Bob Kaufman’s Abomunist Manifesto

A couple of places read, seventy years later, as problematic, but overall the work holds up surprisingly well and remains sadly relevant.

Some links of potential interest:

• The scan of the first City Lights edition

• A PDF of a reset edition (with at least one typo).

• The Academy of American Poets’ page for the opening statement/poem.

• ModPo discussion (Al Filreis with Ken Taylor and Sophia DuRose).

Poeta Nascitur Sed Fit

A "new" poem of mine appears in NYQ 66. Definitely a personal record for time between acceptance and publication. This one was accepted by the late William Packard in the summer of 2000, so it's been a full 10 years. The poem stands out for me mostly because it was one of the few I wrote in the winter of 1999–2000. It's more fun than usual seeing this one in print, seeing it now at 37, a poem I wrote at 26 about where I was at 19. And it's a nice issue, with the placement I prefer: very near the end. Yep, pretty neat, pretty neat.

Dust be fine

Dust be fine.	Line be swift.
Death be wine.	Catch be drift.
Much be made.	Naught be now.
Touch be swayed.	Kiss be growl.
Swear by God.	Tear by swing.
Soul be sod.	Sweat be sing.
Grit be clear.	Bird be kind.
Grow by fear.	Be by mind.
Tame be time.	Tune be high.
Come be mime.	Tell be lie.
Go be swan.	Greet be gone.
Night be dawn.	Great be gone.