Gregory Corso

I am 25

 

With a love a madness for Shelley

Chatterton Rimbaud

and the needy-yap of my youth

has gone from ear to ear:

I HATE OLD POETMEN!

Especially old poetmen who retract

who consult other old poetmen

who speak their youth in whispers,

saying:–I did those then

but that was then

that was then–

O I would quiet old men

say to them:–I am your friend

what you once were, thru me

you’ll be again–

Then at night in the confidence of their homes

rip out their apology-tongues

and steal their poems.