I won’t suggest I knew Lee Bennett Hopkins well. Nor was I engaged in his passion, poetry. But I did know him for a great many years and considered him a friend.
It would have been around 1971 when I first met Lee in an elevator in the Random House building. We were going down (probably heading for lunch) with our respective editors, his, if I recall rightly, was Janet Ross, my editor was Fabio Cohen.
What Lee and I shared most often over the next many years was his laughter, which was generous, and infectious. I have no idea what we laughed about, but it was the essence of our get-togethers that inevitably took place at conferences we were both attending. We would meet in the aisles, and he would quickly share some publishing gossip (which he loved) and then we would laugh. We would laugh about ourselves, publishing, and the world at large.
And almost as often he would pull someone forward, make an introduction and say, “you need to know ……….. She, or he, is a fine poet.”
His contribution to the world of poetry for kids was immense. The number of people he inspired, encouraged, and supported was legion. He was generous, he was important, and he will be missed.
But what I shall miss is the laughter.
4 thoughts on “Lee”
Avi, I counted Lee as a friend. Met him via Rebecca Kai Dotlitch and Rebecca Davis at the Highlights Poetry Workshop 2 times (Skype). Thanks to that and other interactions online, he invited me to write for the anthology that just came out on July 2. He was gracious and kind and inspiring and he loved to laugh. He made the world brighter in so many many ways. I was gobsmacked by the news. It is such a loss to many. I appreciate your memory. I was so lucky to be someone he nurtured and as a teacher, he saw the teacher in me who fostered a love of poetry. Two weeks ago or so he sent me a box filled with some of his anthologies, all signed, for me to use when I go visit schools and bring over 100 poetry books for kids to look at and enjoy. I don’t know how to grieve this loss right now. He like so many revered writers who do the hard work that brings story and poetry to the world, will be missed beyond measure.
Oh, no. This was the first I heard of this. Except for the dates, your experience of him matches mine, Avi. So generous of spirit … and so much laughter! I shall truly miss him.
Every time I was in Lee’s company, I laughed…and laughed…and laughed. He was such fun to be around. He was so supportive of those of us who love and write children’s poetry. I will miss him. There is no one who can take his place!
Oh, no! My heart is heavy. Farewell to Lee with thanks for all the laughter, lessons, and joy.