Tony Seldin: The Original Vagabond Poet
Shortly after I purchased the Vagabond Poet web domain I received an email from a curious character named Tony Seldin. He began the email: “Please do a web search using google.com and look for Tony Seldin, I have been the Vagabond Poet since the late 60s, my friend the Ken Kesey gave me this title.”
Unsure what to think, I started a search for Tony Seldin and discovered true enough, it was the title of poet, a writer, and human rights advocate, true vagabond from San Francisco. Tony and I quickly became email friends – sharing stories of travels, love, life and poetry.
Tony was working with me on creating his new website, part of a plan to ensure his upcoming retirement didn’t go unnoticed; “I’m planning a new book with a complete legacy of my work and poetry and working on my first website, I have a grand event for my retirement I’m working on and would love to talk further with you about this dream or as we used to say in the 60s lets dream this into reality”
He talked about his friendships with some of my poetic and musical heroes. He shared his works and photos with me of Janis Joplin, Thomas Wood, Steve Shafer, Sam Andrew, Tom Constanten. He talked about the true origins of VP: ".. me.. the original Vagabond Poet ahh not true and yes true, a hard one to call! In the early to late 1920s there was Don Blanding Vagabond Poet who lived on an Isle of Hawaii on a boat and yet called himself the Vagabond Poet, hard to say who is the original all the way back to nomadic tribes to who knows who?"
He spoke at length about Susann, the love of his life. He signed off all of his emails with kind words: "The Heart is the Greatest Pathe" or "Love and Light and healing" or "Thank you for keeping my DUENDE AND SPIRIT ON TRACK"
After only seven months of our new found freindship I lost my friend. Tony Seldin passed away July 11, 2004. The world lost a creative icon.
While my friendship with The Vagabond Poet was brief, his inspiring words and strength were a revolutionary influence on my life and as the Vagabond Poet of tomorrow, it is an honor to have known such a spirit.
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