Corso and Cairo x I never knew he was brought up in care. I just finished listening to Kuper Island podcast - different, but the right day to learn this.
I remember hearing him read and teach and I remember him heckling at poetry readings (maybe the only time I heard that happen, but it was all in service to his passion and, if I recall, it was one of his friends). My sense, without actually knowing him, is that people loved his heart and they wanted to take care of him. I loved the poem you read and definitely want to read more of this book.
"Poetry, the highest form of literature, influences us because it shows different shades of human beings. In fact, poetry is one of the most ancient arts and also the product of human imagination. It expresses different feelings such as friendship, love, death and other human emotions."
Beautiful and so interesting to hear on his behalf from you who knew and loved him! Loved the poem and history. Have had friends and family who did time, still near and dear to me. My mother the social worker and activist had me go with a little girl to visit her father in prison I was in third grade (minimum security although I have been to maximum security prison as visitor as well). As a child I learned everyone has an important story to tell and I have an interest in criminal justice reform as a result. Thank you!
I began reading the beat poets including Gregory in the mid-1970's. I feel he was the most viscerally honest of the Beat poets. The closest I got physically to any of the Beats was when I was moving fast through the National Portrait Gallery gift shop in 1996 came around a shelf and stopped before I did a face plant into the back of Allen Ginsberg's head. I was at the "Rebels, Painters and Poets of the 1950's" exhibition.
Your post on Gregory Corso was truly a fine one. I had not previously heard of him and your post and poem recital caused me to look and research. His experiences, huge circle of literary friends and in that as a true artist, his life was seemingly driven from a deep fire from within moved me. Listening to you from the days of Horses, through Just Kids, a later book and in your Substack efforts gives me a glimpse of a direction in life that, to be honest, is foreign to rational, routine loving me, but expands my horizons and helps grow and extend my self imposed limitations. Your mind moves light years beyond mine and I am thankful that you continue to share. Thank you and be well Patti.
After reading "Marriage" I was never the same. Then "Bomb" felt like electricity. A few years ago, I visited Gregory's grave in Rome; he is buried next to his beloved Shelley. It was almost a religious experience for me. Thank you Patti, I will definitely get this essential book.
A poem for you
Friend
Friends be kept
Friends be gained
And even friends lost be friends regained
He had no foes he made them all into friends
A friend will die for you
Acquaintances can never make friends
Some friends want to be everybody's friend
There are friends who take you away from friends
Friends believe in friendship with a vengeance!
Some friends always want to do you favors
Some always want to get NEAR you
You can't do this to me I'm your FRIEND
My friends said FDR
Let's be friends says the USSR
Old Scrooge knew a joy in a friendless Christmas
Leopold and Loeb planning in the night!
Et tu Brute
I have many friends yet sometimes I am nobody's friend
The majority of friends are male
Girls always prefer male friends
Friends know when you're troubled
It's what they crave for!
The bonds of friendship are not inseparable
Those who haven't any friends and want some are often creepy
Those who have friends and don't want them are doomed
Those who haven't any friends and don't want any are grand
Those who have friends and want them seem sadly human
Sometimes I scream Friends are bondage! A madness!
All a waste of INDIVIDUAL time --
Without friends life would be different not miserable
does one need a friend in heaven --
Gregory Corso
Corso and Cairo x I never knew he was brought up in care. I just finished listening to Kuper Island podcast - different, but the right day to learn this.
I own ‘Gasoline’ by Corso! I love the Beats!
I remember hearing him read and teach and I remember him heckling at poetry readings (maybe the only time I heard that happen, but it was all in service to his passion and, if I recall, it was one of his friends). My sense, without actually knowing him, is that people loved his heart and they wanted to take care of him. I loved the poem you read and definitely want to read more of this book.
"Poetry, the highest form of literature, influences us because it shows different shades of human beings. In fact, poetry is one of the most ancient arts and also the product of human imagination. It expresses different feelings such as friendship, love, death and other human emotions."
Poetry led me to you
Poetry is a warm smile on a cold day
Poetry reminds me to be me
x
Hello Patti,
If you are in the Tribeca area there are some fantastic photographs of Jimi Hendrix taken by my friend Steve Hiett in The Window Exhibition.
Think you will enjoy them.
The photographs will be up until tomorrow night.
Have a great day!
Patti thank you .. can't wait get my hands on this and read it !!!
Beautiful and so interesting to hear on his behalf from you who knew and loved him! Loved the poem and history. Have had friends and family who did time, still near and dear to me. My mother the social worker and activist had me go with a little girl to visit her father in prison I was in third grade (minimum security although I have been to maximum security prison as visitor as well). As a child I learned everyone has an important story to tell and I have an interest in criminal justice reform as a result. Thank you!
I began reading the beat poets including Gregory in the mid-1970's. I feel he was the most viscerally honest of the Beat poets. The closest I got physically to any of the Beats was when I was moving fast through the National Portrait Gallery gift shop in 1996 came around a shelf and stopped before I did a face plant into the back of Allen Ginsberg's head. I was at the "Rebels, Painters and Poets of the 1950's" exhibition.
Your post on Gregory Corso was truly a fine one. I had not previously heard of him and your post and poem recital caused me to look and research. His experiences, huge circle of literary friends and in that as a true artist, his life was seemingly driven from a deep fire from within moved me. Listening to you from the days of Horses, through Just Kids, a later book and in your Substack efforts gives me a glimpse of a direction in life that, to be honest, is foreign to rational, routine loving me, but expands my horizons and helps grow and extend my self imposed limitations. Your mind moves light years beyond mine and I am thankful that you continue to share. Thank you and be well Patti.
Cairo did not choose violence today
I came here inspired to write my 2nd poem ever...was going to actually try freestyle...thoughts in head but not written down. A romantic one at that.
But Energy beyond dme put these words in my mouth instead....It's short..
He Carrie's World Peace on His Shoulders and waits...
He Waits...He Waits...
He waits for What?
He Waits for the Cutie Pie to show her hand!!.
From the uneducated fool who thinks he's funny....lmao...
It almost seems like Cairo may want her own Substack account. Gregory's poem is wonderful. Thank you.
After reading "Marriage" I was never the same. Then "Bomb" felt like electricity. A few years ago, I visited Gregory's grave in Rome; he is buried next to his beloved Shelley. It was almost a religious experience for me. Thank you Patti, I will definitely get this essential book.
no commercial is as authentic and heartfelt as that! you are doing a poet's duty spreading his words, and I bow down. thank you, Patti!