The Collected Poems of Ted Berrigan (34 page)
Read The Collected Poems of Ted Berrigan Online
Authors: Alice Notley
& That Joe Brainard!!
He likes the boring Supremes!
Why doesn’t he be great,
like de Kooning?
Why doesn’t he button
that shirt?
Cook?
Be poor again & do great
Masterpieces?
Stop Tom-catting
around?
He makes everyone Nervous!!
He dresses funny!!
His apartment is weird!!
He’s compulsive!
Skinny!
Takes pills too
much!!
Talks to himself!
Solipsist!
Wants to have all the
fun!
Doesn’t like kids!!
Mean to his Mother!
Mean to his lovers!
Cynical!!
Stutters!!
Never comes to visit!!
Doesn’t like us
anymore.
An opportunist!!
Should get married!
Should do big oil paintings!!
Get Serious!!
Talk more!! Talk less!!
Tell the truth!!
Know the truth!!
Be perfect!!
God damn it!!
& the Train continues in the night. . . .
black outside
high inside.
What energy!
What a dumb book.
Glad I’ll never have to read
it.
Hope it gets a rise out of
SOMEBODY
!
Train blows whistle
when approaching
Station.
Didn’t get to Fuck
on it.
Did eat a terrible
hamburger:
$1.75
& drink
a pepsi: .35
_____
Total $2.20
Plus tip: .50
$4.00 is about to get off
of a Train,
into a cab.
Taxi Fare will be:
$3.50 & tip: .50
But I have hidden resources:
95 cents
__________
You are my hidden resources!
You live in my world
at the other end of the train.