We’ve lost a much beloved member of our community. Glenn was a frequent visitor and powerful voice on dVerse and other online venues. He was a force to be reckoned with, speaking his truth directly in his words. He leaves a legacy of poetry shared on his blogger site, Feel Free to Read. Here you’ll also find 156 episodes of Blackthorne, the Western movie script he wrote introducing us to his beloved character, Buck. You may also be acquainted with the minimalist photography site he created on Facebook, South Sound Minimalists.
Glenn had faced health challenges for some time. He was hospitalized from January 11 to February 15 with an infection on his foot. In the words of his wife, Melva Stolhan, on her Facebook page. “During the time in the hospital, he was confined to the bed. He was gotten up a FEW times with the help of a lift and at least 2 person assist. His visible wounds healed, but he continued to become weaker even after his IVIG infusions. When released on Wednesday, he was admitted to an adult family home that I had found for him. On Friday morning I was called as he was being transported to the hospital; he was having difficulty breathing. The infection (or a different one) came back with a vengeance and the infection won. Glenn passed at 12:19 pm on Friday, February 17.”
As we struggle with this loss, I think there is no better way to remember Glenn than in his own words:
“ I have been many things in my life, and called several others; my favorite was my brief career as a professional actor from 1968-78. Recently I was a Rehabilitation Specialist, working at the Dept. of Veteran’s Affairs Blind Rehab Center, VA American Lake, in Tacoma, Wa. I retired, after being a superb wage slave for over 50 years, June 2010. I think that I was born a movie buff. I had young parents, and as a family we went to the movies weekly. Movie palaces of the ’50’s were places of worship for me. When I was 30 yrs. old, I had already seen 5,000 films. I still go to movies at least twice a week. I do regret I never became a journalist; film critic. I took the Actor’s path instead. I have a VHS/DVD video collection that numbers more than 11,000 films. My entire 1500 sq.ft. basement is floor to ceiling in shelves. My love affair with movies is eternal. Are there movies after death ? Of course there are, and I’ll bet they are really impressive.”
And here are two of Glenn’s poems he posted on dVerse.
Final Cue
“exit stage left.” – actor’s script.
At some point,
artificial intelligence
will be sentient.
Will it have a soul?
Today, the Mars Rover simply
says: My battery is low
and it’s getting dark.
It saddens me
that some people
when discussing death
believe in nothing;
leagues beyond atheism,
they feel that death
is a permanent dirt nap,
a flip of the Big Switch,
a terminal power failure,
a forever implosion
that produces nothing;
darkness and forever silence,
devoid of hope.
I tend to believe
we have a Higher Self,
who is a co-creator of the Universe.
It is often referred
to as the Soul.
It is the most refined form of energy.
Energy cannot be destroyed,
it can only be transitioned
or transformed into something else.
In the inexplicable vastness
of a trillion trillion galaxies,
this spiritual energy
is its most valuable commodity.
To even consider
letting loose of it,
or destroying it
is unthinkable.
I suppose
if New Age and Zen
had a baby, it
would look a lot like me.
I am truly spiritual
without being religious.
If “Death is but a Doorway”,
then as I journey beyond the veil,
I expect to be alone,
even if I’m not,
or fast asleep
when the moment
of transition
catches up to me,
and sweeps me
out of my aged husk.
I hope to say,
to myself,
or to family,
or to the very air
I flee from,
Well . . . fuck me.
—————————–
The Day the Music Died
“Them good ole boys were drinkin’ whiskey and rye,
singin’ ‘This will be the day I die’” Don McClean.
Here I lie,
far from spry,
just the aged aged man
stroking my paper-thin
crepe skin,
muscles carrying a load
of pain down the long road.
I can’t get up.
plagued with pressure blisters,
and I resent staying down,
my face blinking
from a smile to a frown,
like a tired neon beer sign.
There is a covey of owls
calling my name,
so it seems there will be
no more sunrises for me.
But stuck in my cortex
like gum on your sole,
I hear another refrain:
You cannot move beyond the veil
until you solve the “Four Riddles”
Who am I?
I have appeared
in so many guises,
what was my favorite role?
Perhaps it was just
being an Actor.
Why am I here?
Did I ever identify or
embrace a purpose?
Poet?
Clown?
Trickster,
Lover,
Narcissist?
Asshole?
Teacher,
Dreamer,
Friend?
Son,
Brother,
Husband?
Do I have regrets?
Of course, my diverse regrets
come in battalions,
in angry swarms,
in convoys,
but even so, I know
my joys mantle any negativity,
as my vulnerable pride
stands naked in the square.
What comes next?
After a brief dirt nap,
I will chill in a way station,
adjusting my spirit,
before perhaps going
on a guided stroll
toward the light,
before boarding a bullet train,
with seven stops
in different Heavens,
one in Bardo,
and one in Valhalla.
