Kerouac: You're ruining American poetry, O'Hara. O'Hara: That's more than you ever did for it, Kerouac

But it is good to be several floors up in the dead of night wondering whether you are any good or not and the only decision you can make is that you did it.

There is a geography which holds its hands just so far from the breast and pushes you away, crying so.

Poem (Lana Turner has collapsed!) Lana Turner has collapsed! I was trotting along and suddenly it started raining and snowing and you said it was hailing but hailing hits you on the head hard so it was really snowing and raining and I was in such a hurry to meet you but the traffic was acting exactly like the sky and suddenly I see a headline LANA TURNER HAS COLLAPSED! there is no snow in Hollywood there is no rain in California I have been to lots of parties and acted perfectly disgraceful but I never actually collapsed oh Lana Turner we love you get up

oh god it’s wonderful to get out of bed and drink too much coffee and smoke too many cigarettes and love you so much

I have been to lots of parties and acted perfectly disgraceful but I never actually collapsed oh Lana Turner we love you get up

and I have mastered the speed and strength which is the armor of the world.