I was saddened to learn the other day that an old classmate of mine, Michael Stewart Gorniak, took his life last year after struggling with depression. I met him in Advanced Fiction Workshop at the University of Colorado at Denver, which was the best workshop class I ever took. His writing was sometimes dark, sometimes disturbing, but always provocative. While we were never close friends, he brought a unique perspective to the table and I'm glad that I met him.
This sort of thing always inspires musings about mortality, how fleeting life is, and the mark we leave upon the world. In a way, this is one of my motivations for writing--to leave something of myself behind. And because I like to write, and like to share thoughts with others.
Michael has a legacy other than our memories, because some of his close friends put together a book of his poetry posthumously. Reading the introduction, and an article on his death, gave me more insight into his life, and I only wish I could have known him better. Poets Never Die is available from Amazon. Rest in Peace, Michael.
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