I have never been a singer,
but right now
I feel like singing a dirge, a death song,
just some kind of a strange wild song
never heard before, singing
in a stentorian silent voice
without moving my lips.
It is time for the universe
to make room for one more
beautiful molecule
in a comet’s tail.
————————————
Fortunately, we have recordings of Glenn participating in our OLN LIVE. If you’d like to watch them, click on the linked dates below. In the final one, he read an excerpt from Blackthorne; the others are powerful readings of his poetry.
Feb 18, 2021
March 2022
April 2022
Blackthorne
So with all that said, we bid you farewell, Glenn. You will be dearly missed.
—————–
And, as this is OLN, please feel free to post one poem of your choice on Mr. Linky below. There is no required topic, format, length or rhyme scheme.

Image is from one of the last OLN LIVEs Glenn participated in….captured from the video at YouTube. Blurriness is because I snapped the image from the video itself. But it does show his wonderful smile.
Thank you Lillian, for a moving and beautiful post for Glenn. We have lost a fine poet and we are missing his voice.
We are indeed. A very special man….
Hello, Thank you for this, Glenn will be very much missed, and I had to go back and write a small poem for him.
Yes, I suspect many will write a poem for him today…or dedicate their post to him.
Thank you for this memorial.
My honor to write it.
Hello fellow dVersers,
Our pub is more empty today, having lost the wonderful presence of Glenn. But we shall persevere….and know he’s with us in spirit! So let’s all lift a glass in his honor today….any beverage of your choice. I’ve got my bartenders’ manual with me so can mix up any cocktail or drink you’d prefer. And it’s potluck, if you’d like to offer a snack or dessert to the gang.
Hugs to all in dVerse land as we celebrate the life of Glenn today!
how fortunate that OLN follows on from this sad news so that together we can remember Glenn in our own way with our own poems. I shall take my time to read Glenn’s poetry to enjoy his talent and remember with gratitude all the encouraging comments he left with others
Oh yes, Laura….he always left encouraging comments on our poems. So glad to have you at the pub today.
Twice is better than never.
🙂
Oh, how sad. May he rest in peace.
Thank you for this, Imelda. Yes….we’ve all lost a prophetic poetic soul. We are celebrating his life today at the pub.
To well chosen poems Lil. I think they represent Glenn quite well. I really miss him. I researched deeper back in time, and did some slight edits to my tribute to Glenn. I relinked here to the upgraded edited version. Thank you for this OLN tribute today our friend.🙂👍🏼✌🏼🫶🏼
Good to see you here, Rob. I’m glad you reposted your friendship poem, albeit upgraded. It lets us see the length and depth of your friendship with Glenn.
BTW — I am leaving right now to take my wife to the oncologist. I will spend time with site here later this evening, and visit to read this weekend, some of the other posted contributions. Things are hectic right now for Kath and I.
Will be thinking of you and Kathy….sending positive thoughts your way. And virtual hugs too!
Thank you so much Lil. If I get back to the bar here in time, even though I quit drinking in 1983, I hope to have a double shot, neat, of your finest single malt scotch.
TO GLENN — !!
It’ll be here waiting for you!
This is such a beautiful post in honor of Glenn, Lillian! I have will some hot chocolate while I tune in and hear Glenn read his powerful poetry in our dVerse recordings … sigh.. 💙💙
Always good to see you here, Sanaa (and to facetime with you too!). Hot chocolate coming right up!
Thank you for the hot chocolate 🙂 I cherish our Facetimes together too, my dear Lillian! 💙💙
How very sad to hear that Glenn has passed. Thank you, Lillian for letting us know! He was one of a kind and as you say, spoke his truth without reservation. He will be missed.
He will indeed. He had strong words and always, even when not feeling well, a strong and forceful delivery on OLN LIVE.
So sorry to hear about Glenn. He was a dedicated reader and such a responsive reader. One who loved the big music in words.
Brendan, you are so right. He always responded to poems in such a positive manner….always finding the good. He will be missed. He is already missed.
May he Rest In Peace.
It truly was a blessing and a privilege to have know this poet – Glenn Buttkus by his words, comments at my blog and his voiced readings at OLN
Thanks for today’s memorium, Lillian.
Much💜love
Glad to see you at the pub today, Gillena. His comments and replies to poems were always so gracious and positive. He is missed.
I came to the feast late and never “met” this big-souled man – until tonight when I met Glenn through these two poems, and will learn of him further through your incoming tributes. Thank you Lillian.
Glad to have you, Kathy. You’ll learn how much this man meant to so many of us….even if only through dVerse….when you read many of the tributes to him on Mr. Linky.
