Jack Kerouac died 36 years ago tomorrow
O Jack Jack Jack, alone and done
a sweet child, strange new soul
as it grew dark in the land of the sun.
You felt the future and saw the past
Following those lights that sped so fast
your light is beautiful, pale
sad and faint
The last hopeless, drinking, western saint.
Your life's turned to myth and lost in words
Young Bhikku of the woods who talked to birds
Oh Jack, did you stop standing on your head
in the new morning?
When you died, America bled.
You went up the mountain
and spoke to the sea
now I speak to you
because you spoke to me.
---
a sweet child, strange new soul
as it grew dark in the land of the sun.
You felt the future and saw the past
Following those lights that sped so fast
your light is beautiful, pale
sad and faint
The last hopeless, drinking, western saint.
Your life's turned to myth and lost in words
Young Bhikku of the woods who talked to birds
Oh Jack, did you stop standing on your head
in the new morning?
When you died, America bled.
You went up the mountain
and spoke to the sea
now I speak to you
because you spoke to me.
---