Allen Planz at Canio’s Books’ 20th Anniversary Celebration, 2000.
POET + Fisherman + FRIEND
SOLSTICE, an excerpt
Once a child built a fortress against the tide.
In darkling sand,
Not to stop it, but to see his craft washed away,
How water touched
To bring all things it touched
To motion,
To flowing
& soon only mounds remain, & nothing within.
. — Allen Planz, from Creaturely Drift (2008)
The Canio's Books Blog 
Long Island has lost a wonderful poet, mentor, teacher and friend. This news deeply saddens my heart. My memories of being a part of the audience at Canio’s to listen to Allen read, will be forever a part of me. Thank you for posting this beautiful poem. Through his poetry he will live on. With sincerest sympathy to his family and friends, Frances Mancuso Durler & John Durler
Thank you, Frances & John, for your kind remembrance of Allen. He is missed by many across this long island.
I would not be where I am today as a poet & person if it had not been for the love and care Allen showed me as he did so many other young, starting-out-on-the-journey-of-life poets. I miss his humor, poetry, tender caring, and his smile, that always think he knew a secret we all would love to know!
Tammy Nuzzo-Morgan
Suffolk County Poet Laureate
2009-2011
Remembering Allen Planz
Zoom Allen, Zoom
Aunt Adeline, Uncle Jack, Patricia and
Allen
From Dalny Road Jamaica Estates
to Hillside Avenue in five seconds.
I sank into the seat … what a thrill!
Zoom Allen, Zoom
Patricia and Allen,
the only college grads I knew
Cook Allen, cook
You made me the biggest, juiciest cheeseburger I ever ate!
Army training?
Pump Allen, pump
Weights and bodybuilding magazines in the cellar.
Fishing gear and scuba gear too.
And that old fashioned radio! WOW!
Teach me how to play the guitar Allen
Teach me.
G7: put my fingers how???
Classical music on the beautiful Hi-Fi player
on your bedroom dresser.
Sparky barking and biting me. Scary stuff.
– And there was Patricia’s Sammy too –
Father Morris stopping by for cocktails
I was usher at you and Doris’ wedding
at that big Immaculate Conception church.
At the reception Aunt Adeline had me dance with
a beatnik woman with huge, round, soft breasts
– as a teenager I’ll always remember those breasts against my chest –
… and then you went to Tennessee? As a professor? I don’t know.
That was the last I heard about you.
Bye Allen, Bye
Fondly, Cousin Bob Schneck
I found him fourteen years ago.
He was my father, my dad,
My time with him was too short,
I feel cheated, lost and sad.
I love you and miss you terribly, dad!!!