Poulin and Friends

 

Poulin and Friends

 

 

some old crumpled anthology

led me to my own words,

the Beats beating my heart faster

 

i was of sound mind in 1968

and then in 1986 i read "Howl"

"Sunday at the State Hospital"

and the sandwich i was eating

hung suspended near my mouth

 

it was agape with reverence

these so-called ravagers of real poetry

(the kind that has perfect meter,

intricate rhyme schemes

and iambic something)

 

these ridiculous anarchists against the poetic perfection

(so called) handed down from Wordsworth and others

those who conformed to form

forming five beats per line

that these new Beats train wrecked

with their reckless abandon

and blank verse minds

 

i thank them....

i wouldn't have been born without them

that womb has drifting keys

strangely abstract composure

an umbilical cord of expression

 

free to leave the arms of the mother

free to slam old doors 

and walk through new ones

more astute,

strutting our stuff,

 

without the shirt and tie

constraints

that used to call our bluff

and scare us into following

suit.

 

 

 

 

erin-cilberto

8/10/17

Reviews

[andrew mitchell]

Yes Jacob how poetry came of age, a certain evolution of freedom from restraints much like the new wave of music of the sixties started by the beatles and the likes that sent shivers down the backbone of the establishments lol. Great poem!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you....yes, my first modern American poetry class....Poulin anthology...the Beats....they got me started....
j.

[andrew mitchell]

i meant to say revolution!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

hey "evolution" fits nearly as well....

[Ken Simm.]

It is a real treat this homage. Unusual to see a poem of such length for you Jacob. But the shades and the tones you have put in this. Its quality beggars belief.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind review, Ken,
j.

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

Homage to "the Beats"- gods of an age past and present...beautifully, autobiographically composed literal and poetic coming of age...idealogical epiphany and liberation -"free to leave the arms of the mother..free to slam old doors..and walk through new ones"- you brilliantly did my friend! " I thank them" for inspiring you...

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your very kind words, Annette.
j.

[apennylate]

No words... You continually spout brilliance with the ease of easy-cheese... I can not even...

*i wouldn't have been born without them
that womb has drifting keys
strangely abstract composure
an umbilical cord of expression*

Enough said...

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind review, Silente.
j.

[apennylate]

Absolutely... Thank you for the lessons in word use, heh...

[Jimmy Yetts]

Brilliant last stanza.
Both the Beats and you prove this simple assertion: Passionate poetry is compelling.
Inspiring read!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your words, Jimmy.
j.