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Ira Beryl Brukner
- Published: November 19, 2015
Ira Beryl Bruckner
Ira Beryl Brukner was born Nov. 27, 1948, in Jacksonville, Fla., and died on Nov. 11, 2015. He was a graduate of Hebrew University in Jerusalem and received a Master of Arts degree from Bread Loaf School of English, Middlebury, Vt.
Ira was a charismatic poet with numerous published collections and taught poetry in the schools. Giving readings in the U.S., Holland and Germany, he often collaborated with accomplished jazz musicians. Ira’s longest poem, “Questions,” was a collection of 1,000 questions, which he read from a scroll while wearing a tie made out of fliptops by the artist Fliptop:
Are you happy
Do you talk outloud in public
Do you like what you are doing
Have you wanted to cry for a long time
Are there good bosses and just wars
Do pep talks depress you and vice versa
Are you floating on a wine dark sea
…………(and ends with)
is an idea no thing
is love beyond good and evil
have you seen a white lion or a yellow moon
can you shout the ineffable
what deals have you made with your dreams.
Ira was also an accomplished self-taught painter who began painting later in life. He was ecstatic when painting, often commenting, ”I don’t know where this is coming from! It is just coming through me!” He displayed his work in galleries in Ohio and was included in a traveling art show of “outsider art” in Ohio and Kentucky.
Ira had a huge effect on the lives of many in his zest for life. He loved to strike up conversations with people on the street wherever he lived — New York City, Amsterdam, Ithaca, NY. His humor was whimsical and ironic. Ira loved all of the arts while keeping a close watch on political events. In Yellow Springs, he was part of the supportive community of artists.
Ira was preceded in death by his parents Ruth Davis Waxman and Irving Brukner. He is survived by his son Raphael Walsh Brukner; former wife Jill Becker; sister and her husband, Elaine Brukner Winer and Sanford Winer; nephew and his wife, Art Winer and Mallory McCreary; niece and her husband, Barbara Winer and Scott Schenberg; and great niece, Simone Winer.
He will remain in our hearts and memories. To celebrate his life, a poetry reading of his poems and paintings will be held at a later date.
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Ira gave a copy of his epic poem “The Golden Cut” to me. It is one of my most cherished possessions. Rest In Peace, my friend.
Such a talented and wise man. He will be missed.