26 Comments

So powerful. What a ride he takes us on.

"Money buys everybody, that is why the world is fucked up

That is why politicians have seventeen faces and speechwriters

And waitresses wear lipstick

Why mediocrity rules

Why poets hang out in groups for protection"

And then the light:

"The wonder of children and salamanders and birds

Wonder is the thunder......

Wonder is the Spring rain itself..."

He was a genius.

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Jan 22Liked by Poetic Outlaws

This same poem was also published under the title Walking In Kerouac's Shadow in his Zeitgeist book, Cockymoon. Jack's poems for Kerouac, so many of them, always move in beautiful melodies. We love his work and miss his voice! Thanks Poetic Outlaws for the reminder.

https://www.zeitgeist-press.com/index.php/product-category/authors/jack-micheline/

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Ah, these lines towards the end:

The light is coming out

I'll give the sun away

It belongs to everybody

That was a welcome read. Thank you!

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“I seek the genuine leaf blowing in the wind

The real person tapping a song whose melody

flows through rivers and time

The image that dances with stars

The sun that melts anger and harassment”

~ Wonder is Thunder

Fucked up poets we be.

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wow. love this so much. "Why poets hang out in groups for protection."

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Right. Exactly. Write.

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Years ago I had two cats. Marmalade. Brother sun sister Moon. They were brother and sister to your poem. This isn't a poem. this is much more than that.

And Sam Shepard is smiling

Thanks from one poet to another man this was a great trip.

😻❣️😻❣️😻❣️

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I thought I knew a lot about Beat poets but I’m embarrassed that Micheline is new to me. What a poem! You feel like you’re in the bus beside him, the wheels in his mind turning with the wheels of the bus. I’m blown over by this--thank you so much.

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Go for men, but one inside for women. I think at this Kerouac would roll a stone and blow smoke streams, take a deep toke get a drink to think of the next line. Enjoy his conflagration of words, many train cars linked and carting me away to a beatnik, gray sweatshirt time where we all felt adrift with nihilism but just wanted to be free. A hard subject to teach these days.

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author

Indeed, Kerouac wrote the introduction to one of Micheline's books.

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Holy fuuuckin' Outlaw boots 👀

His poetry is FAR better than his writing even... I was mesmerised and then stopped halfway through because I need to go and sit under a tree, remember wtf this is all about... and then savour it word by beautifully, grittily, truthfully, heartfelt, desperate word

Thank the good lords and ladies for poetry.

And the Beat goes on!

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Wow

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I love the use of repetition here, even used to frequently it doesn't get tiring and feels fresh.

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Neal Cassidy is God…..

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❣️❣️❣️

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And just saw the writer's full name :)

Better than Jack, even. "On the Road" was a bit slow for a Pippin, tbh

#nowitmakesmoresense

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