LETTERS FROM SALVATORE J. CUCCHIARA
Sam Cucchiara (b. 4 Aug. 1981, d. 9 Dec. 2002), a former Professor of English in Cleveland,
Ohio and a Korean War veteran, discovered me from the pages of poetry journals.
We stayed in touch for over five years,
till his death. He even visited
Dhanbad to appoint me as resident India Editor of SLUGFEST, edited by M.T.
Nowak and others.
1.
Sfest, Ltd.
P.O.Box 1238
Simpsonville, SC 29681
USA
10/28/97
Dear Prof. Singh,
Was delighted to receive your letter and a most positive
suggestion from Pat Prime. The enclosed
current Sfest issue will give you a better glimpse than any explanatory words.
We are one amongst many thousands of tiny, unknown, literary anthologies
published since the advent of the computer. Your work has probably appeared in
many of them. There is no fame or
fortune in our work only the joy of
connecting with a few people who share your special interest. We do share a common passion—literature is
not an intellectual mind game but a
lesson in life.
Each editor defines his/her own involvement and contributes
financially, if they can. There are five
editors who vote on the prose material to be published and the esteemed,
managing editor, Mike Nowak, exercises the sole vote on which poems will be
published. All of the editors (except
me) work full time and it would be an understatement to say our SF work is a
labor of love. It’s only an old
story. One I’m sure you’re familiar
with. We would dearly love to open our
pages to some unknown Indian authors through the recommendation of an Indian SF
editor. That’s your job, if you decide to participate. I begin my journey in a few days and look
forward to meeting you during my first visit to your country in February.
“Almost anything you do is insignificant but it is very important that you do it.”
Indeed it is, young man.
With every good wish, I remain
Your brother-in-the-word
Sam Cuchhiara, Emeritus
2.
9/2/98
Dear R.K.,
Your letter was quite a gutsy wallop of truth saying. I certainly know the heartbreaking, sincere
work that you did in the special edition of the LANGUAGE FORUM. Your tolerance article was a most valuable
contribution about a most important topic.
I applaud and respect your accomplishments. The fact is my interests have changed. I find it very difficult to plow through any
academic journals. That part of my life
is over and now I get excited by the writing in some of the small, outrageous
literary journals. “…But where thine infinite sky spreadeth for the soul to
take her flight, a stainless white radiance reigneith; wherein is neither day
nor night, nor form nor color, nor ever any word…” Change is a constant my
friend.
One of the most unusual random experiences occurred meeting
four American retired Jesuits at Loyala University either in New Delhi or
Calcutta. Fr. McKenna invited me to listen to his stories at tea time. He told me that each of the priests had spent
more than fifty years teaching in India.
When a Jesuit is assigned to any part of the globe, it is for life. During my last visit he said, “Come with me
Sam. I want to show your
something.” We walked to the main
entrance of the college, pointed to a poster on the bulletin board and said, “
This is my favorite all-time poster.
This is India.” The poster
depicted a 7 or 8 year old lovely Indian lad with big hazel glowing eyes and a
Mona Lisa like smile. The caption above
the photo read “What would you like to do, when you grow up?” At the bottom of
the caption read “SURVIVE”.
Another tiny insight into Hindu culture happened when two
Bombay students took me on a tour to
visit some of the places that meant a great deal to them. During our walk one of the beggars with a
little baby in her arms attached herself to me.
When she left, I asked the students, “How do YOU react to the beggars?”
One of the students immediately replied, “Just be patient. In your next life
you may be that beggar.”
In this month’s Harper’s magazine there’s a profound article,
BEYOND BELIEF, A Skeptic Searches for an American Faith by Fenton Johnson. “…Belief – that is, dogma and doctrine – may
serve the ends of power, but faith is the province of individuals, not
institutions. So long as individuals have something to lose—the Buddhists would
say, so long as we have attachments—it’s difficult to accomplish the letting go
that is faith’s sine qua non; the more we have to lose, the greater the
challenge. To find genuine faith—to find
those who dwell in the world as it is, rather than as they would have it – one
must look among the poor, among the dispossessed, among the outsiders to
power…” If one looks at the latter three
categories, we’re looking at ourselves.
