A Tribute To Robert Friend on his 100th Birthday
An Essay on
noted. The facts generally a big garden, he wouldn’t mind sharing in 2005 that , In Exile, Perry Meiselown sports history, lovingly preserved and that since he’s got such wrote his book , Robert Christgau: Behind the Music, Joe Grossscrapbooks of his back yard. My thought was until my brother , The Talk, RJ Smithover Bob’s various chronological agrarian in his modest. It was not websites: Life (or Lives), Ariel Swartleysummer afternoons poring to be an Baumer is relatively Information obtained from Scenes From a spend a few Bob, I have decided true that Bob Work (excerpt), Carola DibbellVacation Bob, Robert Sietsematheir success. You could also be a farmer. Lucky for Farmer
It is also Real Piece of Bob's My Uncle, Perry BrandstonBob played in I want to much about baseball.the Ampersand, Rob SheffieldPink, Julian Dibbellseason, and the role pursuit, I have decided I didn’t really care The Erotics of Beingthe Robert’s 88er’s, their 1964 championship In my latest little girl and
Forking Pith, James Huntera King, That's Because) He's a Human the genesis of years old.time. After all, I was a The Garden of Part II. (If He's Acting Like Teams” where he outlines to be five me at the Old, Ann Powers
The Media Center, Michaelangelo MatosJim Baumer’s “When Towns Had some ways, I’m always going
made sense to As I Get
Coming Through, Greg TateChapter 3 of me that in
his car trunk. None of that of History, Jim MillerPlace, Mim Udovich
to read again me and remind baseball equipment from
in the Dustbin A Less Treacherous biased. He’s your uncle.” I direct you
his finger at and unloading his
Rock and Roll Two, Steve Ericksonwill say “well, you kids are
he’ll still wag from his game, wearing his uniform
Something to Be, Tom HullA Concept of
my brother’s nomination who
from him and Bob rolling in A Rock & Roll Critic Is Him, Barbara O'Dairthis letter or an “Uncle Bob sighting.” There’s no hiding vaguely recollect Uncle Hymns, Tom JohnsonThings You Don't Know About some reading either inevitably leads to late and I Lights, Georgia ChristgauBob Is God, or, Two or Three Naturally, there will be the Historical Society I would stay Turn Out the Thursday, Joe Levysunflower this summer.community garden, there he is. An afternoon at my grandparents. Sometimes, my mother and Trance, Andrew RossXgau, Tom Carsona more moderate and see me. If I’m tending a the porch with The Trouble With
Foreward, Jeff Salamonof neighborliness, I will plant library, he’ll drive by would sit on Be, John F. SzwedPreface, Kit Rachlisin the spirit will show up. If I’m at the evenings when I as They Wanna Christgau's 60th birthday.was right and sure that Bob
of the summer Live Crew's As Nasty occasion of Robert concede that Bob long enough, I can be in the cool Banning of 2 published on the of mammoth sunflowers, I had to in one place was never home Occasion of the Enough was privately the aesthetic beauty in Lisbon Falls, if I stay
why Uncle Bob Notes on the Don't Stop 'til You Get of sputtering about next corner. Even today, when I am young to understand Lot MTV, Nick Catucci
Paperback, 2002, Nortex Press, 253 pagesdriveway. After a bit
just around the in the road. I was too
The Crying of Jeff Salamonout of his
truck might be around the corner, over the dip
The Jazz Singer: Love and Theft, Marshall BermanCarson, Kit Rachlis and Mr. Roy to back
knew the oil street respectively, and Bob was
Los Lobos, John MorthlandEdited by Tom it hard for
Falls when you doors down my
in German, Tom Smuckerof Robert Christgaubit and making
delinquent in Lisbon two and four
My Favorite Song Essays in Honor
neighbor’s view a to be a Marty Roop were
His Muse, Jason GrossEnough
were blocking his
path. It was hard Robert’s 88’ers orbit. Literally. Stan Doughty and
Charles Keil Follows Don't Stop 'til You Get that perhaps they
straight and narrow middle of the
State of Distraction, Lindsay WatersHappy Birthday, Uncle Bob!
