I was saddened to hear of the death of margareta waterman, who preferred to have her name spelled in lower case. I met her through Red Sky Poetry Theater, which had a large role in helping to organize. I will never forget the most potent thing I ever heard her say and that was: “The worst thing that can happen to a poet is success.” I took this as the corrupting influence of commercial success, but I think it is also related to Sam Hamill’s notion of a “poetry oni” which he described here. Chasing poetry fame is corrupting to the spirit. More on margareta from her obituary:

margareta was a poet, writer, metaphysician, and performer, committed to an interdisciplinary
practice throughout her life. margareta_was the founder of the small press nine muses books in
1987 in Seattle, WA. She was a force to be reckoned with and was integral to the evolution of
Red Sky Poetry Theatre (along with many others). She was instigator of Manifest Arts (which
documented the work of Seattle area colleagues), a participant in the literary arts programming at
Bumbershoot Arts Festival, and many other projects in Seattle. She toured the world performing
her poetry at every opportunity across the globe, and generously shared her connections across
the world. Locally, as an Oregonian, she became a ll)ember of the Spare Room community as
well as the broader arts communities in Portland, Eugene, and Roseburg. margareta was also a
multi media artist. Her paintings over the years diagram her life. What informed it all was her
fierce and loving belief in the artist in all of us.

R.I.P dear poet.