Outsider Writers has received word that Todd Moore passed away Friday, March 12, 2010. Todd was a friend of ours. He helped judge our poetry chap competition a couple of years ago. He was a great poet and a great guy.
The following information from Todd’s friend, Tony Moffeit, was forwarded to us by Wolf Carstens, editor of Epic Rites Press and publisher of Todd’s latest book, Dead Reckoning:
Todd Moore is survived by his wife, Barbara, who regularly accompanied him to poetry events, and his two sons, Jason and Theron. In addition to writing, his primary profession was as a high school English teacher in Illinois. Following retirement from his teaching position, he moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico. His major work of poetry, the multi-volumed Dillinger, was his greatest work, myth, archetype, and passion. In recent years, however, he was almost as passionate and productive with his essays, which inevitably featured the subject of the outlaw poet. A third venue was his short, slim-lined poems which packed a wallop, a style which influenced generations of poets. This type of poem is featured in his most current volume, Dead Reckoning, from Epic Rites Press. In more recent years, his Dillinger poems featured an ultra-condensed line, often with broken phrases and syllables, like a stream of bullets down the page, a revolutionary style of poetry. He was a collector of historic knives. He was a collector of books and a voracious reader. He began writing poetry in 1970. He edited the poetry magazine, road/house, from 1975 to 1978. He was also co-editor with his son, Theron, of St. Vitus Press & Poetry Review. Much of his work can be found in St. Vitus and also in the French website, metropolis. He was the co-founder of the genre of writing now recognized as Outlaw Poetry with fellow writer Tony Moffeit. His charismatic father and the infamous Clifton Hotel of his youth are major themes in his writing. Not only did he bring revolutionary styles to poetry and essay, but he brought a revolutionary consciousness to poetry and essay. This consciousness was characterized by phenomenal writing from the gut, innovation and revitalization of ideas, and the transformation of the artist into a roaring force. His writing became more and more a flame, a blaze, a fire, and at the most intense period of his creativity, he died.
I’m sorry to hear this, David. Please let us know if there is a fitting way to pay tribute in some form, as a community.
Yes, sorry to hear this. But outsiders usually don’t live long. . . . He made some noise while he was here. That’s what counts.
I agree with Lynn. Let’s organize a tribute of some sort.
Very sorry to hear of his passing.
Todd was a good man & a good friend. He died on Johnny Appleseed’s birthday, Todd would probably have been planting bullet trees. I never got to see him read in Milwaukee, but at Woodland Pattern book store, he was legendary. Catfish
Todd was a terrific poet and a terrific person. His work was and will remain unique. As a person he was generous to other poets while being uncompromising in what he liked and liked a lot less. He was a straight shooter.
Victor said it best. Todd was extremely generous and kind to me when I was starting out and I’ll miss him and his voice very much.
Another day with out Todd. They get easier, but not by much. Anyone who wants to can send me 1-3 poems and/or a remembrance about Todd as I plan to publish a collection later this year. Profit from this book will go to the Moore family…Contact me at poetraindog@gmail.com