While it is Kerouac’s prose that made him a household name, it his poetry that shows off his shamanistic ability with language; where the man’s words really POP! And finally, you can get it all in one hit! Jack Kerouac: Collected Poems was released in October this year, bringing together his major works, Mexico City Blues, The Scripture of the Golden Eternity, Book of Blues , Pomes All Sizes, Old Angel Midnight, Desolation Pops, Book of Haikus as well as his previously uncollected poems.
This is extraordinarily exciting for two reasons… with the uncollected poems comes a new Kerouac discovery and I have never heard of ‘Desolation Pops’ (if anyone can give me any information, I would be forever grateful) and just the name has me wanting a hit of his sharp-witted inventiveness.
So tonight, it is off to listen to Jack’s voice crackle off the vinyl of Jack Kerouac: The Complete Recorded Works.
But if you don’t have any of Jack’s recordings, never fear… There is a generous selection of Jack’s readings to be found here.
It’s Friday night, what better way to let in the light than with a glass of something nice and the jazz rhythms of Kerouac.