Although this is OLN and folks are welcome to post any poem of their choosing! Glenn would never want people to be cramped into a requirement of a topic….especially if it was him! 🙂
🙂
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Sad to hear of Glenn’s passing. I haven’t been by here for quite some time, but when I was more frequently posting poems, Glenn always had a lovely comment about them when he visited my blog. I sure enjoyed reading his poems, too. May his family find peace in wonderful memories.
Thank you so much for stopping by. Yes…..his comments and replies to our posts were always kind. And his voice could be heard through his words….a strong writer who spoke his mind.
❤
Prayers for comfort. Today’s memoriam is beautiful . Thanks for sharing. I am so sorry.
Thank you for your kind words.
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Enjoyed reading this selection of Glenn’s poems, with a tear in my eye, but joy in my heart that his energy is not destroyed, it has only transitioned, but we will sure miss his original voice here! 😔💔
I so agree…..thank you for responding here. An original and powerful voice sadly stilled.
💔
“There is a covey of owls
calling my name,
so it seems there will be
no more sunrises for me.”
Tremendous. I have a story about the death of a loved one and an owl. Perhaps for another time. Beautiful poetry. I didn’t know Glenn, but I’m glad for him he is in a much better place. I didn’t get to do OLN today, and I’ll link a poem that is fitting in remembrance of any of our loved ones.❤️✨
So good to see you here, Melissa. I’d love to read your story sometime. Glenn was indeed a special person as you can see by all the posts and poems dedicated to him.
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Hi Lillian, Chanced upon the site tonight not intending to make an OLN post this month. I’m both stunned and saddened by news of Glenn’s passing… I found him to be an exceptional, warm-heartened and generous individual. A genuinely multi talented creative soul who had both the impetus and ability to reach out and touch others. And trust he has now found both the light and peace he was hoping for and richly deserves… He leaves much behind him. For a week or more, I already been giving some thought to identifying a new poem suitable for publishing later month, but Glenn’s passing has clinched it for me and propted me to quickly do the work to release it tonight. If ever there was someone who stepped up to the challenge outlined in this piece it was Glenn Buttkus for sure – shine on up there, brother…
So very good to see you here today….and how wonderful that you happened into the pub for our memoriam to Glenn. You’ve characterized him well here. He will be miss by many.
Reblogged this on lastrites24608 and commented:
Rest in peace 🌹
Thank you, Jim. His was a special voice, read and heard by many here. Beloved. He is already missed.
May he rest in peace ✍🏼
A beautiful tribute to a lovely, creative man.
Thank you. He will be….already is….missed.
Once, he told me that like Björn, I’ve a flare for writing sonnets. It was such a beautiful compliment, I’ll never forget it. I didn’t read the Blackthrone series but I have read many of his poems and prose, his sense of humor was amazing! He’s in a better place now, let’s celebrate 🤍
Yes indeed…..so many posts dedicated to him today. It is a celebration of his life . . . and a bit of grieving as we will miss him.
Oh how sad is this news Lillian 😢. His poem The Day The Music Died was prophetic. What a brave write by a thoroughly interesting and entertaining man/poet/ Etc. etc.
It is sad news indeed. We’d missed him lately at OLN LIVE but still, it was a shock to learn of his death. His was such a vital and powerful voice as he read from his chair in OLN LIVE….many of us knew he was in ill health. So we celebrate his life and are grateful for the way his poetry touched us and spoke to us for so mnay years.
By the way, did you see that your first line was the first line of my poem for Tuesday Poetic’s poems on friendship?
Oh I missed Tuesday’s D’Verse! I shall go and look for your poem Lillian 😊❤️
Oh no! Thank you for posting. He had such a great way when reading his poetry, I’m so glad you saved some of that.
Peace to you Glenn…
-Eric
Sent from my iPhone
>
Good to see you here, Eric. He did indeed have a way with reading aloud his poetry….his was a powerful voice.
This is a lovely tribute Lillian. Thank you. Glenn will be missed. (K)
He will indeed.
I’m so sad to hear about Glenn. 😦 Thank you for the tribute to him.
So many in the world of poetry are sad indeed. I’m glad to see you here today, Jenna.
Thank you for letting us know, Lillian, and for sharing some of Glenn’s beautiful poems. What sad news, he was such a vibrant generous character and always lit up the screen with his poems, not least his smile. RIP, dear Glenn ❤ Shine on, you crazy diamond ❤
Thank you for being here today and sharing your thoughts about Glenn. He is already missed – you’ve described him well.
Time for me to leave the pub for the evening. Thank you to all who shared your thoughts on Glenn and the many who posted poems in his honor.
Key will be under the mat to the right of the door. Come on in and help yourself to a libation….I’m leaving the light on above the mahogoney pillar in the corner, in honor of Glenn’s spirit that lingers in the pub.
