My Olivetti Typewriter Attends Johns Hopkins

At Johns Hopkins School of Public Health in 1988-1989 I didn't have my own computer like everyone else.  I was writing all of my papers on an elderly Olivetti portable.   I got a paper back from a class with Dr. Fitzhugh Mullen, written either by Dr. Mullen or his assistant Dr. Mary Anderson.   It had a very nice grade but also a note that I should "euthanize my typewriter!" and this was my response!  

For Ruthanne DeWolfe, 1995

January 6, 1995

Ruthanne had some foot surgery requiring time in bed. Keebler Elves refer to Keebler Cookies I brought her along with some cute running socks!  Ruthanne is an accomplished musician as well as a serious runner and an awesomely effective lawyer!!  

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What are fleet and sweet and neat?
We know the answer: Ruthanne's feet!
They got a nip and and tuck today,
To straighten up toes gone astray!

So, briefly, our Ruthanne's domain,
Will be the Land of Counterpaane,
With pillows at her feet and head,
And many books yet to be read.

And busy neighbors (who can cook).
And phones a'ringing off the hook,
The folks for whom she does so much,
Will have a chance to show their touch.

The "Keebler Elves" and Joanie too,
Hope these tunes will tickle you.
The socks are for another day,
To practice pleasant hours away.

No better tribute, goodness knows,
For ten courageous tippy toes!

With lots of love and good wishes for rapid healing!

Joan

For Andrea Monsees, 1995

Around 1995 I gave Andrea, a lawyer friend, a trendy red "Ericofone" phone for her birthday, with this poem.  We were having all sorts of international issues at the time, and the "Red Phone" at the time was reputedly the phone where the President of the U.S. could call other national leaders for real emergencies, like a wayward A-Bomb.  The names are various political figures of the day.  The "Supremes" are, of course, Justices of the U. S. Supreme Court. 

Dear Andrea:

In our fair city Bill and Ron, 
Dick and Gerry all have said,
That nothing really does the job,
Better than a phone that's red.

When troubles come they dial it up, 
The Kremlin horns go ding-a-ling, 
And over wild Atlantic waves, 
Official voices start to sing.

A bomber that has lost its way?
A missal shot? Think nothing of it.
A red phone you must have today,
And like our leaders, learn to love it.

So even if the walls are beige,
Ecru pale, or white so pure, 
In this tumultuous day and age,
A red phone is, well, de rigeur.

So use it for emergencies, 
Or at any time at all.
For all you know, it just may be,
"The Supremes" who languish for your call!

And here is a Pantoum I wrote for Andrea  (see the post about Mark Strand for more on the Pantoum form)

For Susan Dweck in Sarasota, around 1995

I visited Susan Dweck in Sarasota around 1995, and gave her a nice little set of binoculars to check the view on the beach!  Was this around 1995 or so?

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Visiting with Susan, What a nifty view!

Sunsets on the Gulf side, Bayside sunrise too!

Birds in flight or standing, or walking on the shore,

Pelicans and herons, who could ask for more?

Theater or the opera, where divas make us sigh,

Check out all those details, lost to naked eye,

And likewise at the matches, watch the players’ faces,

(Or check out all the horsies, if you hit the races!)

Jeepers creepers, peepers will have a lot to do!

Hope this small house-warmer will hit the spot for you!

May all your days be sunny, and all your serves be aces!

And health and happiness abound in this lovliest of places!

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Harold Bloom; Yale's Bad Boy of English Literature, 1995

I wrote this Poem about Harold Bloom, the 'bad boy of English literature' at Yale.  I wrote it for Nancy Spector's birthday in January with a copy of Bloom's newest book 

But then I modified it for Adam Preskill too and gave him the same book when he went to Harvard to be an English Literature major, and I gave him a copy of that book as well. 

Thus a rare recycle of this poem!
But how much can you say about Harold Bloom?

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For Nancy, on her birthday, January 6, 1995:

Love him or hate him? Give him hell? Give him room?

He's notable, quotable, Yale's Harold Bloom.

Attention, instructors, curriculum plannin',

Ignore, at your peril, the roar of his Canon!

Who's "in" as the century comes to an end?

Who's "out" of the reading lists teachers defend?

Helena has gained a year of maturity,

Half a century of progress, and more in futurity,

Discernment and taste now control her selection;

May she be ever Blooming, in total perfection!

A stand-in for posies in winter's dark gloom,

Is this birthday bouquet of the flowering of Bloom!

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Adam's with changed lines for June 10, 1995 were --

Love him or hate him? Give him hell? Give him room?

He's notable, quotable, Yale's Harold Bloom.

Attention all students, a term paper plannin'

Ignore, at your peril, the roar of his Canon!

Who's "in" as the century comes to an end?

Who's "out" of the reading lists teachers defend?

Fair Harvard awaits you as you reach maturity,

Milestones reached glowingly, more in futurity.

And as you advance in your upward direction,

May you be ever Blooming, in total perfection.

Instead of some posies to clutter your room,

Here's your laureate bouquet of the flowering of Bloom

I'll be thinking of you June 1!!!

Congratulations and lots of love!

The 3218 Davenport Song, 1995

The "3218 Davenport Street" Song

Joan D. Levin Copyright 1995

To Tune of "Memories" from Cats 

This is about our house in Washington, D.C.

where we lived from 1979 - 1995.  Terri Robinson was the Real Estate Agent for buying and selling.

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See There! Why, it's Terri's for Sale Sign!

Out in front of a fine house, that you surely should buy!

It's a red brick colonial with a slate shingle roof;

And the price is not too high!

Eight rooms, with four bedrooms and bathrooms,

Plus a sunroom and basement where the kids can have fun,

On a nice street, with trees and grass and parking galore,

And with lots of light and sun.

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Lots of room to dig a pool or throw a huge garden party,

Your friends will drool, they'll all say you're cool,

And you'll feel like such a smarty!

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Rock Creek, nicely graces your doorstep,

Bus and Metro only footsteps away!

With great shopping this is the best location in town,

Write that contract! Don't delay!

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Write that contract, don't be doubtful,

Now is no time for stalling.

Someone else will snap it up, while interest rates are falling!

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Buy it! You will never regret it!

Don't be shy now, give the agent a ring!

When you're living on Davenport, you've really arrived!

You'll be living, like a king!

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Thirty, two eighteen on Davenport,

Sign these papers, and you'll move in today! 

When you own it you'll understand what happiness is!

Don't let this one get away!

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