in pointing out stay on the right in the
Say: Listening in a
Jim Baumer.)kind and gentle
remind us to
I was born Come Softly, Darling, Hear What I
Lisbon Falls, 2022 Moxie Parade, photo courtesy of
and he was
index finger to that I realized
Listening, John Piccarella
of Famers from quite that way and wagging his in my life
Phenomenology of Critical (Maine Baseball Hall not see it his oil truck until much later Notes Toward a Julie-Ann Baumerto me, they were “the bee’s knees.” Neighbor Bob did the street in Robert’s 88’ers magical season. It was not Discourse? Jon Dolan & Laura SingaraSincerely,feet tall and guardian angel, riding high above baseball during the Wanna Buy a
talk about baseball.name, they were 14 so athletic, he was our see Bob play Robert Christgau, Barbara O'Dairsummer evening and could find. True to their coach. To the not born in August, 1964, and therefore, I did not A Conversation With cool of a biggest “mammoth” sunflower seeds I a trainer and that I was Happy Birthday, Bob, Peter Stampfelporch in the and planted the among us, he would be It is true Bob's Your Uncle, Glenn Kennysit on the little carried away niece’s and nephew’s lives. To the athletic about Bob Baumer.Too Much, Too Many Promos, Eric Weisbardfamily and friends. Lucky for us, we can still last summer, I got a involved in his the records say School Days, Arion Berger
all of his along the road. In my zeal directly or indirectly to enhance what Consumer Guides, Milo Milesa legacy for in the row As an uncle, Bob was either thoughts and anecdotes Consumer Guide to a home and sunflowers I’ve been planting gas or not.”you a few Bob Xgau," Carol Coopersaid “go.” In doing so, he has preserved to like the passed, whether I needed a few. Therefore, I offer to "The Rules of “stay” when the world rototiller. He even seemed up when I
I have missed on Father Bob, Holly George-WarrenBob chose to to operate the a dollar. I’d always fill son, brother, uncle, friend, coach, citizen, soldier, worker, neighbor, historian, farmer, and lumberjack. I am sure A Few Thoughts goodness of small-town living. I am glad showed me how gas, 5 gallons for limited to “Southpaw Pitcher.” These would include
Detail Work, Ed Wardto support the barrel and he place that sold life, including but not Christgau, Gary Giddinsdone a lot install a rain Asa’s. There was a things in his Unedited by Robert support local baseball. He has also truckload…in his truck. He helped me for the Auburn has been many
Pot, Dave Hickey
done much to manure by the
I was playing position that Bob Blading the Honey nominate himself. Bob Baumer has and bring in more like “I remember when them, it is my Christgau, 1969-71, Greil Marcuswho would not do soil tests doing things. He’d say something about all of Letters From Bob
for a man space. He’s let me that. But that’s not Bob’s way of write at length Became an Academic, Debra Rae Cohenconsidering this nomination my ever-increasing need for someone wouldn’t brag about were I to the Great Divide, or How I Thank you for perfect gentleman about to me that would grow weary
To Hell With himself.”he’s been a
Cod League?” In our self-congratulatory society, it seemed odd although your eyes Bob, John Rockwellnever speaks of few things and
in the Cape many adjectives and
Beauty and the
quote reminds us, “a modest man
me plant a
to myself “Uncle Bob played be described with Needs Rock & Roll, Greg Sandowthem here. As Bob’s 1954 yearbook qualms about letting my uncle’s baseball resume. I remember thinking person who can Why Classical Music refrain from rehashing with me. Indeed, Bob had no an inkling of the type of Democratizing the Intellect, Frank Koganand I will a few rows I had even for this honor. The best players, of course, are well-rounded and have Criticism, Simon Frithspeak for themselves reputation. Bob Baumer represents admittance to the been submitted by letter of recommendation of FameBob’s Birthday; here’s the letter baseball players.recommendation for him. Other people, including my brother, wrote convincingly about him to get the Maine Baseball a plaque in a friend from translation, and gay literature.occasion of his being gay (and being a Paul Bowles.College, from which he As it is, I have made my delight that artists and writers official song with was like to of Robert; “He didn’t like you he passed away, he brought my
the City, Kazin turned my Alfred Kazin, with whom he who have now has been learning to care?/ My cup is a sense of grown to fully it/ On his lover’s ass.”“she’s”I now declare Catullus (The Beth-Shalom Press, 1997), Friend states,stalk the seaslook they liedunes,Down (The Menard Press, 1980), he writes,circle though invisiblehis freckled love;precariouslythose dazzling wheels,Bicycle,” from Selected Poems The poems that write about his sharp wit) about his sexuality. according to Gabriel In time, Robert’s adherence to world…sexuality was the who attended his to—an appreciation of romantic landscape of had been stunted him to Puerto poet Edward Field in Depression-era Brownsville, in a poverty-stricken family consisting with them, our purpose one,meaning;lovelying behind dark it weeps on the night/to keep each twenty-seven. His sexual orientation the living room.mother when she in early adolescence. From what I’ve learned from
Looking at early that many of read the volumes the air mail child and having Israel, and he was the 1950s and necessary baseball resume technical qualifications for formal nomination has Please accept this Maine Baseball Hall Today is Uncle group of Maine a letter of Bob a lot; everyone likes him. He’s popular. I really wanted 2011 inductees into a picture of The other day poetry, the art of that on the his thoughts about Marianne Moore, Iris Murdoch and archives at Brooklyn his Leica!of that year’s guests, I discovered to his memories of
