Jack Kerouac

1. Biography Collected Works Sample Poems Inspired Poems Jack Kerouac Original Poems Presentation by Nolan Clark Bibliography

2. Biography Biography The Life and Times of the Unforgettable Jack Kerouac “The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles” (Biography.com 3). Jack Kerouac, the speaker of this quote, was a mad man who lived his life as fast as he scribbled down his poems. He began his non-stop roller coaster of a life on March 12, 1922 in Lowell, Massachusetts. Jack was not his original name though, rather Jean-Louis Lebris de Kerouac. Being that he was of French-Canadian decent, he was raised with traditional Catholic morals and did not speak English until year 5 of his life (Encyclopedia of World Biography 1). He instead spoke a local dialect in which French and English were combined into one, called Joual. All did not go well in Kerouac’s childhood. He suffered major heartbreak when his older brother Gerard died at the age of 9 from rheumatic fever. Soon after, his father, a well-known small businessman and printer, began undergoing financial difficulties. He turned to gambling and alcoholism in a bout of hopelessness, possibly explaining his son’s year’s of depression to come (Asher 1). Despite these troubles, Kerouac kept interest in football and literature. He was a star player in high school and even began writing fictional novels of horse races, football, and baseball games by age 11. Though by far the most influence Kerouac received in his lifetime was from traveling. He wrote stories of his adventures in WWII, traveling all throughout America, and hanging out in New York City, which became his home for most of his short-lived life. Through these times he developed severe alcoholism and suffered a nervous breakdown. He died of mass stomach bleeding on October 21, 1969 at age 47 (Encyclopedia of World Biography 2). Collected Works Sample Poems Inspired Poems Original Poems Bibliography

3. Biography (cont) Biography Kerouac received a full-ride football scholarship to Columbia University in New York City. However, he broke his leg the 2nd game of the season giving him time to pursue his number one passion: literature. He began cutting class and studying the style of Thomas Wolfe. After an argument with the football coach in 1941, Kerouac left school for good (Encyclopedia of World Biography 2). He began meeting new people such as Allen Ginsberg, William Burroughs, Gary Snyder, and Neal Cassady, who probably was the most influential character in Kerouac’s life. After embarking on a several-year-long, cross-country adventure with Cassady, Kerouac attempted to write a story of it to no avail. He could not find the correct style in which to write and quit trying altogether in a fit of frustration. Within 5 years after giving up, Cassady inspired Kerouac by sending him letters of encouragement in the mail. Kerouac enjoyed Cassady’s style, described as a “rush of mad ecstasy, without self-consciousness or mental hesitation,” and decided to give his book another swing using this newly acquired style of “unpretentious, spontaneous prose” (Essortment.com 2). The result was a book titled On the Road and was an instant success, being written in a mere few weeks on a 120 foot long piece of paper. It was, quite simply, a hardly fictionalized account of the many road trips taken by Kerouac and Cassady, packed full of sex, jazz, and drugs (Biography.com 1). The Town and City was Kerouac’s first novel which did not make him famous, but got his name into the ears of the underground poetry scene nonetheless. Instant underground fame did not take to Kerouac well. He felt the need to live up to his On the Road image which was the beginning of a severe drinking problem, in turn aging him prematurely. His passion never wavered though, for he wrote as he lived, and he lived as he wrote (Asher 3). Collected Works Sample Poems Inspired Poems Original Poems Bibliography

4. Biography (cont) Biography Jack Kerouac and his poet friends were the founders of the Beat movement in the 1940’s. The Beats wrote in a “drug-induced stream of consciousness” and believed that if they altered or edited their poems, they would heavily dilute the spontaneous effect in which they craved (Essortment.com 2). Kerouac thus began experimenting with more natural forms of writing where he would not stop to edit, falsify, or even think; a style which he borrowed off his friend Cassady. Though the Beat generation was indeed a fad, Kerouac knew his work was not, a fact which justifyed his overwhelmingly hurt feelings when critics would ridicule his work, saying they could not take such a style seriously. His unhappiness was displayed plainly in his work, furthering the critics’ inability to take this man’s work seriously (Asher 2). Kerouac’s belief was, “with movement comes wisdom and meaning;” a statement proved true by the short, quick stanzas of his works. Though short and quick they may have been, that did not take away from their power; it simply meant he was able to squeeze the concentration of the writings down even more so than the average poet. As a spokesperson for the Beat Generation, he was adorned by all young people of the 1950’s and ‘60’s; showing up drunk in public, and turning interviews into arguments (Encyclopedia of World Biography 3). It has been over 4 decades since the death of Jack Kerouac, yet he still manages to capture the imagination of the rebellious and standoffish youth of even today. Easily one of America’s most enduring novels ever written, On the Road continues to inspire today’s “hipsters” with the same power and clarity it delivered back in 1957 (Biography.com 3). Collected Works Sample Poems Inspired Poems Original Poems Bibliography

