Quintessential Keen-Eyed Prof
Favorite memories of Professor Warsh in my heart (besides one-on-one meetings) include fellowship gatherings he hosted and supported for students, which often featured visiting writers, publications, collaborations, hors d’oeuvres, and libations.
He created an academic home for artists, a high vibration time of development. He utilized his organic access at LIU Brooklyn for the good of staff and mentees, envisioned-manifested the M.A./M.F.A. creative writing program dreams, made himself available, paid attention, and opened his kindred spirit to the calling of educator.
Lewis offered his intellect and piercing eyes, was generous with wisdom, psychic gifts, and would divine potential in others with humor and gentleness during class. We just had a blast with Lewis, always up for soul connection and engagement, fun, loving, and comfortable in his button-down shirt, sweater jacket, jeans, and good looks. He held back sometimes with praise, debated details, but when he did compliment, the words imprinted. Our poetry and fiction readings took place at venues such as the LIU Spector Lounge, The Bowery Poetry Club, Unnameable Books, Sidewalk Cafe, and KGB Bar.
Humbly, with grace, Lewis Warsh touched many lives, and he was just about the best that God makes.
Loved Life of Lewis in Haikus
Lively soul! Mentor-friend’s
accepting arms folded round
creative writing
Changed me with focus
filled times in joyful presence
of astral mind’s genius
Heart-aches missed moments
passing away on God’s Sunday
Poet Lewis Warsh
a kingly priest among
Theory of Writing grad class
princely poet pups
taught in plush plum rooms
LIU Brooklyn grounds breath
gets monkey off back
Workshops connect texts
club poetry readings rock
drinking wine three hours
Pupils mined Professor’s
engaging, kind leadership
prophetic purpose
in happiness eyes
with Blue Jay feathers inside
above stained rouge mouth
a Cardinal who chirps
LIVE, love, live, WRITE, create, LOVE, live!
Kudos peppered-hair Sage
Friendship defines Warsh
Completed assignment Prof.
Rest now sweet spirit
AMYRE LOOMIS works as a writer-photographer in the worlds of politics, education, arts, and faith. She finished a B.A. in English at the University of Michigan, a B.F.A. in lens media at Richmond University in London, and completed coursework for her M.F.A. in creative writing at LIU Brooklyn. Loomis lives between Metro-Detroit and NYC.