one can sense a touch of e.e. cummings in the following ferlinghetti piece and the innocence of the song is a welcome variation from some of the Beats more indulgent themes


From 'A Coney Island of the Mind'

Number 20

by Lawrence Ferlinghetti

       The pennycandystore beyond the El

       is where I first

                       fell in love

                                   with unreality

       Jellybeans glowed in the semi-gloom

       of that september afternoon

       A cat upon the counter moved among

                                 the licorice sticks

                      and tootsie rolls

              and Oh Boy Gum

 

       Outside the leaves were falling as they died

 

       A wind had blown away the sun

 

       A girl ran in

       Her hair was rainy

       Her breasts were breathless in the little room

 

       Outside the leaves were falling

                            and they cried

                                         Too soon!  too soon!