Fare Forward: Letters from David Markson

May 29 ‘09

Simsy, love—

Will you do me a small kindness, in a spare half-minute? I sent postals to half a dozen of the people who wrote in that notebook you passed around at the AWP panel¹²⁰—most of whom I knew — but wanted to say six words to one other, who gave me only an e-mail address. And me sans computer, of course. Since she’ll recognize your name, could you send her 10 words telling her of my backwardness, but that I’ve wanted to say thanks for her kind note and only this tardily thought to ask you to do so.

I do appreciate it. And now you learn — do Markson one kindness,* and you’re doomed to be pestered for others eternally!

With school presumably over, I hope you’re writing up a storm. When was that next book due? You guys getting away somewhere, maybe?

Me, I may very well be retired — ex-writer David. Gawd, just awful.

Much love again—

D.

*Rather more than one!

120 In February of 2009, I chaired a panel at the AWP conference, “In Celebration of David Markson,” with panelists Francoise Palleau-Papin, Martha Cooley, M.J. Fitzgerald, Joe Tabbi, and Brian Evenson. As part of the event, we passed a book of index cards around in which audience members could write messages to David. David had written some introductory remarks that were read aloud, too — page 143.