Looking back long and far, I count and find I have known, some casually and some well, perhaps a score of geniuses in my life so far. I say so far since, however old one is, who would not hope to see one more time that fire lit in mortal flesh? Genius is easy to recognize but hard to describe. I suppose the dictionary definition, “a person with exceptional ability of a highly original kind,” will have to do – though this does not capture the charisma, the sense of connection with a source of power and creativity, found only rarely in a lifetime of meeting thousands. At any rate I now write briefly – some time I must find time to elaborate – about these. Here are sketches of two of those in my life whose memory – impact remains sharp and vivid.
