Day 18 of NaplPoWriMo 2020 -- a Tribute Poem for Jack Kerouac
[photo from
Fireblossom below]
( background material, https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Kerouac )
The rich die old ------
Poor die by the curb
whiskey bottle in hand
The rich die old ------
Poor die in distant land,
ditches of war
The rich die in mansions ------
Poor die in East End
slum apartment
The rich have fun in clubs ------
Poor write poetry and books
Greenwich Village coffee houses
The rich have Fine Families ------
Poor like their "beat"*
Jack Kerouac was not rich, he lived and cherished the "beat", Jack Kerouac was a writer who died young ------
Age 47 ------
he was called in 69***
The rich are born with 'Silver Spoon' ------
Kerouac became famous when his book, "The Road" got notice. Jack had lived and traveled between New York City and San Francisco until then, after he moved to Florida.
He called himself by his "own ------
statement of his name as
Jean-Louis Lebris de Kerouac" ****
NOTES:
* "Beat" -- fellow novelist Herbert Huncke. Huncke used the term "beat" to describe a person with little money and few prospects
Also his writing style was noted for his use of the long dash to separate lines of different or agreeing thought. I tried using them here.
(Wikipedia)
** Wikipedia
*** In 1969 I became single again. I kept my Aerospace Engineer job at NASA and my studies evenings at the University of Houston. My off times I lived a semi-Keroac single life. Mrs. Jim rescued me in 1973, we have stuck 47 years. (Writer's note)
**** Wikipedia
_ _ _
- Poem Copyright, Jimmiehov 2020, All Rights Reserved
- Photo, copied from the Sunday Muse linked below. Other from Wikipedia link above.
- I am linked with Fireblossom at the Sunday Muse, http://thesundaymuse.blogspot.com/2020/04/sunday-muse-104.html?m=1
- I'm also linked with Kerry O'Connor in the Imaginary iijGarden at http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2020/04/april-2020-days-16-20.html?m=1
- And linked with NaPoWriMo Day 18 at http://www.napowrimo.net/day-eighteen-6/
Labels: A Tribute, Historical Artists and Poets, NaPoWri Mo 2020, Poem, Real Toads, Sunday Muse
posted by Jim @ 4/18/2020 11:54:00 AM
13 comments
13 Comments:
Thanks for all the effort you've clearly put into this, Jim. It's always nice when people seem to connect with the image we put at Sunday Muse!
Well done Jim! You have honored Jack eloquently! Glad to see you at the Muse!
Great words, Jim. Why does all the best literature come out of adversity?
Yeah – but I'd rathe have poetry, nooks and coffee all the same. The true riches!
Well penned, Jim!
Tut tut! *Poetry, BOOKS, and coffee.
Wonderfully said, Jim. This is the truth. But I would bet we are happier than the people in their mansions, by far, while we're alive.
A touching tribute poem, Jim!
You’ve captured the spirit of Kerouac, Jim, especially in ‘whiskey bottle in hand’ and ‘Poor write poetry and books / Greenwich Village coffee houses’.
Great lines and a good reminder that we can take our view from those who were there, at eye-level.
Certainly drew me in with the first stanza .... thru to the end!
It was very interesting to read your personal history notes next to the timeline of the beats!
Love the words and rhythm of this
You have captured the Beat and its rebellion, cherishing the offbeat rather than the road to wealth.
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