Something Amazing Just Happened

S

for Jim Carroll, on his birthday

A lovely body gracefully is nodding
Out of a blue Buffalo
Monday morning
curls
softly rising color the air
it’s yellow
above the black plane
beneath a red tensor

I’ve been dreaming. The telephone kept ringing & ringing
Clear & direct, purposeful yet pleasant, still taking pleasure
in bringing the good news, a young man in horn-rims’ voice
is speaking
while I listen. Mr. Berrigan, he says, & without waiting for an answer
goes on,
I’m happy to be able to inform you that your request for
a Guggenheim Foundation Grant
Has been favorably received by the committee, & approved. When
would you like to leave?

Uh, not just yet, I said, uh, what exactly did I say with regards to
leaving, in my application … I’m a little hazy at the moment.

Yes. Your project, as outlined in your application for a grant for the
purpose
of giving Jim Carroll the best possible birthday present you could get
him, through our Foundation, actually left the project, that is,
how the monies
would be spent, up to us. You indicated, wisely, I think, that we knew
more about what kind of project we would approve than you did,
so we should
make one up for you, since all you wanted was money, to buy Jim a
birthday gift.

Aha! I said. So, what’s up?

We have arranged for you and Jim to spend a year in London, in a
flat off of King’s Row.
You will receive 250 pounds a month expenses, all travel expenses
paid, & a clothing allowance of 25 pounds each per month.
During the year,
At your leisure, you might send us from time to time copies of your
London works. By year’s end I’m sure you each will have enough
new poems for two books,
Which we would then publish in a deluxe boxed hardcover edition,
for the rights to which we shall be prepared to pay a considerable
sum, as is your due.
We feel that this inspired project will most surely result in The first
major boxed set of works since Tom Sawyer & Huckleberry
Finn! Innocents Abroad
in reverse, so to speak! We know your poems, yours & Jim’s, will tell it
like it is, & that is what we are desperate to know! So, when
would you like to leave?
Immediately, I shouted! & Jim! I called, Jim! Happy Birthday! Wake up!
203
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