalcitrance as he
leaned against the long bar at the Saturn and watched us all. I really miss you. I
really miss him

Sarah Sarai
New York City

Sarah Sarai (NYC)



February 6, 2008

I was one of Ray's editors at Platts. I'm writing this around that time of the
morning when I would normally be getting an e-mail from Ray &Mac226;Äì like clockwork &Mac226;Äì
"I'm in all day, will call with news" was usually what he wrote. Over the course of a
typical day, we'd talk three of four times at least, most often about the stories he
was working on, but at times digress to other of Ray's favorite topics, such as
New York politics, movies and of course his poetry readings. I and other editors
here were always impressed with the precision of Ray&Mac226;Äôs stories, how cleanly
written and clear they were. He was an editor's dream in that regard. As a
practice, he was usually one of the last to file a story, waiting until just around
deadline, wanting, I figured, for his story to be perfect. I always ascribed that habit
to the fact that Ray was a poet first and foremost, and the words were all
important to him. I can still hear his voice in my head calling to pitch a story. I
miss him.

Rod Kuckro (Washington, DC)
Contact me



February 6, 2008

Not only was Ray my Brother-in-law and Uncle to my children, he was a kind and
loving person to everyone he met. His love of writing and poetry was what he lived
for. I will most miss his sense of humor and kind spirit. We love you Ray and will
dearly miss you.

Karen Pospisil-Wenzel (Port St. Lucie, FL)
Contact me



February 5, 2008

I count Ray among the few close friends I have. He and I and others above
sought laughs at Clarkes for years. We felt comfortable in a bar John Gotti called
his favorite. What we did there is relax, encounter people from everywhere
(sometimes with lasting consequences), argue absurdities of the day, contradict
each other, and compose obnoxious lyrics. Here we&Mac226;Äôd evaluate rude composition
against our mutually understood standards for rudeness and sometimes the
public&Mac226;Äôs. Ray was a tougher critic than the others. I knew I&Mac226;Äôd hit the mark when his
laugh would come out and light up Third Avenue with blazing sunshine.

Our interests have not diverged over the years; I don&Mac226;Äôt think we changed at all.
With me in Maryland for over a decade every conversation with Ray in person or
on the phone or by email was like it had continued from yesterday, same values,
same tension, same sense of the absurd.

I want my friend back.

Al Samuel

Al Samuel (Pasadena, MD)
Contact me



February 5, 2008

More than anything this week, I am thinking of Ray&Mac226;Äôs laughter. And of his
questions&Mac226;Äîof his complete engagement in a conversation, his passion and his
sense of humor. I loved spending time with Ray, and I miss him very much.

Rick Mullin (Caldwell,, NJ)
Contact me

Page 5 of 6




February 5, 2008

Ray is a character in the following poem which I wrote in 2006. He's not the first
poet I mention (the featured reader on the evening in question) but the second
one, my "fellow reader on the open mike." I thought it would be nice to share this
with Ray's family and friends.

ONE STEP FORWARD

It is a night the featured poet
shows us how to put the &Mac226;Äúsuper&Mac226;Äù
back into &Mac226;Äúsuperficial,&Mac226;Äù
and nobody seems to notice my verses&Mac226;Äî
especially not the new one I am trying out
for the first time.

One fellow reader on the open mike, however,
offers me words I expect to remember
forever.
And so I decide
that on this particular evening
poetry has taken another giant step forward.
.

Steve Bloom (Brooklyn, NY)
Contact me



February 4, 2008

To Ray's family, Please accept my deepest condolences on the loss of your
brother, brother-in-law, uncle and cousin.

I worked with Ray from 1986 to 1990 at the McGraw-Hill Company's Energy &
Business Newsletters (EBN) group. I will always remember his professionalism
as well as his impish sense of humor even at work. "Work hard, play hard" was
the motto of the office as I remember.

Along with hard work, Ray brought a deep sense of humor and thirst for
irreverence to the office--we took the work seriously but not ourselves. Egos were
deflated with glee on a regular basis--not with unkindness but with tongue
planted firmly in cheek. After work, we spent many evenings bonding over food
and glasses of Dewar's on the rocks.

After leaving EBN for the proverbial greener pastures, I still kept in touch with a
core group of work friends including Ray. The friendships created at EBN have
remained solid over the years and provided a support in times of prosperity as
well as trouble. In addition to the memorial service planned by his poetry circle, I
hope to meet with the EBN "family" to mourn the loss of our dear friend, Ray
Pospisil. May he rest in peace.

Sandy Fong (Brooklyn, NY)
Contact me



February 4, 2008

Many here have written about Ray's talents, which inspired us all. But his sense
of humor is what I remember most fondly about him. I'm afraid that citing the best
of it would run afoul of the New York Times', uh, style rules.
There were four of us guys known as the Roosters--which included Ray, myself,
Al Samuel and Rob Ingraham--and we would often meet at PJ Clarkes to
compose raunchy songs and vignettes. We were often all in tears at times from
how far it would go. I think Ray was very happy on these occasions. His way with
words coupled with his wicked sense of humor were indeed inspiring.
Ray and I ourselves had a great friendship and we would often commisserate
with each other on our career and love lives. Even on those occasions, it didn't
remain serious very long, and humor and a sense of the absurd would often win
the day.
I miss Ray a lot.