5. Collected Works Biography • On the Road • The Subterraneans • The Dharma Bums • Doctor Sax • Maggie Cassidy • Mexico City Blues • Book of Dreams • Tristessa • Visions of Cody • The Scripture of the Golden Eternity • Lonesome Traveler • Pull My Daisy • Big Sur • The Town and the City • Visions of Gerard • Desolation Angels • Satori in Paris • Vanity of Duluoz • Scattered Poems • Old Angel Midnight • Trip Trap • Heaven & Other Poems • San Francisco Blues • Pomes All Sizes • Good Blonde and Others • Book of Blues 1995 • Some of the Dharma • Atop an Underwood • Orpheus Emerged Collected Works Sample Poems Inspired Poems Original Poems Bibliography

6. Sample Poem Biography Bus East Society has good intentions Bureaucracy is like a friend 5 years ago - other furies other losses - America's trying to control the uncontrollable Forest fires, Vice The essential smile In the essential sleep Of the children Of the essential mind I'm all thru playing the American Now I'm going to live a good quiet life The world should be built for foot walkers Oily rivers Of spineyNevady I am Jake Cake Rake Write like Blake The horse is not pleased Sight of his gorgeous finery in the dust Its silken nostrils did disgust Collected Works Sample Poems Inspired Poems Original Poems Bibliography

7. Sample Poem (cont) Biography Cats arent kind Kiddies anent sweet April in Nevada - Investigating Dismal Cheyenne Where the war parties In fields of straw Aimed over oxen At Indian Chiefs In wild headdress Pouring thru the gap In Wyoming plain To make the settlers Eat more dust than dust was eaten In the States From East at Seacoast Where wagons made up To dreadful Plains Of clazervup Saltry settlers Collected Works Sample Poems Inspired Poems Original Poems Bibliography

8. Analysis Biography A great, memorable poem about Jack Kerouac’s many travels is “Bus East” in which he uses a few different minor poetic elements such as the pun and assonance but mostly just uses a free verse style. The main theme of this poem is living the “simple life.” Kerouac believes society has good intentions, but America is simply trying to control things it has no control over. “Society has good intentions Bureaucracy is like a friend/ 5 years ago – other furies other losses -/ America’s/ trying to control the uncontrollable Forest fires, Vice.” America is having no avail with its attempts, and is getting out of hand with its actions. They have fought the Native Americans out of their land and thus have eaten “more dust than dust.” He wants to settle down and live a simple life, possibly in the expansive plains of Wyoming. “I’m/ all thru playing the American/ Now I’m going to live a good quiet life/ The/ world should be built for foot walkers.” Traveling by foot simplifies much of life while complicating it at the same time, but Kerouac is more so talking about walking, feeling, exploring, and appreciating nature for all its natural glory. An example is given when he speaks of a horse and how his master does not appreciate the majestic beauty of it, “The/ horse is not pleased Sight of his/ gorgeous finery/ in the dust Its silken/ nostrils/ did disgust.” A few of the more comedic lines include “I/ am Jake Cake/ Rake/ Write like Blake” and “Cats/ aren’t kind Kiddies aren’t sweet” where he explores using some assonance and fiddles with a play on words between Kitties and Kiddies. He must not enjoy cats or children, one is bound to assume. These two tidbits help to keep the poem upbeat and not drag onward as a pulling of teeth would. Kerouac remains true to his reputation as the leader of the Beat Generation when he wraps up the poem with… well, it is there on the end of the previous page if one desires to reread it, for “The Man” is censoring it from being quoted on this page. Collected Works Sample Poems Inspired Poems Original Poems Bibliography

9. Sample Poem Biography Although I’m not exactly a man of Buddha, I do believe this poem to speak the truth. People who are not good to others or themselves throughout their lives have the same coming right back in their faces sometime in their lives. On the other hand, men who perform good deeds will have karma “Of dove.” I enjoy this poem because no matter what world views anyone has, they can surely agree with what is being stated in this work. 2nd Chorus Mexico City Blues by Jack Kerouac Man in the MiddleIs not WorriedHe knows his KarmaIs not buriedBut his Karma,Unknown to him,May end -Which is NirvanaWild MenWho KillHave KarmasOf illGood Men Who LoveHave KarmasOf doveSnakes are Poor Denizens of HellHave come surreptitioningThrough the tall grassTo face the pool of clear frogs Collected Works Sample Poems Inspired Poems Original Poems Bibliography

