Ruth Stone

RUTHY
SUCH A WISE AND HONEST SOUL
GOD I HATE TO SEE YOU GO
I LOVE YOU,JUST WANTED TO LET YOU
KNOW

I was a student of Ruth's at SUNY Binghamton back in the early 90's. As a sour and over-sensitive 22 year old, I was both mystified and awed by how much love for life she seemed to hold. She was very gentle, very supportive, and a complete riot. I never turned out to be much of a poet myself, but I thought I'd share the poem I wrote for her that year. The strength it has comes from her own lovely words. Thank you, Ruth, for all you shared with us.

Unfinished (It's Been a Week Since Her Dog's Eaten)
for Ruth Stone

Ruth sweeps aside
a loop of red hair.
With smooth swollen hands
and fingers, that move together
in curved scoops of air, she says
she can't write anything
these days, but love poems.

Wish I had known you. You would have really touched my life of suffering and help me put it into words.

I met Ruth almost twenty years ago, when I had just started writing and needed encouragement. This is how she inscribed the book I bought that day: "Darling Rob- What a wonder, your poems! It's the reality--the touch to touch of our lives. Love from Ruth Stone" Well, my poems weren't really all that good, but they became better because I continued writing thanks to Ruth. I know my story isn't unique. She must have helped thousands like me over her long career. We were blessed, indeed. She was a wonderful poet,and perhaps more important, a wonderful human being. Again, I say, we were blessed.

My condolences to the Stone family. May you find a measure of comfort in that "God is healing the broken-hearted ones; And is binding up their painful spots" (PSALMS 147:3)