One Response

1. Dan Martin Says:
   July 2nd, 2010 at 6:00 pm

   This is from Jack Kerouac’s 1959 poem entitled “Poem”. It’s not one of his better known works, so I’m surprised it ended up on a subway wall. The entire thing reads like this:

   Poem

   Jazz killed itself
   But dont let poetry kill itself

   Dont be afraid
   of the cold night air

   Dont listen to institutions
   when you return manuscripts to
   brownstone

   dont bow & scuffle
   for Edith Wharton Pioneers
   or ursula major nebraska peose
   just hang in your own backyard
   & laugh play pretty
   cake trombone
   & if somebody give you beads
   juju, jew, or otherwise,

   sleep with em around your neck

   Your dreams’ll maybe better

   There’s no rain
   there’s no me,
   I’m telling ya man,
   sure as shit.

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