Jesse's Prize

In recent reflection

on William Faulkner

Jesse said:

my years inform me

this may be my last..

Our hearing then

gained special import..

We've heard before

of the Faulkner

imagination and scope..

of Jesse's attachment 

from an encounter

in Denver to an Oxford

 graveside visitation..

He absorbed 

Faulkner truths and

made them his own..

Truths quite simple:

a heart in conflict

a universal locality

a history not past..

These eternal verities

and struggles informed

Jesse's decades of

 inspiration for many..

Let's look once more

at that famous address

that Nobel moment..

Mr. Faulkner said:

Someone dedicated to
anguish and travail
will stand here..

Let us then

you and I

ask Jesse Gatlin

to come forward..

And in silence

with memories

and stand in

that place...