I was in the next-to-the-last-place I wanted to be – Vietnam being the last place – and I had a poster of Allen Ginsberg on my wall. He’s holding a sign – Make Love, Not War. I was thinking about “Howl.” And for some reason, I never got promoted.
Squawk, Squawk!!
Swooping o’er his turf
golden eagle of death
haps’ upon a Hefner vision.
Yeah, man! Squawk, squawk!!
Should we stand and fight
for Carrie Nation mothers
or should we pay the villains’ piggy-bank allowance?
Should we read Guidepost
or meeting minutes from the Black Muslim ecumenical council
or should we ogle Lady Bird centerfolds?
Yeah, man! Squawk, squawk!!
Have no fear, gilded cage beauties
for Johnny Weissmuller and/or Charles Atlas live
in Christian hearts: evil types,
naked women try to undo everything
our mothers strove and die
in loins of men’s minds.
Yeah, man! Squawk, squawk!!
Hof, Germany. 1968.
