When I was a poet (After David Meltzer)

When I was a poet

I thought I was accepted

But ended up rejected.

When I was a poet

I thought I had it all

But discovered I had nothing.

When I was a poet

I sought inspiration on the streets

Of my disappearing city.

When I was a poet

Cheap cord jacket and checked shirt

Were my uniform.

When I was a poet

I watched the world from my garret

A disorderly tenement visionary.

When I was a poet

I contemplated Dolphy's shriekback bass clarinet

Drank cider and scribbled incoherently.

When I was a poet

I plugged into the heart of the electric city

Only to find the beat growing weaker.

When I was a poet

I drank to excess from the Fountain of Words

with the occasional beer and whisky.

When I was a poet

I painted the city in words

In artistic chapbook collections.

When I was a poet

I worked better on the page

Than ranting on the stage!

( A piece I wrote a few years ago for an open mic called 'Demented Eloquence' in Aberdeen, my attempt at Beat poetry)