For some unknown reason so many of us mortals seem to squander our brief
journey cursing the gods because we are not one of them. Often we get side-tracked studying the
turtles. Why are we so afraid to love,
which is always a one-way street?
One personal experience that affected my life was attending a
weekend men’s retreat at a friend’s, Mark Morelli, parish church in New
Jersey. During one of the sessions the
priest repeated the biblical story of the rich man and the beggar. For forty years the rich man worshiped daily
at the temple, while passing the beggar who sat on the steps outside with his little cup. When the rich man died, he was condemned not
because he didn’t give alms but because he didn’t know the beggar existed. The priest ended the talk with a humorous
aside telling us not to worry too much about our sexual sins because they are
low on the totem pole of sins. It seemed
like I heard the story for the first time.
Your letter ignited my own soul-searching. Thank you.
May peace keep your heart and hold it gently,
Sam
P.S. I did receive the
ISM Newletter along with a little note from Dr. Paul and sent him a little note
of thanks. Good luck to Winny on those cursed terminal all-consuming exams.
Mike’s wife, Monique, posted these photos last week. The occasion was our little trip to visit
Suzanne Kamata. If you look at the
bottom photo, you’ll see your letter to Suzanne in Mike’s top, left hand shirt
pocket. There were about 20 in the
audience, when she made her presentation. We were there and so were you.
3.
6.3.98
Dear R K,
Received your letter dtd 5/19 along with the photos and the
radical “Family And Female Sexuality” essay, yesterday. What a big boost. Thanks.
The first sentence is a big hug and many kisses to your
young, Singh, rebel daughter, Ms. Winny. The cultural difference between East
and West I found most difficult to adjust to was the role of women. Had dinner with more than thirty families
during my little trek through India,
Nepal and Bangladesh. The fact that
women at these dinners were almost non visible except when serving the food,
made me very uncomfortable. Ms. Winny
gives me hope that she can break this suffocating, concrete box. Go Winny!
I did not receive any letter from you at Patna. Either it was lost in the mail, the hotel
failed to pass it on, or possibly I moved to New Delhi before it arrived. Would deeply appreciate receiving a copy of
the Dickenson paper, which is my special interest as you know. I’m looking forward to a copy of your Language
Forum paper. Your FAMILY AND FEMALE
SEXUALITY essay is certainly a radical theme that very well may start a
much-needed, Indian revolution and I salute you.
This is my honest opinion.
The format and voice was standard, academic abstraction. If you’re really serious (and I know you are)
about this topic, write it in a personal, passionate voice eschewing most of
the references. Your premise that the
misogynous outlook was promoted historically is questionable. The opposite is true because it is a rather
recent phenomenon for many of the reasons you stated in the last paragraph. A glaring omission is the introduction of
pill, which is probably the most important factor needed to discuss the
topic. As far as female sexuality, in
Western culture it’s a case of the horse that already has left the starting
gate and is half way around the track. The
last paragraph is so packed with additional information it makes the reader wonder what is the point
you’re trying to make. The title is
deliciously incongruous and original and immediately sparked my curiosity. I’m still curious. How did your wife react, when she read it?
Mike posted the copy of your Dual Muse review. It’s a brilliant scholarly work—dual
singleness of the writer and artist—and I enjoyed reading it. It’s a shining
credit to you, our colleagues and ISM.
DUAL MUSE would be a shining addition to the Cambridge, Yale, or Harvard
literary journals but not suitable for SF.
Compare it with the reviews and articles we do publish. The next SF issue will be posted in early
Oct. I’ve included some current
materials to give you a broader perspective of what we (SF) do.
The two Singh photos are now framed above my desk. Happy memories of a most extraordinary
week. That was a kind gesture and I’m
most appreciative. One day I’ll boast
that I met India’s new President, Winny, and Nobel Poet Laureate, R.K. Singh.
