PHILIP WHALEN (1923-2002) was an influential Beat poet and the author of dozens of books of novels and poetry, including On Bear's Head, The Diamond Noodle, and Overtime. MICHAEL ROTHENBERG is one of the literary executors of Whalen's estate, and the editor of www.bigbridge.org. Also the editor of major volumes of selected poetry by Philip Whalen, Joanne Kyger, David Meltzer, and Edward Dorn, he lives north of San Francisco.