i just learned the sad news that Todd Moore passed away today.  he was 72.  he was a gentleman, a gentle man, and one of the very few people i would actually call a poet.  his lines were distinct, memorable and uniquely his own.  additionally, his articles, book reviews and stories were fiercely intelligent and always memorable.  to view a notice on his passing and also read a huge collection of his writings, go to the Outlaw Poetry website.  you'll find it here:

http://outlawpoetry.com/2010/03/12/todd-moore/comment-page-1/#comment-560

i had the distinct honour to have had him write the introduction for my New And Selected Poems.  i also had the greater honor to have called him my friend.
he will be missed.
john yamrus

Thanks for posting this John. Very sad news.

     crushing.  his latest book, DEAD RECKONING, came out the same day as my new one.  he was so excited to have hooked on with Epic Rites Press and was making great plans for the future.
if anyone's interested, you can get a copy of his book here:

http://www.spdbooks.org/Search/Default.aspx?AuthorName=todd+moore

     

Oh dear. Condolences to all his friends and to poetry. And I was just thinking of Moore earlier. Maybe fitting here:

bank robber v. leaf

a poem about a grey day
at the beginning
of what they say will be
a week of steady rain

cannot have Dillinger
in it betrayed by a moll
or by a dad who never
spared the rod

although such things
can come to mind
on such an afternoon

one small brown leaf
smoothly gliding down
like a gondola in air
is a far more likely character

in such a poem

Sorry to hear this, John. I followed Todd's work for years. He and Steve Richmond are considered "meat" poets, are they not?

I'm devasted. It's only recently that I met him, through correspondence, and had found such a generous friend. He'll be with me until my turn comes.

milner

agreed.  Moore and i - both being veterans of the small press - had crossed paths countless times since the early 1970s, but i never really got to know him until a few years ago.  there was absolutely no fakery or bullshit about him.  a hell of a nice guy. 
jy

my favorite Todd Moore quote:

"you know the poem is working when you have touched someone's hot buttons"
T. Moore

Sad news indeed.  This is another poet whom I very much admired but will never get the chance to meet.

kyle;
go to the Outlaw Poetry website on their homepage.  they've got something like 180 pieces by Moore there...everything from tons of poems, to bunches of his electrically charged book reviews...to dozens of his killer essays.  here's the link:

http://outlawpoetry.com/

I was just reading one of his Dillinger poems as you said that.  Thank you John.