Farewell to Willie

The birds are in his trees
among the leaves
feeding on the early plum and peach.

Soon they will be off
in the morning sky
and he will be with them.

From Selected Poems, by Khatchik (Archie) Minasian (1913-1985), Ashod Press (1986). Book includes introduction by William Saroyan to Minasian’s The Simple Songs, The Colt Press (1950), and afterword by Aram Saroyan, recipient of the 2008 William Carlos Williams Award for his book, Complete Minimal Poems, Ugly Duckling Presse.

Updates:
A brief description and link to the Fresno Bee’s centennial presentation of the life and times of William Saroyan added to Highly Recommended.

A thank-you note to an old friend and a bit about the Saroyan-Minasian-Michaelian connection added to News and Reviews.

A new poem, “Summer Service,” added to Songs and Letters.

Anonymous authors, illustrators, and translators discussed in the Forum, along with Poe’s first collection of poems.