My warmest greetings and respect to your wife, Dr. Paul, Dr. Rizvi and his
feisty little son, and last but not least, your students. Take time to smell the roses.
Affectionately yours,
Sam
4.
09. 03. 98
Dear R.K.
“Sin is soluble
in poetry and craft melts
ice cream cone or bone…”
God has given you a rare gift and I appreciate and enjoy your
verses. Your Kachru review was gigantic
in scope and taught me a great deal. Thank you for expanding my vision of the English
language. Thank you for the opportunity
of meeting some of your very bright students and collecting my cohesive
Dickenson papers. I thank you and your family for your kind hospitality. With the new Indian voices you channel to SF,
I feel we will achieve a higher level of quality and excellence.
Appreciatively and Collegially,
Your brother in the word,
Sam Cuchhiara
5.
17. 03. 98
Dear R K
Just finished reading your book review on Kachru (great), the
“Interactional Process…” and the marvelous Dr. Sharma “The Journey of an
artist.”
“The dress hides
undress
and you look beautiful.”
“Singh’s world
is peopled not with sweet syllables, sweet faces and sweet songs; rather it is
dark, black and cold… Singh like Baudelaire and many modern poets is a poet of
dark imagination” (great comparison).
After reading My Silence and Other Poems and Above the Earth’s Green it is a perceptive statement.
“Won’t you share/my
aloneness/tonight”
Dr Sharma
often refers to you as a poet-hero poet-wanderer – quite a tribute. The statement I would question is, “A poor country, he avers, cannot give birth
to a high civilization.” Doesn’t history
teach us that civilizations rise and fall and it’s just a circle?
It was a
great review and my congratulations.
I remember
those rat verses you wrote that gave me a welcome laugh. I found one that Emile Dickinson wrote:
“The rat is the concisest tenent.
He pays no rent,--
Repudiates the obligation,
On schemes intent…”
It reminded
me of yours. Enjoy.
Sorry for
not calling. Have to call my family a couple of times a week and those calls
are very expensive.
Off to St
Xaviers in Calcutta tomorrow.
“Leave the brightness and fragrance
of your memories with me.
The next moment might be the last
moment of life for me.” (?)
You have
enriched my life, R K. Blessings to you and your loved ones.
Love
Sam
6.
08. 05. 98
Dear R K
By the grace of God am finally back in my own home. Got a lot of catching up to do. There have
been numerous submissions and contacts from India thanks to you. Also had several letters from Pat Prime
awaiting. She informs me that she and
you (and other collaborators) are working on a haiku chapbook. Sounds exciting.
It’ll take me a few weeks to recuperate, readjust, and
reorganize so be patient. Mike received
your letter and is working on it as are several other editors, including
me. I should get up to full steam within a couple of weeks. You are a dynamo. Can’t thank you enough for the privilege of
meeting you and for all your kind hospitality. On Sail On
Collegially,
Sam
7.
7/7/98
Dear R.K.,
Received your letter dtd 2.6 yesterday. I’m really grateful for your taking time to
post the Dickinson/Aurobindo article once again. I’ll read it with relish during my next trip
which begins today. Also many
congratulations on your guest editing the current LANGUAGE FORUM issue. It’s the typical formulaic academic journal I
no longer have to deal with during my happy retirement years. I don’t say that to disparage the necessary
and valuable research that is done but simply to let you know my interests are
now elsewhere—my family, students, religion, travel, beauty, purpose, search
for truth, Slugfest and several other small non-commercial journals…
Philosophically, my current state of heart and mind is best expressed in a
favorite quote by Percy Walker: “Surely wealth is neither prize to seize, nor
race to win, but a grace abundant, to receive here and now, in the plain and
daily things, alive shimmering and true.”
I can’t answer any of your questions related to S.F.
submissions. Retired from active S.F.
editorial board last year but I’ll send the letter to Mike. Please remember that there are more than 200
submissions per month from other distant lands.
Our work is totally unrelated to career and job but is that little
common space that transcends career and job.
