We’ve just been told that Tuli Kupferberg passed away this afternoon at 12:30 with his family by his side. He’d been quite ill for some time, so not entirely unexpected, but still this news always seems to come as a surprise. New York Times obit gives a decent but brief overview of his life, with a full obit to follow they state.
As a reminder of Tuli’s unique and great sense of humor we thought we’d post some of his drawings that his daughter Samara posted on their blog a few months ago. But also check out his (Thelma Blitz’s) You Tube channel where he’s posted loads of short vids, proverbs and other seriously fun tidbits.
WHAT ELSE DO YOU DO?
YOU CAN LEAD A HORSE TO WATER, BUT WHAT IF HE’S ANOTHER COLOR?
“SUCH HATH IT BEEN-SHALL BE- BENEATH THE SUN THE MANY STILL MUST LABOR FOR THE ONE”
Yes, he was in fact the one, but it was the Manhattan Bridge. He's quoted in Annotated Howl, pg 128
"In the Spring of 1945 at the age of 21, full of youthful angst, depression over the war and other insanities and at the end of a disastrous love affair, I went over the side of the Manhattan Bridge."
Thanks, Peter.
I'm curious, do you know if it's true that Tuli was the person in "Howl" who jumped off the bridge? I'm hearing this quoted as fact lately, though in the past I thought I'd heard the person was someone else. Would love to know the real answer, if it can be found somewhere within the Ginsberg estate.