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Travelers Welcome

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Before the Frost
For James D. Quinton

by g emil reutter

I work the back garden, drag bags of mulch to the edge
to prepare for the coming winter. Hydrangea leaves are
yellowing, wilted heads of Black- Eyed Susans hang from
limp stems. I work around Azaleas, Rhododendrons
building small mounds around their base. The sky is gray
clouds turning dark, thunder booms from the distance. I
continue to work toward the annuals. Begonias, Impatiens
already ceding to the weathers’ changes, await the last
deadly frost. I think of covering them over, but prop them
up in the dark wet bark.

We will never have that promised beer or read a poem
in the stale air of a tap room. I will not read that new poem
or story, the ones you left on the tip of a pen. You ceded
yourself before the frost, leaving words full of life, love and
loneliness that like perennials live for another season. Though
I never met you; I knew you from our common bound of
words flowing back and forth across the Atlantic. I work the
garden the way I work a poem, adjusting, crafting it just right.
I think of words, of your words as sadness lingers about me.
I finish the garden as the sky opens, whimpers sheds tears
until the hard early autumn rain drenches me so that no one
can see I am crying with the rain.

4 comments:

  1. RIP James D. Quinton 1977-2012
    Posted on September 16, 2012 | 7 Comments
    We received the following heartbreaking email from Amy Quinton:

    On Sat, Sep 15, 2012 at 8:02 PM, Amy Quinton wrote:

    Dear Fox Chase Review,
    It is with deepest sorrow and regret that I have to tell you that my husband, James D Quinton, took his own life on 6 September 2012. I would be extremely grateful to you if you could help to memorialise/archive his work, and spread the word around the small press/poetry/writers community. Please feel free to contact me at the above email address if you would like any further information.
    Amy Quinton



    James D Quinton was a British fiction and poetry writer. His two novels Touch and The Victorian Time Traveller and his two poetry collections Street Psalms and The City Is On Fire And Has Been For Weeks are now available as rematered second editions. Recently published poetry has appeared in BoySlut, Rusty Truck, Gutter Eloquence, Blacklisted Magazine, Dead Snakes and Spudgun Magazine. He was also managing editor of Open Wide Magazine.www.openwidemagazine.co.uk

    ———————————————————————————————

    James D. Quinton was a self-taught writer and a publisher of an edgy poetry/fiction magazine for over ten years known far and wide as Open Wide Magazine. I first communicated with James early in the last decade when we were both knocking around the small press across the globe, he far more published than I. Open Wide published established and emerging poets from all corners of the earth and James gave many their first chance at publication. I was fortunate enough to have made two appearances in OW over ten years. James published several collections of poetry and fiction under the xplosive books imprint. Here at The Fox Chase Review we were pleased to publish the poetry of James in two editions and to have published an interview with James at our blog.

    I do not know why James felt it necessary to take his own life, all I know is his was a life cut too short. Diane and I, Sandra and T.G. extend profound sympathy to Amy and do hope she finds peace and comfort as she tries to understand why James decided to move on.

    Funeral Services:

    Notice: http://www.familynotices24.co.uk/19530049

    James’ funeral will be will be held at Ipswich Crematorium, IP4 2TQ, on Wednesday 26 September 2012 at 15:15. Afterwards there will be a reception at The Railway, Westerfield, Ipswich, IP6 9AA.
    Anyone who knows James in any way is welcome. Family flowers only please, with any donations to Plan International, through whom we sponsor a young girl in Bolivia, via the East of England Co-operative Funeral Services please

    James D. Quinton in The Fox Chase Review:

    Poems from 2009 – http://www.foxchasereview.org/09AW/26-JDQuinton.html

    Poems from 2012 – http://www.foxchasereview.org/12SU/JamesQuinton.html

    An Interview with FCR: http://foxchasereview.wordpress.com/2012/05/23/10-questions-for-james-d-quinton/

    Link to Open Wide Magazine http://www.openwidemagazine.co.uk/

    Something Beautiful by JDQ published 9/18/12 http://canontaff.wordpress.com/2012/09/18/james-d-quinton-something-beautiful/

    Remberence:

    Before the Frost- The Camel Saloon- http://thecamelsaloon.blogspot.com/2012/09/before-frost-for-james-d-quinton.html

    Silliman Blog - http://ronsilliman.blogspot.com/2012_09_16_archive.html

    Empty Mirror Books – http://www.emptymirrorbooks.com/features/literature/in-remembrance-of-james-d-quinton.html

    Unlikey Stories - http://unlikelystories.org/blog/content/?p=634

    http://unlikelystories.org/blog/content/?p=636

    Dead Snakes - http://deadsnakes.blogspot.com/2012/09/in-memory-of-james-d-quinton.html

    Haggard and Halloo - http://www.haggardandhalloo.com/2012/09/19/james-d-quinton-dies/

    Books Inq - http://booksinq.blogspot.com/2012/09/rip_17.html

    Please feel free to leave a comment or a link to James work on line.