I’m sending you some of that abundant grace to enjoy the here
and now. Slow down and smell your
beautiful roses. Ditto to Winny.
With every good wish, I remain
Collegially yours,
Sam
8.
The
Waking
I
wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I
feel my fate in what I cannot fear.
I
learn by going where I cannot go.
We
think by feeling. What is there to know?
I
hear my being dance from ear to ear.
I
wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
Of
those so close beside me, which are you?
God
bless the ground! I shall walk softly there,
And
learn by going where I have to go.
Light
takes the Tree, but who can tell us how?
The
lowly worm climbs up a winding stair;
I
wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
Great
Nature has another thing to do
To
you and me; so take the lively air,
And,
lovely, learn by going where to go.
This
shaking keeps me steady. I should know.
What
falls away is always. And is near.
I
wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I
learn by going where I have to go.
--Theodore
Roethke
Dear R.K.,
I’m in “The Waking” phase of my life. That’s my apology for
not responding to your previous letters.
I’m sorry. I rarely can use my pen—Normal decay.
I was thrilled to see Mike Hogan’s Singh Review printed. Not
only did it bring back so many memories but it was so well written… That haiku,
Facing
the sun
the
lone flower
dying
to bloom
touched me so deeply, I almost say it daily like a prayer. That beautiful metaphor seems to encapsulate
not only the existential condition of so many younger generations in my own
family but on the planet.
You have expanded and enriched my existence. Keep doing what you’re doing. You touch many
people.
Love
Sam
P.S. I’ll be returning to the States 5.15. My permanent mail forwarding address is still
Keene, N.H. “I learn by going where I have to go.”
9.
29.8.98
Dear R K
It was a happy coincidence that your letter to Kamata
happened to arrive on the morning Nowak, his wife Monique and the Southern
editor, Borowski, and me attended the Kamata reading. Suzanne is in this country on a two-week tour
promoting her book so your letter was delivered to her personally.
Many thanks and congratulations for making this avenue
available to your fellow artists.
Warmest regards to Winny, your dear wife, Dr Rizvi and Dr
Paul. Keep doing what you’re doing. You touch many lives.
Many thanks, Collegially,
Sam
10.
10/11
Dear R K,
Facing the sun
the lone flower
dying to bloom
--R
K Singh
That’s another way of writing your ‘Waiting’ poem that I read
with a “mist of tears.” That haiku embraces most people on the planet. I’ve already quoted it in six of my letters
and told Mike it was my choice for the Feb. SF issue. I was so moved by it that I may use it in my
Christmas family letter. As you said in
your Acorn Haiku essay (sincere and passionate for your style), “for each haiku
needs to be read slowly and realized in the “mind’s eye.” I see that lone flower dying to bloom in my
mind’s eye. Not only is it a glimpse of R.
K. but a glimpse of past and future generations. Thank you for that aesthetic glimpse. The
lone flower I saw was a yellow rose.
I also read your “Cyber Literature” D.C. Chambial
critique. Sadly too many people find
life “an endless tale of vales/dales and hills/from the black holes of
eternity…” The current crap American poetry also wails about trying to find
meaning in life. Like Harold Bloom I’m also a dianasour crusader for the
Western canon, which teaches us that the purpose of life is to live it.
4/11
As I started this letter a week ago, I’ll end it here and
now.
Keep doing what you’re doing.
Affectionately,
Sam
11.
4.1.
Dear R K, Bhai,
First, profound and genuine congratulations for the Kyoto
R.U. Haiku award. It’s a dynamite haiku. Kudos.
Many more kudos and thanks for your stimulating review of the
Chinese poets. Poetry without
imagination or metaphor is one of the most radical ideas that never entered my
mind. I was so startled and curious I
ordered the book. The illustrative
verses you chose vetted my appetite for more.
That was a great review. Thank
you. I would appreciate a copy of Dr Chambial’s SF review. I hope you send a copy to Mike for possible
publication. Would also suggest you
write a guest editorial for the Oct. or Feb. SF issue.
