[New-Poetry] A. J. Kennedy Poem in Free Lunch

[Bob Grumman]

I've been getting copies of Free Lunch for years.  It's a magazine going 
out free to anyone editor Ron Offen considers a serious poet, which 
could be anyone since it includes me.  The latest issue includes quite a 
few pretty good poems, many from name poets like Dick Allen, Billy 
Collins, David Wagoner, Ron Koertge, Lyn Lifshin and X. J. Kennedy.  
Whether you like their poems or not, seems to me they should be 
commended for contributing to /Free Lunch./

Kennedy's poem, though conventional (as are all the poems in /Free 
Lunch/), is right up my alley.  I quote it as a follow-up to Sam's 
hilarious two bad poems.

ADVICE FROM A PRO

"In poetry it's gravity
Knocks 'em dead," said Mimi Kavity
In the Kaiserplatz Cafe
As the waiter ran out
To fetch more Guinness stout.
"Take my /Rehearsal of Cormorants/,
Been good for five grants.
You screwed up bad, you dork,"
(Stabbing with fork
Her truffle salad)
"Writing that silly ballad.
These are serious days
And it's seriousness that pays.
Now there's my 'Abortion
In the Deep Freeze'--
Has a marvelous start:
'Hunched in your plastic bag,
You have my eyes, I see.'
Jeez Christmas now, that's art.
Be important.  Speak
To Everyslob.  Technique
Went out with Tennyson.  Why polish?
That's artsy-fartsy.  Keep it rough,
Keep telling how it's tough
To be human.  And screw rhyme.
Who's got time?
Whatever you do
No epigrams, no
Light stuff.  Plenty of sensual words
Like blood, shit, tits, turds.
Throw in heavy themes
And write, write, write reams.
The future can figure out which
To keep or ditch."
She gave a shout,
"Herr Ober!
Where's that fucking stout!"

--Bob

I vowed to make my work intensely sober.


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