In Memoriam: Patricia Callan (1938 - 2023)
I was saddened to hear that Patricia Callan passed away January 8th of 2023. I met Pat at the Poetry of Form and Narrative Conference at West Chester, Pennsylvania, over a decade ago. Then our paths crossed again at Poetry by the Sea in Madison, Connecticut, where we wrote essays for the Mezzo Cammin Timeline of Women Poets. I was struck by her poise and accomplishments. She was a poet, essayist, and playwright. Her poems appeared in many journals and were collected in two chapbooks. (She may have more uncollected poems for posthumous publication.) She took her enthusiasm for poetry to complete collaborative projects, such as her award-winning play Papa’s House, about the Samuel Clemens family, and the story of John Manjiro, the first Japanese educated in the United States, which composer Yoko Nakatani set to music. I remember her kindness at the Timeline discussions and her ambition in contributing to the arts.
Her work appeared regularly on The Poetry Porch. See her contributor’s note here and links to her essay, poems, and sonnets below.
Essay:
Dalí: The Man of Many WordsPoems:
Dorothy Donegan Auditions
Concierto de Aranjuez
Tough GirlSonnets:
The English Teacher’s Yearly Trip
Macbeth Considers His Lady
Real Estate
From the Piano
Please send thoughts, additions, or corrections via email: Poetry Porch Mail