I’m including a copy of Chandra’s essay because I got a
startling glimpse of what he is talking about vis a vis MANO A MANO contacts
with a dozen or so Indian writers during my visit.
I’m sorry I haven’t been writing much lately. Lately I’ve
been absorbed by Tolstoy and Ruskin.
Also happened to pick up Joseph Conrad’s Lord Jim. The only Conrad novel I was familiar with was Heart of Darkness. Read 4 other Conrad
books and I forgot Sam or time existed.
Send me the names of two of your favorite Indian poets (other than Tagore) and two
prose writers. Thanks.
I know you are active with
many literary publications and I want you to know I’m deeply happy about
your S F involvement. You are a
gentleman and a scholar.
All is that God wills
Sam, the vagabond
12.
Dear R K,
Have thrown all my machines away. It’s time for less speed
and power. Didn’t think I could make
this trip but I’m still moving slowly and happily. Sorry it has been six months since I’ve
written. Very large family.
Took a hundred or so S F pages to proof (Feb 15 issue). Your
marvelous China Review was in it. Also a
poem by Dr Rizvi—great. I think one also by Asha. There has been a flood of submission and
surprisingly a few subscriptions, thanks to you. The 10th annual edition brought a
generous response from our readers. It’s
amazing how this small community of writers
from distant lands are connected.
The muses will not be silenced.
As Marilyn said, “…without a continual stream of original, creative work
any culture will sink into mediocrity… What I can do is read my submissions and
remember what I do is important and remind you that what you do is important…”
And that is why all the crazy desk top publishers do it anyway.
Time is to meditate, mon ami.
What you do is very important. You have enriched my life. We are in your
debt.
Happy millennium. Keep the fires burning.
Sam
Big hug to Princess Winny.
13.
Dear R K,
“Coal grows golden
each moment in quiet corners
raw wind singes”
--R K Singh
Could feel that moment of magic in Dhanbad and in your
verses. That the Mair – Prime – Singh CF
haiku edition is golden. You’ve all
placed your little stars in the sky.
Thank you for all those tingling moments. You have even converted even this old codger
to appreciate and enjoy these gifts from the gods to us mere mortals.
It’s not my Cause I work for but all of who know (as you do)
that poetry and literature must be reinvented, reinterpreted, renewed during
each generation so that the demons and chaos do not destroy civilization. “And
the first opportunity to open the mouth means: Sound like lecturing.” I guess we’ll have to wait until there is no
breath to open the mouth. I’m glad you recognized Marilyn Tatlow’s unique
talent. How fortunate are those authors who
receive one of her critiques. I’m
sending her a copy of your letter along with posting this one to you. Will also
do some for Mike. It’ll give them a big
boost.
Will be returning home June 1. The family threatens to come and pick me up,
if I don’t return by that date and I believe they will. For a few months I’ll have to show them I’m
not quite senile yet and can handle another trip.
Hope you’ll stay in touch through the Manchester box. Warmest regards to Winny. Off to new
adventures. Hang in. It really does get
better.
Still looking for the next generation R K Singh.
Sam
14.
Dear R K,
Thanks for the photo. Just received a copy of the first 40
pages of the SF for proofing. Was
delighted to see PP’s (Patricia Prime’s) review of your Above the Earth’s
Green . Many congrats.
The completed copy
shouldbe posted 2/15 (or 15/2) so you should be receiving it shortly. I’m sure you’ll probably be recognized as
India’s greatest poet after you die—that’s the way it usually works as you
know. In the meantime, enjoy your gift
of creation.
Have you ever thought of starting your own zine – possibly a
broadsheet? During my India travels I kept
looking for a zine. I’ll be your first subscriber. Think about it. All the other S F foreign editors do produce
their own. Since you have free mailing—it
would be an interesting project.
Warmest to Winny.
Love
Sam
15.