Just be sure to replace the key when you leave so others can find their way in. I’ll return in the morning and periodically over the weekend.
Lillian
It is with a weary heart I write tonight. I have been blogging for 10 years and Glenn has been a part of my journey. I wrote a bit of a tribute to him. Thank you for honoring his presence in the community.
So many agree with you. He was such a presence at dVerse and his comments to people on their posts were always insightfully positive. We are celebrating and grieving at the same time.
May Glenn rest in peace. Thank you, Lillian for hosting this Memoriam.
My honor to dedicate OLN to Glenn. So glad you’ve added to the conversation today.
His voice lives on in his poetry.
It does indeed. Am sure many of his friends and family treasure his writings and his photography as they adjust to a life without this amazing man.
I’m sad to read this news. It’s been awhile since I’ve been to the pub — life has just been too crazy to have time to devote to the community. But I will always remember the lovely, kind, and thoughtful comments Glenn would post on my pub shares. He had a way with words that was unique and intriguing.
So very glad to see you here today, Linda. He will indeed be missed. A wonderfully kind person in his responses to others; a true and honest voice in his poetry.
May the perpetual light shine upon him. Requiescat in pace Glenn
Thank you for your beautiful response.
So so sorry to hear this news! In the 11 years I’ve been involved with dVerse Glen always came across as a unique voice in this poetry world and I always looked forward to his latest offering. He was a one-off and will be sadly missed.
He is missed indeed. His was a powerful voice. He always spoke his truth and at the same time, wrote positive and appreciative words in reply to others’ poems.
What a heartfelt tribute, Lillian. It was a privilege to have known Glenn and his towering personality through dVerse. I am sure wherever he is now, he is making a difference with his words.
A “towering” personality indeed.
Absolutely!
Such a beautiful tribute, Lillian, and a fitting poetic tribute to Glenn. Thank you, Lillian–and all.
I didn’t know Glenn well, but he always said and left kind words for my work. He seemed to have a generosity of spirit. I’ve missed seeing him here.
He is indeed missed. Sanaa and I (we FaceTime), in the last month, had mentioned several times, that we hadn’t “seen” Glenn in some time. We were wondering about him. Knew he was in ill health so we were worried. He is missed but we must also realize, as the saying goes, resting in peace, pain free. So we celebrate his life today, in the midst of missing his voice.
A wonderful tribute Lillian – many thanks for this. A gifted poet, Glenn will indeed be missed. My post is in his honour but my epistle poem is for a friend who is dying.
It’s always so hard to lose a dear friend….thinking of you, Paul as you face this. And glad you could join us for this tribute to Glenn.
Yes, so hard, thank you Lillian, much appreciated.
This is a heartfelt tribute to a man I have just come to know. I will be reviewing his work over time. This is how a writer never dies.
Exactly. Glenn’s presence lives on in the words and videos he leaves behind. We sure do miss him though.
Hello dVersers…..what a grand tribute to Glenn this has turned out to be. Still taking chat comments and posts. However, I will be away from the pub until later today. Going to the San Diego Zoo again – we go weekly while we’re here. On our last six days here before we return to Boston. I’ll be back to chat and read. Help yourselves to libations….and as always, key is back under the mat to the right of the door! Always open…
What a wonderful tribute. I have been gone for quite awhile and am sad to come back to this. RIP Glen, or perhaps happy trails would be more appropriate.
Smiling at your “Happy Trails” statement….given his Western Story Blackthorne and beloved Buck, I think this a most appropriate statement. Happy to have you here today.
This is a wonderful tribute, and Glenn’s own words sum up his wonderfulness to perfection. He will be missed.
Thank you, Sherry. Yes, he is already missed.
I am sorry to hear of Glenn’s death also. I haven’t read much but Penelope of here let me know. One never knows about the medical world; the cure might be worse than the beginning. I came home from the ER early Friday morning, and I hurt really bad still. People die from injured, pierced colons, even from colonoscopies. I had another situation but was screaming through the doc’s “fix”.
..
Sorry to hear of Glenn’s passing. I enjoyed reading a number of his poems throughout my time here at dVerse.
I’m sorry to hear of Glen’s passing. I enjoyed reading a number of his poems throughout my time here at dVerse. He will be missed but his words will live on.
Thank you for sharing this heartfelt post about Glen Lillian! I’m sure he is enjoying circling the galaxies as we speak! 💞
You’re welcome. His poetic voice was a powerful one.
This is a wonderful tribute to Glenn and his poems are so poignant and prescient now he has finally gone or transitioned. I love the ending as ‘who knows’ and I hope he is resting in endless movies. Thanks for putting all of this together as some virtual friends just disappear.