I've read the obit. I'm so glad it's in the paper.
Thank you, Janet, David, and to Rose and Julie.

Janet,
thank you for the suggestion--it takes only a minute to register, and then
you can post your comment.

Martin

The photo in the Echo is fascinating. It seems to be some sort of official mug shot for a drivers license or passport. Those are not usually such radiant portraits. This would seem to be the perfect image of Maz.

Rick gave my thoughts exactly. That will become a classic image.

Thanks again to everyone involved in this admirable endeavor, especially those who stand out as being especially engaged in making things happen; Janet, Rose, David, Julie.

I hope the picture will appear in the book. It couldn't be more right for the bright spirit we knew. If that spirit complains at the exposure, we'll just have to wag our fingers at her and say, there's no need to be a recluse now.

I would like to add my public salutations to Maz.

Maz was the first editor to take one of my metrical pomes.

We had our disagreements, of course. But then, I have my disagreements with most people - we crabby folk are just made like that.

But of course, none of that stuff mattered when it came to the poetry.

Another thing we shared was our disinclination to get tangled in the po-machine, of books and readings, etc. Maz was a bit crabby like that too.

I would also like to salute the loving care of so many of her friends, to gather her work for publication. This is the same spirit of loving care which gave us the plays of Shakespeare, only gathered and published by his friends after his death.

I offer this farewell stanza in salute to Maz - the penultimate stanza of Swinburne's "Ave atque Vale - (IN MEMORY OF CHARLES BAUDELAIRE)" - I think she would have approved of his diction:


Sleep; and if life was bitter to thee, pardon,
... If sweet, give thanks; thou hast no more to live;
... And to give thanks is good, and to forgive.
Out of the mystic and the mournful garden
... Where all day through thine hands in barren braid
... Wove the sick flowers of secrecy and shade,
Green buds of sorrow and sin, and remnants gray,
... Sweet-smelling, pale with poison, sanguine-hearted,
... Passions that sprang from sleep and thoughts that started,
Shall death not bring us all as thee one day
... Among the days departed?

Wow.
 

Never expected to hear that.

Peace on her and the rest of us.

Margaret Griffiths
 

In one respect I am definitely here under false pretences as I am only a very amateur poet. I've also no experience at all of such forums. But I suppose I am in a special and privileged position as I knew Margaret when she and I were both young. We met when she was 23 and I was 26 It was 1969, such a long time ago. She meant a great deal to me. I am cautious about sharing too much information as, even after her death, she has a right to privacy over some things. I knew her well and so, respecting that privacy, I will be happy to answer any appropriate questions. One thing I can say is that you are unlikely to find any more photos of Margaret than the 'mug shot' photo (which looks like a passport photo). She was always very averse to having her photo taken. I wanted to take photos of her when I knew her 40 years ago but she refused to let me. A shame as she was one of the most beautiful girls I ever knew. I don't know if I'm allowed to do this but as I'm not used to using forums my email address is blake@couns.fslife.co.uk

Welcome, Adrian, and thank you. I've sent you a private message to put you in touch with the group working on gathering Margaret's poems.

Great to have you here, Adrian. To us, who only met Margaret electronically, you have a very privileged position, and an even more terrible loss. But we miss her immensely, and are immensely grateful for the legacy of her poetry.