Kerouac and the Cross

Joe Wilkins

boozed up beatnik king beat downcan't drink, can't sex, can't sleep no morepoor spirit ain't beat, it's chomped hard chewed up & spit outangry big sur waves pound beaten rockscrash and pounddt's & mad ocean sounds smash & clatter all arounddevils prancing, dancing, squealing here now theremind ripped across, half-tornbutchered heart beats fast & hard & loudsuddenly, BAM, whole wide world twist-shattersmind & heart, together rip right downgravel coughed yell crunches the maddening night sounds... gone spirit heart mind & devil sounds...beaten dead eyes stare& see the Crossrough & wooden and silent, it fills the airit stays, stays right therepoor spirit shakes, surges UPbusted heart jumps, quakes, and thumps UPragged mind catches, grabs, holds onwild night sounds & devil dances begin againthe Cross, rough and wooden and silent, still stayspoor silent beat prayers drift up into the midnight dinmoonlight-rainbow spray leaps up as big sur waves poundcrash and pound