Bess Horowitz was chosen family.
Complicated political woman
she’d been a Communist
a natural organizer
she knew hundreds of people,
maybe thousands.
Once we went to Yip Harburg’s
birthday party. Yip, amazing
composer of Brother Can You Spare a Dime,
Wizard of Oz, and many many
songs, played the piano for us all.
We visited him a few times.
He always played music.
Democracy Now’s Christmas show
is about Yip.
I saw that this a.m. So wonderful!
There is a plaque in the Tompkins Square branch of the NYPL honoring him.