Jack Kerouac

Beethoven  carry out his last symphony while entirely deaf


1            his paintings would not be as valuable
2            now  if he hadn't
4            sliced off his ear
5            worn that rag around his head

         and then done it to himself among the cornstalks.


8            and would that one's poems be so famous if he hadn't
10          faded at 19, given it all up to
12          go gun running and gold hunting in Africa only to die of syphilis?


15          what about the one who was murdered in the road
17          by Spanish fascists?
18          did that give his words more
20          meaning?


21          or take the one who was a national hero
23          those iceberg symphonies soaring cutting that particular sky
25          in half
26          he had it all working for him then he got worried about old age
28          saved his head


29          went into his house
30          vanished and was never seen again.


32          such strange behavior, didn't somebody once say?


34          that the man should be as durable as his
35          art, that's what they want, they want the
36          impossible: creation and creator to be as one. this is the dirty


trick of the ages.