By Richard Modiano

for Cookie Mueller

Cookie, you walked through fire in silver boots,
laughed through neon nights thick with smoke,
your voice a matchstick strike --
sharp, quick, ready to burn

Baltimore’s cracked sidewalks remember
your heels clicking rebellion,
John’s lens caught you mid-scream,
a raw hymn to the weird and the wild

And then --
the air thickened,
your breath turned to glass,
lungs filling with shadows
that doctors wouldn’t name out loud

You shrank in the mirror,
bones pressing through skin like secrets,
but you still smiled,
still tilted your head toward the punchline
even as the fever stitched you shut

They called it pneumocystis,
a ghost in your chest,
a name cold as hospital light
but we knew what it was --
the plague that took lovers and outlaws,
angels in black leather,
poets with broken voices

When you left,
New York swallowed its neon,
the bars dimmed their lights in mourning
we tell your stories now,
your laugh still echoes in the walls,
your fire never fully gone --
just waiting
to burn again
2/2/25

The Importance of Arts, Culture & The Creative Process
For me, the arts and culture are the soul of a society, reflecting its values, struggles, and aspirations. They inspire critical thinking, foster emotional expression, and create spaces for dialogue and connection. The creative process itself is essential -- it fuels innovation, challenges norms, and provides individuals with a means to explore identity and meaning. Whether through music, literature, visual arts, or performance, creativity shapes our world, preserving history while envisioning the future. In an increasingly mechanized and fast-paced world, the arts remind us of our humanity, offering beauty, perspective, and the power to transform lives.

What was the inspiration for your creative work?
My inspiration came from Cookie Mueller’s fearless spirit—her raw, unfiltered way of living and creating. I wanted to capture her essence, the electric energy she carried, and the way she turned life’s chaos into art.

Tell us something about the natural world that you love and don’t wish to lose. What are your thoughts on the kind of world we are leaving for the next generation?
One thing I deeply love about the natural world in Southern California is the coastal ecosystem -- the rugged cliffs, tide pools teeming with life, and the kelp forests that sway beneath the waves. The way the Pacific meets the land here is nothing short of breathtaking, from the golden shores of Malibu to the quiet, untamed beauty of the Channel Islands. These places are not just scenic; they are thriving, delicate habitats that have existed long before us and deserve to endure long after.

Yet, I worry about the world we are leaving for the next generation. Rising sea levels, wildfires, and droughts are already reshaping the landscape, threatening the biodiversity that makes this region so special. Will the children of tomorrow still see monarch butterflies migrating through eucalyptus groves? Will they hear the howl of a coyote on a cool desert night? I hope so. But hope alone is not enough. Protecting these places requires action -- conservation, sustainable choices, and a deeper respect for the land and ocean that sustain us. The natural world is not just ours to enjoy; it’s our responsibility to preserve.

Photo credit: Richard Modiano

While a resident of New York City Richard Modiano became active in the literary community connected to the Poetry Project. From 2010 to 2019, he served as Executive Director of Beyond Baroque Literary/Arts Center. The Huffington Post named him as one of 200 people doing the most to promote poetry in America.