    Books by James D Quinton





    ReplyDelete
  2. Funeral Services:

    Notice: http://www.familynotices24.co.uk/19530049

    James’ funeral will be will be held at Ipswich Crematorium, IP4 2TQ, on Wednesday 26 September 2012 at 15:15. Afterwards there will be a reception at The Railway, Westerfield, Ipswich, IP6 9AA.
    Anyone who knows James in any way is welcome. Family flowers only please, with any donations to Plan International, through whom we sponsor a young girl in Bolivia, via the East of England Co-operative Funeral Services please

    James D. Quinton in The Fox Chase Review:

    Poems from 2009 – http://www.foxchasereview.org/09AW/26-JDQuinton.html

    Poems from 2012 – http://www.foxchasereview.org/12SU/JamesQuinton.html

    An Interview with FCR: http://foxchasereview.wordpress.com/2012/05/23/10-questions-for-james-d-quinton/

    Link to Open Wide Magazine http://www.openwidemagazine.co.uk/

    Something Beautiful by JDQ published 9/18/12 http://canontaff.wordpress.com/2012/09/18/james-d-quinton-something-beautiful/

    Remberence:

    Before the Frost- The Camel Saloon- http://thecamelsaloon.blogspot.com/2012/09/before-frost-for-james-d-quinton.html

    Silliman Blog - http://ronsilliman.blogspot.com/2012_09_16_archive.html

    Empty Mirror Books – http://www.emptymirrorbooks.com/features/literature/in-remembrance-of-james-d-quinton.html

    Unlikey Stories - http://unlikelystories.org/blog/content/?p=634

    http://unlikelystories.org/blog/content/?p=636

    Dead Snakes - http://deadsnakes.blogspot.com/2012/09/in-memory-of-james-d-quinton.html

    Haggard and Halloo - http://www.haggardandhalloo.com/2012/09/19/james-d-quinton-dies/

    Books Inq - http://booksinq.blogspot.com/2012/09/rip_17.html

    Please feel free to leave a comment or a link to James work on line.

    Books by James D Quinton

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks to James Mancinelli of TheMoveable Beats Poetry Series in Philadelphia, Pa for honoring James D. Quinton in the open reading 9-16-12

    7 RESPONSES TO RIP JAMES D. QUINTON 1977-2012

    fox chase reading series | September 16, 2012 at 6:31 pm | Reply
    From Adrian Manning

    I had heard this very sad news and I am stunned. I too had known James for many years and had published, and been published by, him. It is a very tragic loss. A lovely guy, great poet and a fine editor. I have read the pieces including interviews that you published which were all fine pieces. Very sad loss.
    Best wishes
    Adrian

    From A.D. Winans
    sorry to hear this news, even more distressing that he took his own life.

    From John Dorsey
    Heard about this yesterday, James was a dear friend and brother…

    Sandra | September 17, 2012 at 5:05 am | Reply
    Profound sympathies to all whom his life touched. May their memories comfort them.

    Caroline Laurie | September 17, 2012 at 12:11 pm | Reply
    So, so, so, so sorry that I never saw, heard or knew of James, when he was in the flesh. His…………passing, the transition INTO another world, brought me the news of his life and work.

    His poetry and novels have touched so many souls and made such an immense difference to to many people.

    My heart goes out to his beloved wife Amy. I KNOW he will always be waiting for her to hold her in his ALMS once again, when the time is right. Watching over her from within …..still here…………………grieving for her grief , wiping her, tears away aching for her loss, when HE KNOWS HE IS STILL HERE.

    Amy Quinton | September 17, 2012 at 9:48 pm | Reply
    Thank you all for your kind kind messages, especially Caroline – I’m afraid I don’t know you but your words mean so much. Please please all look after yourselves and those you hold dear.
    Amy Quinton

    Donna Kuhn | September 18, 2012 at 7:41 pm | Reply
    amy,

    i lost my mother to suicide and my son when he was 21. first i noted jim’s young age and then, worse. it won’t be easy but i gets better with time. hold on to friends and family. i’m so sorry.

    donna

    S.A. Griffin | September 19, 2012 at 1:56 am | Reply
    Just got the shocking, sad news from John Dorsey. My sincerest sympathies to all family and friends. James and Open Wide will be long remembered by many whom he touched.

    Pingback: 10 Questions for James D. Quinton | Fox Chase Review
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  4. Quinton couldn't hold through his wintering life.

    Perhaps he had lived the spring, summer and autumn of his life too deeply to consider what life winter might hold.

    Thank you, G, for the reflection and insight. I didn't know him, just of him. You had his respect and I know he has yours.

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