[the Writing of Kuypers]    [JanetKuypers.com]    [Bio]    [Poems]    [Prose]

See YouTube video Live at Twitter Inside Chicago feature 05/21/10

See this YouTube video of part three of the Janet Kuypers Chicago feature Twitter Inside 5/21/10 in Logan Square, reading her poem “Loss” and singing her Mom’s Favorite Vase song my love for you will stay the same” with John on guitar (this was posted on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Pinterest, Instagram, and Tumblr). #janetkuypersmusic #janetkuyperspoetryshow #janetkuyperssinging

See YouTube video live at the Café in Chicago 06/22/10

See YouTube video of part three of the “40” show live at the Café w/ this piece 06/22/10

See YouTube video of part 3 of the “40” show w/ camera 2 @ the Café in Chicago 06/22/10

See Full Video from camera#1 as a downloadable mp4 file, live at the Café w/ this piece 06/22/10, from the Internet Archive.

See Full Video from camera#2 as a downloadable mp4 file, live at the Café w/ this piece 06/22/10, from the Internet Archive.

Loss Janet Kuypers 03/16/10 walked with you in an ALS rally after I had locked my keys in my car saw you a few times after they told me you were sick you looked fine you looked good I couldn’t see anything wrong with you * finally, I would call you ask if you could still drive a car and I invited you to visit me so we could spend some time together and you would say, why so I’d have a new tv to watch for a while I didn’t want this to happen to you, I swear your family watch lupis take a loved one and now ALS consumes you your mind is just fine that’s what the doctors tell me it’s just that your nervous system is breaking you down cellularly and your crystal clear, sharp mind has to stand by and watch yourself fall apart I know this is rare but it’s progressive, degenerative, fatal and watching you go through this increasing and spreading muscular weakness as you live through your days now I imagine hearing your heartbeat like the flapping of hummingbird wings under water I know I’m not the one suffering but I am * I know I’ve lived through hell but it’s not fair that I survived just to watch this happen to you * went to a funeral today and saw you there wheelchair bound, slurred speech thin as a rail but still smiling when you saw me and I had to smile and small talk with you with you, who could barely speak and I had to act like everything was okay your friend held your cigarette outside with you put the cigarette to your lips so you could inhale, then he pulled it away to wait for your next breath * I couldn’t stay at the funeral too long today I had seen too much death Copyright © 2010 Janet Kuypers. All rights reserved. No material may be reprinted without express permission.