 | DRIP PORTRAIT
San Francisco 1965Poet and Zen Master, Philip Whalen emerged from his closet with a drip painted portrait of him by Michael McClure. It looks just like him. While I spent the day with him at his apartment, I was struck by the depth of his inner peace. I was so impressed by him and sad that he could not attend the Last Gathering session at City Lights Books. During that session I elbowed into the photographers on my right so I could move over a little get his book behind the window in that photograph. I wanted him to be there. |
 | PHILIP WHALEN DOING CALLIGRAPHY
San Francisco 1965Poet and Zen master Philip Whalen is shown here practicing his calligraphy at home. He hand lettered the covers of his books of poetry. |
 | THE ARCHERY LESSON
San Francisco 1965When I saw Philip Whalen cutting his orange in half, I immediately thought of the Zen parable of the Archery Lesson. I guess, it was the way the knife melted into the orange. It was like they were fulfilling their destiny together. It was so smooth. |
 | HANGING OUT AT WHALEN'S
San Francisco 1965Poetry groupie Theresé was the girlfriend of a fellow Beat photographer, Dale Smith. Of all the poets we photographed, Philip Whalen was the only one she wanted to meet. |
