(richard) robert hansen

tonight i can only record my shock in learning about the death of (richard) robert hansen  robert is the long-time publisher of the tiny book series poems-for-all.  he began life as a small-press publisher in 2001 when he was the owner of The Book Collector located on 24th St between K & J Streets in midtown Sac.  robert [he was richard when i knew him best but later adopted his middle name when he moved to San Diego] died suddenly & unexpectedly on november 13.  we are, i think, the same age.  & i am 55.  

too early.  

i don't remember how & when robert & i met & became friends.  he published by first chapbook The Grapevine with his 24th St Irregular Press in 2003 which is an off-shoot of his tiny book series.  we had a shitload of fun hanging out at his store, at my home etc etc.  

again, i am in shock.  i don't know how to record my grief.  i will say that robert was sui generis in poetry.  he was dedicated to the art.  his publishing became known thru out the world.  nearly every small-press poet knew him.  when nick was born i stopped attending readings & events because i was a brand-new father so my hanging with robert dropped off too.  but i recall a time when i brought the visual poet geof huth to The Book Collector to meet robert, hang out, goof off, & live in poetry.  another time i took nick who was just a wee baby.  nick was a happy calm little guy patient as his poet father was shooting the shit with another poet father.  see, i suspect robert also wrote poetry but kept that side of him hidden.  i might be wrong but he was a man who organized his life in poetry.  someone that much in love with the art is, in my experience, also a practitioner of the art.  i may be wrong.  he may have written a few poems & that is all.  rather robert hansen is that rare bird who is widely loved & roundly respected as a human being & as a publisher of poetry.

i will not edit or clean up the grammar, spelling or other proofreading, this short obit.  for i want to express, again, my shock & grief.  & i am not thinking straight.  robert's death hits me right in the solar plexus & i am gasping for breath.  he was a good man.  & a good friend.  even if our paths diverged these past years i will always call him my friend.

below is a short video made by the local NPR affiliate about robert''s tiny books.  i shall end by stating again my praise & admiration of (richard) robert hansen, DIY small-press poetry publisher, good man, & genius book designer.