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

[Bob Grumman]

Michael Snider wrote:
> I want to be X J Kennedy when I grow up. I've loved his poems for
> years - "First Confession" ends
>
> Where Sunday in seraphic light
> I knelt, as full of grace as most,
> And stuck my tongue out at the priest:
> A fresh roost for the Holy Ghost.
>
>
>
> That's after bribing his girl to pee, "That I might spy her instruments."
>   

Yeah, he's done some dandies.  Corrected version of his poem below (I 
stuck my signature in the wrong place:
>> 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!"
>>
>> I vowed to make my work intensely sober.
>>
>>     
--Bob