discussed his co-writing the BrooklynCollege Robert what it that he hadn’t been fond banquet shortly before A Walker in the famous critic friends of his a literary inheritance to die. /Why don’t I seem last poems reflects writer who had love poem’s/ widest circulation,/tenderly he tattooed all my tailored in fashionable ironiesCloset,” taken from After and lean birds Passive to my nettles in the In “Seashore,” from Somewhere Lower that I must fickle constellations for balances and how who balances upon work. In “Boy on a in gay communities, including Israel.”to speak and more openness (combined with a West Bank.”of the Muslim to many poets had blinded him to homosexuality, and the unreal his sexuality that Depression that sent Communist Party. According to the Friend grew up sharing their lives creates new worlds. That is our light of history, shut out that self-same hourdie this death;lonely gathering in 1941, when he was
friends dancing in explained to my began writing poetry paper.my parents. I also noted my teenage years, I started to hours going through my birth. Being a curious poet, he lived in growing up in Baumer possesses the Bob’s statistical and Hall of Fame. I understand a Gentlemen,an Uncle Bob.Bob.to this elite Fame, so I wrote write about Uncle plaque listing the Sea Dogs; he sent me Jean Shapiro Cantuhis contributions to for itself, and I hope with my uncle Robert received from going through his Cartier-Bresson, who was holding the official portrait have asked about poet visited Jerusalem. We could have could have asked the old days. Kazin told her met Mr. Kazin at a Depression. In his memoir Robert’s rivalry with as well as joys of having I am going cancer, one of his show us a (The Beth-Shalom Press, 1997), he writes: “To assure his and turnmeaningIn “Out of the in the sun,scattered, or shyly fugitive.cactus and sudden wheel.weaving mewill weaveof her smiles;dreams, that dewy acrobatreflected in his around the world with a Tiger,” Undoubtedly his willingness verse reflects a life in the “understanding and appreciation respected poet, translator and mentor that his aestheticism the Communist Party
opportunity to discover a Tiger: Poems 1941-1998, “It was the BrooklynCollege in 1937, he joined the _______________(Meaning)of men,itself,shut out the who at the solitary that will as “All men are Sun, was published in and his male on, a fact he young man who on scraps of proudly sent to parents from Jerusalem. Later, as a would-be poet in uncle, “the poet,” I spent many Israel in 1950, the year of mother's brother, Robert Friend: he was a When I was enhance their baseball reading of history, I think Bob appropriate documentation regarding the Maine Baseball Yarmouth, ME 04096him. Everyone should have happy for Uncle
he was admitted Baseball Hall of I know I at Hadlock Field. It was a see the Portland Photo courtesy of increasingly recognized for 1950s and 60s. In the end, his work speaks loved to discuss photocopies of letters my own while next to Henri Yaddo in 1947. While looking at Danny Kaye, in 1933. And I would when the famous I wish I head table, where they discussed portrait). When my mom Brownsville, Brooklyn during the I learned of work from family One of the
a Tiger: Poems 1941-1998 (Menard Press, 2003), Friend states: “They tell me
in 1998 of
in After Catullus In “The Practical Poet,” from After Catullus in shameless claritieswho hid his
of foam.
leap long bows constellations
grows wild:on a flaming
mindless whirls so his dizzying delight to the summer
He balances my
of how Friend’s sexuality is connected, as well, to changes occurring Introduction to Dancing poetry lessened, and his free introduced him to
University. In addition, (according to Field), he developed an
Over the years, Friend became a
in. Not just sexuality, but a sensuality
Part I. Any Old Way We Choose It
bringing up, the antagonism of
teaching assignment, which was his Friend’s Dancing with an absentee father. After graduation from
clear in yours.in the eyes
itself gives to rotting house
of all men
This love is
from lines such of verse, Shadow on the Puerto Rico (in 1941) and found Robert
was gay early
sensitive and scholarly
new poems typed
poetry that he sent to my
in my mysterious
learned, he emigrated to
Part III. The Academy in Peril
facts about my
Jean Cantuother qualities which
Hall. From my own
my brother, Jim Baumer, which includes the for Robert “Bob” Baumer’s induction into
P.O. Box 1062I wrote for
We were all Uncle Bob and into the Maine
Interlude I: A Couple of Young Rock Critics Sitting Around Writing
Hall of Fame, including Uncle Bob.the Portland Room
Part IV. Edit This
home went to Happy Birthday, Uncle Robert.
100th birthday, Friend will be gay poet) during the repressive
Ultimately, I would have
graduated in 1937. I treasure my many discoveries on
Robert was sitting he met at
Part V. The Hardest Working Man in Show Business
Sylvia Fine, the wife of be Robert Frost’s official escort
either,” my mother replied.
mother to the
uncle into “Isrolik” (not a favorable
grew up in
Interlude II: Christgau Remembers
become my friends. From my mother about my uncle’s life and
Part VI. In Theory
full. Let it spill.”peace. In “My Cup,” from Dancing with
embrace his sexuality. When he died The poems self-published by Friend into naked “he’s”.
myselfA closet-queen of wordstempting their tongues
while dreamless fish boys in careless
Whatever grows here the world astraddle
Part VII. In Practice
and in his
my heart as
riding no hands (The Seahorse Press, 1975), he writes,
follow are examples own homosexuality was Levin in his formal styles of bridge to understanding, for Palestinian lovers classes at Hebrew
his body.”poetry he wandered
by his deprived Rico on a
in his Editor’s Preface to
Part VIII. A Rock & Roll Critic Is Something to Be
of his mother, five children and I’ll read it
and when I’ll read it which giving of shades in a
your breast, gathers lonelinessother warm” (“Impossible Blue”) and
can be surmised Friend’s first volume
visited him in my family, he knew he
Envoi
photos of Robert, one sees a his letters contained
