Allen Tice, RIP
 

He posted here two days before he died. I hope he has found true rhyme and perfect metre.

Oh no. This one really stings. I never knew him personally, but felt I knew him pretty well through his posts here. One of the most irreverent posters I can recall in my nearly fifteen years on this site, and damn memorable for it. That he died of COVID feels almost cruel at this point. I very much hope his family -- and indeed, the Eratosphere community -- can keep his memory and his poetry alive.

(I'm moving this thread up to General Talk so that more people see it.)

I met Allen once, at the West Chester University Poetry Conference. He was odd and shy and passionate in his opinions, like many poets. I will miss his unique responses to poems.

Susan

Such a sympathetic critter. He will be missed.

Duncan

I was just wondering where Allen had gotten to. I haven’t been here long enough to know him well, but long enough to miss his quirky posts and penchant for stirring things up. It won’t be the same without him.

Carl

I that in heill was and gladness
Am trublit now with great sickness
And feblit with infirmitie:
Timor Mortis conturbat me.

Our plesance here is all vain glory,
This fals world is but transitory,
The flesh is bruckle, the Feynd is slee:
Timor Mortis conturbat me.

The state of man does change and vary,
Now sound. now sick, now blyth, now sary,
Now dansand mirry, now like to die:
Timor Mortis conturbat me.

No state in Erd here standis sicker;
As with the wynd wavis the wicker
So wannis this world's vanitie:
Timor Mortis conturbat me.

Unto the Death gods all Estatis,
Princis, Prelattis, and Potestatis,
Baith rich and poor of all degree:
Timor Mortis conturbat me.

He takis the knichtis in to the field
Enarmit under helm and scheild;
Victor he is at all mellie:
Timor Mortis conturbat me.

RIP

The weirdest person to ever post on this forum and I say that with much love. I met him a few times and I will miss him.

He was one of a kind. We often fought on the Sphere, but also maintained an often-warm personal contact, and got along well when we met at West Chester. He could be maddening at times - entertaining at others - and I will miss him greatly.

Allen Tice, RIP
 

Allen was a gentle gentleman with a unique sense of humor. I will miss his mischief and his bee-dance around the words in his own poems.

Thank you, Michael Cantor, for the words you share about Allen. You may enjoy how he closed a PM about his 'Kimono' poem:

"The title “Kimono”—not currently negotiable. A better title might be possible—you tell me what, one or three choices—for now, I like its sound, its message, its simplicity, its actual factual visual loveliness and ease of removal.

You can post on the thread and annoy Michael Cantor just enough to keep him happy.

Allen Tice"
~

May Allen's words remain enshrined at this Eratosphere, that we may continue to enjoy them for a long time.

~mignon

For quite a long time, based on his writing and posting style, I thought "Allen Tice" was a punny pseudonym, a homophone for "I'll entice." While I eventually learned that's not the case, I still thought of him that way, and probably always will.

That's terrible news. I am so sorry for his family. I am not going to post an image, as he hated my images (but was, behind the scenes in PM's, interesting, interested and kind - whilst still hating my images).

You could read in his work how much he loved his family, and they him. This must be devastating for them, and just before Christmas, too.

Sarah-Jane

Years ago, in New York City, I approached Allen about reading some of John Berryman's Dream Songs at an event I was organizing. He seemed willing, and I am sorry nothing ever came of it. It would have been unforgettable.

Such a shockingly swift exit.
Rest in peace.

Nemo

I am very sorry to hear this.

Oh no! I've been laid up for a few days with a bad cold and cough, so I've only just seen this. What a shock. Poor Allen.

I always joked that he was "other-worldly", not on the same planet as the rest of us... as a lot of his posts left me scratching my head wondering what the hell he was on about.

Like everyone else, though, I was fond of Allen and will miss him. I did a bit of research for him a few years ago, when he needed copies of some ancient manuscripts held only in a British university, not too far from where I live. Allen was very appreciative and I was delighted to be able to assist him.

Condolences to his wife and family.

Jayne

Sorry to hear this. I didn't always "get" his posts, either, but they were never dull. Any seeming oddity was proof of the gaps in my own education, I figured. Glad his work found publication.

I only knew Allen here. He was the most original poster here or maybe anywhere I can think of. Very sad to hear of this.

I think that Allen liked Thomas Gray's great "Elegy." How could he not?

There at the foot of yonder nodding beech
That wreathes its old fantastic roots so high,
His listless length at noontide would he stretch
And pore upon the brook that babbles by.

Once you get started with Gray, it's hard to stop.

Can storied urn or animated bust
Back to its mansion call the fleeting breath?
Can Honour's voice provoke the silent dust,
Or Flatt'ry soothe the dull cold ear of Death?

I am so sorry to hear this. Allen was a real one off. His comments and crits always made me laugh even when I sometimes hardly understood what he was talking about. I never got the sense he was showing off his erudition, rather that it was just him. Strange and unique and very good-hearted I think.

Sad news. I let him down once over a blurb (I missed his message), but he forgave me.

Wow. Just seeing this today. Really shocking and sad! I was always happy when Allen weighed in on something I'd posted, despite what might ensue. And his poems were always an event! His love of math and the classics (of all varieties) made for very interesting, certainly unique poetry.

We hung out occasionally with Quincy Lehr after readings, but he stopped coming out years ago. I missed having him around.

Allen had a sharp, often caustic, entertaining wit that made him a continuing mystery to me. I’ll miss that.

What Shaun said. Myself, I have been here for more than twenty years. I am old as an Eratosphere Sphinx. Over those two decades, rarely have I "heard" a more vibrant, involved voice than Allen Tice's in this forum. I will miss it.

May his journey West be good and may his spirit live forever.

By the way, many thanks to Tim McGrath for bringing this to the forum's attention.


Jennifer

I think we treat death too nicely. I will remember Allen as being bold, pure. Even if I didn't understand what he was talking about. Seriously, Allen, what were you talking about? RIP

I'm very sorry to hear this.

Short of being eulogized by a classical Greek or Roman poet, I think Allen would have preferred these lines to the ones I quoted earlier from Gray's 'Elegy.'

No longer mourn for me when I am dead
Than you shall hear the surly sullen bell
Give warning to the world that I am fled
From this vile world with vilest worms to dwell.

That "surly sullen bell" gets me every time. Not that Allen was ever surly or sullen, but I think he would have identified with the stanza.

Oh dear, I've been away and only just seen this. What sad news. Allen was very welcoming to me when I appeared as a new Sphearan last year; I'll miss reading his comments.

So sorry to hear this - and sorry to hear it so late as well ("It's been a while since your last post on Eratosphere" - too true...). I met Allen at West Chester and found him very good company - and his conversation was much easier to understand than some of his famously cryptic comments here. He will be much missed.