Before you get all excited about the Dead Poets Society, it has nothing to do with that. This is a story about a man with an extraordinary mission. To resurrect the work of Dead Poets everywhere! Let me explain…
Walter was born in Longbranch, NJ but eventually made his way to Freeport, ME and worked as a technology teacher. He had the best hobby out there…visiting the graves of dead poets.It didn’t take long for this undertaking (hehehe) to become less of a hobby and more of a full time job, so he quit his teaching job to form The Dead Poets Society. (Yes, I know, same name, but way cooler, in my opinion).
He didn’t just roam around cemeteries taking photos of the unique ones and posted them on social media. Walter took it to extraordinary levels, and thank God he did. He ended up finding a couple dozen grave sites of once famed poets that had just sort of vanished over the decades.
Walter fired up his solar panel riddled van complete with an Edgar Allen Poe bobblehead, named his mode of transportation Dedgar the Poemobile and off he went in search of dead poets everywhere! He was incredibly concerned for the poets who had passed that weren’t getting the attention they deserved, as he should be. It seems people get shoved in the ground and forgotten way too often. He referred to these people as “doubly dead,” thinking it a damn shame for someone to be forgotten just because their dead. Especially those who have so many great pieces of work.
The ambitious man that he was set out to visit and photograph 500 graves of dead poets, only to exceed his own limitations and completing at least 627. He also had his very own book of poems in the works as well as his own artwork. Because all of this just wasn’t enough, he also decided a holiday was in order. So, Walter declared the closest Sunday to October 7th as Dead Poets Remembrance Day. He chose this date because it is the day of Edgar Allen Poe’s death. This is the day when we should visit poets graves and recite their poems to celebrate their contributions. We should all actually do this…don’t worry, I’ll remind you in the fall.
Speaking of his own grave…Walter decided to make his own funeral arrangements, choosing to have his tombstone designed while he was still alive to see it. I am not sure if this was just a thought of “hey, better to just be prepared” or if something else was at work here, but a month after he ordered his tombstone, Walter died of a heartattack at the age of 57. The timing is enough to rethink all we think we know. He chose to be buried in Maine and might I add, well done on the design, Sir.
When I got to the cemetery, I figured I would just roam around until I ran into his plot. Since I had never been to this particular cemetery before I thought I could do more exploring than just for Walter. I got out of the car and walked straight towards his grave. So much for exploration, I guess. I recited what was on his grave out loud, just because I thought it was the thing to do, then took my pictures and off I went. I felt like I was in some sort of hurry after I visited his grave for some reason. So, here I am, writing about Walter.
His grave stone is quite amazing, like something you would see from another century. If people aren’t reciting his poetry to him in October I guess I will have to volunteer. This guy was DEDICATED. After all, a man who made it his life’s mission to remember and bring attention to those who have passed, deserves to be remembered, wouldn’t you say?
Why are you still here listening to me? His website is deadpoets.typepad.com. Here you can view his art work of decorated tombstones and photography. He vowed to decorate each grave he visited, photograph it and add it to his collection of dead poets, and of course, recite their poetry on site. The final installment was to be his own tombstone. I haven’t checked but hopefully someone has made this happen for him.
Also you can view some documentaries he made along his journey at vimeo.com/185808437 and vimeo.com/ondemand/onetuesdaymorning
Commentaires