RIP PETER STRAUB

 

By now you've heard the news that Peter Straub, author of Ghost Story, Shadowland, Koko and many others has passed. He was a hell of a talent, and I will always wonder what the third part of the Talisman trilogy he was writing with Stephen King might have been like.

I wrote a poem about him once. It's probably not very reverent to post on the date of his death, but what the hell. This is from the first volume of Shit Poems, which is out of print.

PISSING WITH CREATORS: PETER STRAUB 

By John Bruni 

The first time I got a press pass 

was for the first C2E2—So I wore a suit. 

I attended a panel for Vertigo. 

Surprise! 

Peter Straub was a guest! 

I wanted to win stuff, but every time I raised my hand 

I was skipped. 

Karen Berger told me it was because of the suit. 

She thought I worked for C2E2. 

 

We all rushed out. 

I had to piss. 

There was the bathroom—two urinals free. 

I took one. 

And Peter Straub pissed next to me. 

I wondered if I could ask for an interview. 

(I was working for the Napalm Assault) 

But I chickened out.