Daniel Polsky - Thoughts of Being

Thoughts of Being

DANIEL POLSKY

Thoughts of Being

Copyright 2009 by Rebecca V. Taub,

Executrix of the Estate of Daniel Polsky.

All rights reserved.

Library of Congress Registration Number:

#TXU001614014

International Standard Book Number:

ISBN 978-0-9840540-0-8

All photographs are provided courtesy of the family and friends.

Editorial acknowledgement is given to the following:

Irving, Carole and David Polsky, Rebecca V. Taub, Laura Bycher,

and Dr. Donald Wilkerson

Thanks to Mindy Rothstein for assistance with the layout.

Contacts:

Printed in the United States of America

Mira Digital Publishing

3800 Park Avenue

St. Louis, MO 63110

www.mirasmart.com

Contents

Titles are in bold

Alternate and sub-titles are not.

Foreword: Dan by Don Wilkerson

by Victoria Lerner Sigal

Poets Statement: Daniel Polsky

Poems: Daniel Polsky:

Poems in Dutch: Daniel Polsky

Vreemde Landen Van Blauw

Terechtstelling in Viet-Nam

Poem: To Doctor Polsky by E.ONeill, Kingsboro

Medical Group, Flatbush, 1997

Photographs:

Award : The Bronze Star Medal to Captain Daniel Polsky

Citation by the President

Letter of Appreciation: L. Bravo, Colonel, C O, 6/04/69

Kirk Army Hospital, Aberdeen

Proving Ground, Maryland 21005

Letter: Marghererita Rizzo, Touro College, 10/29/1979

Essays: Reality Fades........ by Daniel Polsky

Thoughts of Being by Daniel Polsky

Obituary: Daniel Polsky, New York Times, 10/26/2008

Foreword

Dan Polsky and I had been close friends since 1967. Yet, I don't believe inoperable prostate cancer, in October 2008. From his records, it appears that he submitted two or three poems for publication years ago. He did share some of his poems with Rebeca, his wife, and, earlier, with some close friends. Otherwise, at least to our knowledge, he had generally kept his poetry writing a private endeavor. In November 2007, about nine months after his cancer was diagnosed, he began sending me some of his poems by electronic mail. Perhaps half of the eighteen poems he sent to me over the course of the next eight months, until he became too ill to use his computer, were about death, sadness, fear, and end-of-life goodbyes. Reading them, of course I wondered if they were motivated by his terminal illness. However, Rebeca and Dans brother, Irving, believe that most or all were written years earlier. The Old Landlady, for example, was written about his landlady during his medical school time in Holland. Daybreak, also titled Terechtstelling in Viet Nam, in a copy written in Dutch, relates to his Viet Nam War experience and to World War II (see his explanatory notes for this poem). Others, such as Apple Pie, were stimulated by the deaths of friends and, undoubtedly, by his experiences and observations of life.

In our phone calls, Dan expressed strong feelings about his terminal illness, about which we all were feeling very sad and helpless. Often, however, he was objective and stoic or would speak ironically about his grim destiny. The sharing and discussion of the poems, in emails and phone calls between New York City and Salt Lake City, added an extra dimension to our communication. It was like having a shared project and probably helped each of us to have something to think and talk about other than sad and anxious topics and questions about his illness.

The full collection of Dans moving and creative poems will present the reader with a variety of themes. The poems allow us to know him better, to appreciate his depth of observation, thought, and sensitivity and his sense of humor. We are fortunate that he left his work for us to read and experience and to help keep our memories of him alive.

Dan and I met in the Army, when we were beginning two years of active duty service as medical officers. After three months together in Texas, we told me about his poetry writing until about two years before his death from he were sent to different assignment locations, later chose different specialties, and always lived in different cities. However, over the years, we had many visits and vacations together, traveling, sightseeing, hiking, camping, playing tennis and other activities. And we got to know each others family and friends.

Dans life took a very positive turn in June 2001, when he and Rebecca Taub were married and he became a father to their adopted daughter, Annabeth. Marriage and fatherhood suited Dan. I dont believe I had seen him as content and happy as after their marriage. Those happy years were harshly interrupted by the cancer. Treatment provided reasonable control for about a year and long enough for Dan, Rebeca and Annabeth to have a good vacation in Paris. However, too soon the treatment began failing.

Dan was introspective and intelligent. Although sometimes quite private and reserved, he also could be very conversational, outgoing and playful. He greatly enjoyed time with Annabeth, even when her play would become quite vigorous.He loved life, his family and friends, nature and outdoor activities, the arts and literature. He heartily enjoyed a good drink of whiskey or wine on special occasions. He could overwhelm me with his knowledge of world affairs, history, politics. His sense of humor was keen. He was always looking for ways to turn unpleasant situations, usually his own, into something to laugh about. Incidents involving Annabeth were especially funny to him. For example, he laughed heartily as he told me how, after he had scolded Annabeth, she went to her mother and angrily asked, Why did you marry that man? In phone calls through the years, Dan jokingly called me his psychiatrist (my medical specialty), even though I was often the recipient of his wise counsel and support. Our calls about upsets and frustrations with life often turned into humor and laughter. I expect his many friends and family members could say the same. He loved his practice of family medicine, was diligent about keeping up-to-date, and was confident and proud of his knowledge, diagnostic skills and the care of his patients.

Dans loss is deeply felt. He is sorely missedas husband, father, brother, family member, friend, physician and poet.

Don Wilkerson, M.D.

Salt Lake City, Utah

wilky@xmission.com

I had the great privilege of meeting Doctor Daniel Polsky in December of 1988. For twenty years, I was one of his many friends. Some had known him much longer than I. Among his many virtues, Dan had the ability to make caring friendships from the moment he met a person and throughout his life. Although some of us lived in distant states, even in far away countries, like Mexico and the Netherlands, we all maintained a close friendship with him. I met a few of his many nice friends, including: Don Wilkerson, Arthur and Alice Feuerstein, Joe Zinn and Renni Levine.