Room 23

By John Shandler

This is the manifesto of the next Bukowski, although he does not like the late poet. He wants you and about a million more people to read this. In this two-part epic poem, John Shandler explicates the meaning of life, religion, sex and baseball. Spoiler alert, there's a big block of Jell-O in heaven awaiting all of us, including Cosby.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jun 24, 2017
• ISBN: 9781387049608

Book preview

Room 23

Room 23

By

John Shandler

This book is dedicated to

Jason Hoover, Lao Tzu

And the Palestine Liberation Army

1)

A)

The revolution took fire from

Inflammable material.

These two come paired but distinct

By their names.

Those who are bound by desire,

A single day strews in ruins

All that was raised.

Counsel in the spirit

To keep alive the maxim

Of mutual dependence.

I am a living member of the whole.

*

B)

You can feel assured on my score

Of this:

I shall not be afraid when the last hour comes.

Christ is a broke bum in the sky,

Halleluiah.

Merely desiring freedom would never release

A man who was confined in prison if it were

Not sufficiently strong to cause him to do

Something to entitle himself to freedom.

These are the steps leading from desire

To fulfillment:

First the burning desire,

Then the crystallization of that desire.

But I also think that certain styles are suitable

In greater or lesser degrees to certain nationalities.

No soul is willing to be robbed of truth,

But in reference to liberty,

It is wisdom to know others.

I)

From first to last, our faculty of thinking

Is limited by our command of speech.

Then I listened across the street and a wild man

Hollered out Listen people! I know.

Hearts are very awkward parts.

It is wisdom to know others,

It is enlightenment to know yourself.

With the last of his strength

He managed to stagger along.

Upon the whole, there can be no room to doubt.

*

C)

The cry for freedom rings loudly all around.

You have a brain, you may or may not

Have a mind.

Every event happens in such a way

That your nature can either support it

Or it cannot.

If your nature can support it,

Do not complain but support it,

As it is your nature to do.