LITERATURE | ENGLISH POETRY IN BELGIUM
Remembering Marcus Cumberlege
(a British-Canadian Buddhist beatnik poet in Bruges)
When I was younger I sold my services as a poet and wrote obituary poems on call, about people I had never known, but their loved ones would tell me their stories and show me photos and many of them would have difficulties withholding tears — and I was there for them in their moments of grief and loss and my poetry, the product I sold, was a mere by-product of what was really happening.
What they needed was a monk helping them transition to a new reality — and what they got was a writer of commissioned poetry.
I learned a lot from this — that remained of value in my later work as a consultant and teacher and facilitator of groups. What I learned most was that listening and questions always matter more than speaking and answers.
Marcus Cumberlege was the one suggesting the idea of commissioned obituary poetry to me. On a ride we shared to Utrecht. He thought I’d be good at it.
Bloomsbury Bruges
Marcus passed in the darkest of winter, December 30, 2018. I was with Michaela and our daughter in Tangier when it happened — readying myself to drive our rented car to Chefchaouen and hike…