16.12
Dear R K,
The Winter/Spring issue comes out in Feb. Was surprised to discover that Malito has a
PhD in Chemistry and is a lecturer at Cork Univ. Discovered that fact thru Geoff Stevens. Got
a big smile from your:
They all look for
a little more moon coming
back from movie
Thanks. Pat mentioned that the proofs are in for your joint
haiku project. Many congrats. Would like
to read a copy because I still don’t know anything about that form except it is
17 syllables.
I didn’t think your poems were particularly erotic. I’m saddened that so few poets write of those
grand, (un)noble, tragic or comic literary classic themes. As you know the themes don’t change but how
we interpret them does. What I see in
the current poetry scene is too many poets interpret those themes through one
channel—some unknown sub-conscious, private island of existence. And they try to convince us that the private
island is Existence. What do you
think? Possibly I’m looking at the
metaphors through one channel?
Am not in Prague randomly. Had a dear friend and colleague
who was born in this city and emigrated with
his family, when he was a youngster. Worked
with him for 20 yrs and his passion for this city and its great writers like Rilke,
Ivan Klima, Kafka, Seifert, Holub, Havel…
rubbed off. He died six years ago. Since
the Velvet Revolution, have been coming for a month every year. There is an ancient mystical heritage about
this tiny piece of land that keeps whispering my name. One day soon I pray you have the opportunity to
leave that ISM prison. Life does not happen at your desk. I certainly don’t have to tell you that.
I’m not familiar with Burrough’s work but be as supportive of
the candidate as possible. We all
remember the thesis nightmare. A good teacher is a gynecologist not a
judge. The one truth that Tony Arnold
slipped into his list is: The life you live will be judged by its benefits to
others; live it any how.
There is a positive and negative I see in “that concentrated
madness for writing in a new vein” – a flourishing of an egalitarianism that
connects and paradoxically laud voices shouting that their private lives are
existence. I always ( I think ) tried to teach my students that good writing
(literature) gives me a glimpse of Blake’s crack between the doors, the chasm, the
fork in the road… It taught me something about my life and the author’s life.
My prayers are storming the heavens for Prof Maini, a dear
soul.
Keep breathing in and out. It gets better.
“Peace, li’l brother. Strength to your sword arm and power to
your pen.” (great closing from AYTD)
Sam
16.
The Ides of March
Dear R.K.,
I am in your debt for the special NZ CREATIVE FORUM issue. You certainly wrote an exhaustive and
comprehensive introductory essay about the whole scene. Hope you get the recognition you have earned. That was one big mountain of work. Many congratulations.
Reading the K.D.S. ‘Eroticism’ R.K.S. interview was far more
fun. It reminded me of a few letters
S.F. received from Morris Slavin bemoaning the fact that American poetry sucks
because it lacks ‘sensuality’. It also
brought to mind an Indian fiction author (?) read in the distant past whose
main theme was mediation or sexuality or possibly both (?) as the eyes to
existence.
“Further, I think expression of passionate love and sex in my
poetry is the internalized substitute, nay antidote, to the fast dehumanizing
existence without, and ever in conflict with my search for life, search for
meaning in a sort of routinised, boring existence.” That’s an incredibly honest statement because
that’s what I saw not only in your verses but your routine on campus. The bottom line truth is “Readers are free to
interpret my poems according to their own taste and understanding.” Let’s keep
pushing that point. Poetry is global. That’s the new (ism) crusade. Amen.
I really, really enjoyed that interview albeit some of your
answers were a bit overblown. Don’t take yourself so seriously. Give that
student an A and an A+ for you.
In this country there are many Russian illegals seeking my
help. Where ever I travel there are
students approaching me asking for help in obtaining an internship or study
abroad. I can only offer empathy and
extend that same empathy to Winny.
Peace brother,
Sam
P.S. Received the ISM bulletin and noticed you’re also the
editor of that publication. Copied the
Hindi page to spread around. It’s such a
beautifully written language. There are
so many colors in the rainbow and sadly so many people seem obsessed painting
it with his own color.
Would suggest you send five Singh poems to PRAGUE
REVIEW. It’s standard practice to submit
no more that five poems to any zine Eng. Press.
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