Diaversity

By Bob Dougherty

(a lyrical cento)
(lines from Dickinson, Whitman, Williams, Stein, Kerouac and O’Hara)
(to the tune, You Can Call Me Al)

The brain within its groove
I celebrate myself and sing myself
the spreading wide my narrow hands
trippers and askers surround me
runs evenly and true and impregnable of eye
creeds and schools in abeyance
I dwell in possibility
linguists and contenders
possibility possibility
urge and urge and urge
superior for doors
but they are not the Me myself
the truth must dazzle gradually
Kunuck Tuckahoe Congressman Cuff I give them the same

If you’re Dickinsonian
I can be Whitmanian
I’ll call you Emily
and Emily you call me
you call me Walt then

The difference is spreading
forgive me they were delicious so sweet
sugar is not a vegetable
waving my shirt around my head
what is the wind what is it
besides the white chickens
a pink is scarlet
red wheel barrow glazed with rain
in front not more in front
pieces of a green bottle
a starglide a single frantic sullenness
I am lonely lonely
a light white a disgrace an ink spot
and the sun is a flame white disc

If you are a Steinian
I can be Williamsian
I’ll call you Gertrude
and Gertrude well if you would
you call me Will then

Blow as deep as you want
three days after Bastille Day
be in love with your life
I walk up the muggy street
drum hum of lum mum afternoon
I just stroll into PARK LANE
the people the alley
everyone and I stopped breathing
breathing
you’re a genius all the time
it started raining and snowing
accept loss forever
oh Lana Turner we love you get up
scatalogical buildup
there is no rain in California

If you’re Kerouacian
I can be O’Haraian
I can call you Jack
and Jack when you call me back
you call me Frank then