Richard Schwartz (Forest Hills, NY)
Contact me



February 4, 2008

I worked with Ray at McGraw-Hill and stayed in touch tangentially through friends,
and was lucky enough to see him read "Insomnia" at Modern Metrics two years
ago. He was one of those people that everyone likes and admires, but that
somehow seems to bring more joy joy to others than he could keep for himself. I
am certainly glad I knew him, and am sad to see him go this young. Also am
thankful, and a bit awed, that he did the incredibly hard work of committing his
thoughts to verse. That way we can continue to know him. Thanks to those of you
who post pictures and link to videos.

Ron Dionne (Chappaqua, NY)
Contact me



February 4, 2008

My only contacts with Ray were on a professional basis when he called for
comments and wrote on energy issues involving the New York Power Authority.
He was a true professional. His writing was always accurate and fair. I see from
reading the entries here that Ray was much more than an energy reporter. I
should have figured that out because his writing style was so excellent. When my
colleague brought in the news that Ray had died, it was if the wind was knocked
out of us. We all had good working relationships with him. Though our contacts
were limited to phone conversaions, we came to know him as special and will
miss working with him.

Connie Cullen (White Plains, NY)
Contact me



February 4, 2008

My deepest sympathy goes to all of Ray's family and friends. Please see the link
below for a web page I've created in memory of Ray.
Information will be posted there re: a dedicated memorial gathering being
planned to honor Ray. http://www.supolo.com/Ray_Pospisil2
008.html There are some photos and direct links to
several videos of Ray you can see on bambamslam.com web site of his
performances at Saturn Series. I'm going to miss Ray so much.
I have always looked forward to hearing his lovely words. His poetry and insight
will continue to be an inspiration to me.
Ray frequented the Saturn Series Poetry reading at Nightingale Lounge, Monday
nights in NYC. He featured for us several times; most recently on Sept. 3, 2007.
Ray would also recite Shakespeare with ease and tell unusual stories. His wry
sense of humor mixed with environmental awareness and befuddlement of
society's incongruity coupled with his innate ability to write it all down in metric
form so smoothly flowing in almost song like delivery as he rocked on his heels
to tell us what he discovered, will always glisten in our memories like that golden
glint from the light in his window in which he found so much inspiration.
Su Polo

Su Polo (NY, NY)
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February 4, 2008

Ray was a good friend and a brilliant poet. He will be missed.

Quincy Lehr (Galway, Ireland)
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February 3, 2008

Carl, thank you so much for the pictures. They are a treat. I had not seen Ray for
such a long time; the phone was as good as it got. During that time, it was my
pleasure to rely on the professionalism of his work, and his caring for its
accuracy. I always meant to delve further into his poetry world, but never got
beyond just a little bit. Now that I have made it a little further in, I'm awed by the
power of what he expressed there. He has left that beauty to all of us.
I would like to refer people who may not already know of it to a lovely web page
that Ray's friend Su Polo made for him; the page will give information soon about
a memorial event at the Nightingale Lounge. Her page is at:
www.supolo.com/Ray_Pospisil2008.htm
l

Kathy Larsen (Washington, DC)
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February 3, 2008

I'm not sure if I'm addressing Ray or Ray's friends. Either way, he was intensely
interesting and so devoted to finding the meaning. I saved two emails from
Ray--he responded to my poetry with insight and creativity. I told him he was an
honorary Swede...he sometimes tended to a northern style of recalcitrance as he
leaned against the long bar at the Saturn and watched us all. I really miss you. I
really miss him.




February 3, 2008

RAYPOS

The raging torrent
rips the gully
Tossing tons of prehistoric rock
about - like playthings

Thunder booms on and on
Resurfaced landscape
The young genius
awaits the next storm
Bittersweet and foolish
A last tumultuous roar before . . .

The gully opens
The river carries the storm
to the great sea

Tess Kelly, San Francisco
2/3/08

Tess Kelly (San Francisco, CA)
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Page 6 of 6




February 3, 2008

That's me, and my brother Ray on the right. 1957 or there abouts. He got the
brains in the family..... I got the cool shirt.
Gonna miss you, bro..... Carl

Carl Pospisil (Daytona Beach, FL)
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February 3, 2008

Ray and I missed out first deadlines together. We met at an orientation for the
WRSU radio news department at Rutgers College during our freshman year in
1971. Assigned to rewrite some local political story for the 5 pm broadcast, we
hashed over the story, debating what the politicians should have done instead
and, not even looking at the clock, eventually turned in the written piece at 5:20
pm. But it was good enough for the announcer to record for use the next morning.

Ray and I sometimes laughed that we were unlikely business journalists, but we
were both good at it and cared deeply about the craft and the public interest. I can
thank him for bringing me into energy reporting in 1984 -- and we each plied our
trades for the next two dozen years, as friends and colleagues, across the
continent and the Internet.

Each time I returned to the New York area, I'd try to see him and we'd walk the
Village to trade stories over Indian food or coffee. I was planning to do that again
in April. It will be a somewhat lonely visit without my great friend to share another
debate about how things should be. ao'd

Arthur O'Donnell (San Francisco, CA)
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