Stanley would have been 106 today. If he could have, he would have stayed longer on this earth. He had infectious energy that inspired and awed.  I remember at his 100th Birthday Party he read a number of his poems at the Fine Arts Work Center and the organizers had to gently usher him off the stage to be able to keep to the scheduled events. Stanley could have read his poems all night.

Tonight, to honor Stanley Kunitz and his poems, we celebrated in his boyhood home, his only house still standing in Worcester. Now privately owned, it was open for a tour and schmoozing. Dozens of visitors walked through the Stockmal House and enjoyed a progressive docent tour.  There was a docent (me included) in each room sharing stories and poems about and by the award-winning Stanley Kunitz and his artist/poet wife Elise Asher.

The tour was followed by a poetry reading and refreshments. It was delightfully successful. If you missed the tour do give us a try this coming October.