To Kerouac alley from Chinatown side

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revolutionrabbit
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To Kerouac alley from Chinatown side

Post by revolutionrabbit » October 26th, 2009, 12:23 am

way down here in the wetlands,
down where the windows do the sign of the cross...and wet themselves
i was standin there in Kerouac alley, before they named it that, i was a lone
wolf cat,

was walkin through that between universes scene, comin from the
Chinatown side, i would begin at the lions gate, that mouth open
to market street, i walk slow through the maze of neon tigers bright
walk in the day and walk in the night, i tried to see how Li Po saw
I always walked with the Junk moon that sailed on the high C
walked with the serpent sax playin in the howlish breeze
maybe stop and watch the orange and red paper dragon lanterns
feelin that Frisco salt air on my face and smelling the chow yuk
from the open restaurant doors,

until I came to the corner, where that alley would lead me down
that Burroughsian bowel all the smells of rotten cabbage and piss
on the beatnik graffiti lined walls, i would stand there takin it all in
breathin, breathing this holy jazz spot, makin a slow turn with my
eyes closed until i could see within,

see that night not so long ago, when Ginsberg made his entry on
history's text, not so long ago 55, and read his new poem Howl for
the first time in North Beach, the generation whose best minds,
were blown to smithereens, or maybe it was Thelonious who
monked it for us, bebop revolution to the Last Poets, SunRa
risin in the east,

and Jim said the west is the best, like those best minds all blowin
in the wind

I open my eyes now, i heard Harry and Bobby whisper in the dark
I heard some symbolist uttering some kind of poet language
but i see his ancient body of light standing in the City Lights

[http:// beatitudepoetry.com/poetrymanuscripts.htm]

[http://revolutionrabbit.blogspot.com]

saw
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Joined: May 23rd, 2008, 7:32 am
Location: B'more, Maryland

Post by saw » October 26th, 2009, 3:17 am

nice romp up and down the hills of San Francisco through the collective minds that led to City Lights bookstore....and it's still there !
Ferlinghetti is still breathing last I heard...a cool time to be a poet rebel, the 50's.....I saw Hot Tuna & Jefferson Airplane for free, 70's...
in the park...ah those were the days......nice details bring this poem to life.....
If you do not change your direction
you may end up where you are heading

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revolutionrabbit
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Post by revolutionrabbit » October 26th, 2009, 4:42 am

spent many days walkin around S.F. and hanging out in City Lights books.Even read on some open mics in North Beach.Saw, music in Golden Gate park many many.

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hester_prynne
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Post by hester_prynne » October 26th, 2009, 9:47 pm

Ahhh the Ferlinghetti days......
I wonder if Rimbaud and Ferlinghetti woulda jived.....
I indeed enjoyed this walk.
H 8)
"I am a victim of society, and, an entertainer"........DW

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SadLuckDame
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Post by SadLuckDame » October 26th, 2009, 10:44 pm

Dear Rabbit, I show up with head bowed, a blushed cheek from my earlier exertions and slight impulsive nature. Though, I've heard much about Rabbits, and their easy nature, free and bouncy. Why, I bet they've forgotten me already and quickly. I'll be but a forgotten number, that makes this go more comfy on my part. I can slip on in, unnoticed and praise your exceptionally delightful piece. It brought me joy to read of Thelonious monkey and the City of Lights, then the lucky day to sit at Howl. Thanks for the good feeling in your words.
`Do you know, I was so angry, Kitty,' Alice went on...`when I saw all the mischief you had been doing, I was very nearly opening the window, and putting you out into the snow! And you'd have deserved it, you
little mischievous darling!
~Lewis Carroll

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mb
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Post by mb » October 27th, 2009, 9:43 pm

makes me long for a time machine, a bus ticket and some walking around money...

mb, who missed it all by a single decade

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revolutionrabbit
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Post by revolutionrabbit » October 27th, 2009, 10:32 pm

...it's all sort of timeless

i mean that free wheeling spirit
or free willin.

i saw Ginsberg,and Ferlinghetti, William Burroughs read,
and a lot of other beat poets and other fellow traveler poets.

saw Bobby Kaufman wandering around North Beach, my poems
on that Beatitudepoets manuscripts about that. (Craig Moore)

also my novel, about late 60's and chock full of poetic writing.

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