godspeed, Lucia
11/16/2004 @ 3:30 amproud and thankful as I am to hold my newborn daughter to my chest and listen to her murmur and breathe, my heart is heavy today.. I learned this morning that Lucia Berlin died early last Saturday, just a few hours before Emerson Jane arrived on the planet. Lucia was the most saintly person I’ve ever met, one of my favorite professors, a loyal friend, and a brilliant and heartbreaking short story writer.. the author of such collections as Homesick and where I live now, among others.. all published by Black Sparrow Press, the house of Bukowski. she had a beautiful voice and the most stunning blue eyes you ever saw, eyes that could cut through glass as easily as they could warm a room. Lucia taught me a lot about storytelling and she taught me to look for the humor that comes with despair, and she taught me a few things about compassion and faith and courage. Lucia was very ill and in great pain for most of the years I knew her, though she tried as best she could to be fearless about it. one of my favorite things was dropping by her house early on a sunday morning to drink a cup of her strong coffee and talk about books.. she loved raymond chandler and Cormac McCarthy.. she always stole a cigarette from me, and she always blushed when she did so. Lucia was like a second mother to me when I was far from home and I would have thrown myself in front of a car for her. I have no doubt that she and little Emerson passed each other coming and going in the dark hours Saturday, that Lucia blew my girl a kiss and watched over her between worlds. so please, light a candle for Lucia Berlin and ask the gods to look out for her and if ever you get a chance, read one of her stories. you won’t be sorry.
I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.
-wcb