The New York Times
Obituaries
October 5, 1997
Issue - Pg -
Author: David Greg Harth

Yes, in 1997 I really did pay to publish part of my poem as an obituary in The New York Times for the artist Roy Lichtenstein. Below is the poem in it’s entirety. Does this count as press for me? Doesn’t matter. Here it is:

Roy Lichtenstein

I had a friend,
just the other day,
my friend Roy,
he died today

From little ones
to big ones
his dots always
had me
grabbed me
made me unstable
on solid ground

His retrospective
winding up the Guggenheim walls...
His thin, structural body,
standing tall,
another member,
of that Cedar bar,
I'm sure.

Roy,
why did you have to go?
my bible is empty?
my letter undelivered?
Roy,
where will you plot?
without a last dot?

Roy,
how come there is a fighter jet
a child with a toy
yet an image of
destruction?

Don't go,
for I only knew you...
for so many years...
and more to come
more to dream of
dream with...

I had a friend,
just the other day,
my friend Roy,
he died today

In New York City
he passed away
Center of POP
for you and me
I’ll be there
will U2?

In the city
glorious lights
Mondrian's Broadway
city delights

Roy,
tell me your daughter's name,
before you go
send me a present
a lesson of the future,
before you go

A beg
a round-a-bout
come inside,
have a cup of coffee,
its all I can offer
to a god of pop

a god of pop.

back to press