Greer @Pratt Brooklyn 1978

In memory of Greer Lankton...

In 1978
Greer Lankton
painted my portrait.
Greer  Lankton was
my friend.
Greer Lankton was
at once
like all of us.
And yet
not  like
any of us.

Recently
I visited
an exhibition
a“retrospective”
of Greer’s work
of her remains.

There were
her dolls
her photos
her sculptures
her paintings
her postcards
her perfume bottles               
her videos
her eyes
her glamour
her black humor
her soul                        

her pain

her memories
her memory

I heard
the curator
pontificating
to a group
of art students.
She said, “Greer always named her dolls.This was very important to her...”
Yes, I thought,then why aren’t THESE dolls named,why aren’t these works labeled,dated.Why is there no context?


I don’t believe
she knew                                                          
what she was talking about.

No longer
able to listen
I blocked her
out.

Deafening sadness
filled my ears.
Sadness
for Greer leaving.
Sadness
for all
that was
And all
that can
never be
again.

I looked
at Greer’s remains                       
through my iPhone screen
To create
distance.                

 Not sure
 if I could really
look
Or really
see
Greer’s things
That stuck
in my throat.

Greer-you were
at once
like all of us
and yet,
not like

any of us.