10. Sample Poem Biography This is a very interesting poem. It genuinely shows Kerouac’s style of “on the road” genre poetry. It sounds like he is giving himself a self-evaluation as to why he isn’t getting picked up by any cars while he is hitchhiking to California. Then it hits him (using the onomatopoeia Boom): it is his unappealing rain jacket that is fending off any possible drivers. He even goes as far as predicting what people are saying about him as they drive past him. Pinpoint comparisons are made as well when talking about his image. Hitchhikerby Jack Kerouac 'Tryna get to sunny Californy' -Boom. It's the awful raincoatmaking me look like a selfdefeated self-murdering imaginary gangster, an idiot in a rueful coat, how can they understand my damp packs - my mud packs -“Look John, a hitchhiker'“He looks like he's got a gun underneath that I. R. A. coat''Look Fred, that man by the road' “Some sexfiend got in print in 1938 in Sex Magazine' –“You found his blue corpse in a greenshade edition, with axe blots' Collected Works Sample Poems Inspired Poems Original Poems Bibliography

11. En Vain by Nolan Clark,Inspired by In Vain by Jack Kerouac The stars in your eyes In vain The tragedy of Hamlet, starring Mel Gibson In vain The password in the type box In vain The working father In vain The car in the garage In vain The car in the garage plugged-in In vain Nelson Mandela In vain The United States of America In vain The typing hand: In vain (The Smurfs in the mushrooms In vain The scrollbar up the side of a webpage In vain- The shine of the blueglass bottle In vain The rabbit in the field In vain The life of Muhammad In vain) Biography Collected Works Sample Poems Inspired Poems Original Poems Bibliography

12. The Nightly Routine by Nolan Clark, Inspired by How to Meditate by Jack Kerouac • -lights out- • Fall, arms a-wide, into immediate • satisfaction like a pat on the back or high-five, • the eyelids closing, • the brain shutting down as • I relax every muscle – letting go • of all troubles brought on by the day- • getting rid of – throwing out – • not even a ‘I-need-to’ or an • outlandish thought in sight, for the mind is left • tranquil, filled with emptiness, gone. Any thought • attempts prying open the gates with • its shifty, insidious manners • security is called to banish, • boof, muff, poof it away. • And away it goes, never turning back • to see what could’ve been. • Oh so fresh, the first realization checkpoint is reached: • Thoughtless thoughts are not thoughts in the slightest • they are merely • restraints • of serenity Biography How to Meditate by Jack Kerouac -lights out- fall, hands a-clasped, into instantaneous ecstasy like a shot of heroin or morphine, the gland inside of my brain discharging the good glad fluid (Holy Fluid) as i hap-down and hold all my body parts down to a deadstop trance-Healing all my sicknesses-erasing all-not even the shred of a 'I-hope-you' or a Loony Balloon left in it, but the mind blank, serene, thoughtless. When a thought comes a-springing from afar with its held- forth figure of image, you spoof it out, you spuff it off, you fake it, and it fades, and thought never comes-and with joy you realize for the first time 'thinking's just like not thinking- So I don't have to think any more Collected Works Sample Poems Inspired Poems Original Poems Bibliography

13. Original work Biography The Mysterious Beaut of a Precious Resource byNolan Clark The sea roars as a chorus; raining, flailing… The tide flings itself mournfully into the deep Forever it is intense, a never-ending wild. A craving for deluge reconciles with a narrow frolic, With romantic leisure, eclipsing stony streams. Quantities of coldness warshing all about, yet Burning deeply, unknowingly falling into a fragile sleep. All who witness are lulled ‘til hearts Murmur softly, lungs vacuuming steadily. Very neat indeed, Though never to be tamed, ‘tis Magnificent. Collected Works Sample Poems Inspired Poems Original Poems Bibliography

14. Original work Biography Tongue, Metal, and a Cold Winter’s Day by Nolan Clark Strange happenings have triggered our meeting- It would take unimaginable ones to tear us apart; Like rubber cement in a children’s book, Or a penny gummed to the floor In order to form a fool out of a frugal passerby, I find myself stuck unto you. Black and white accompanied by shades of grey is all I saw, Until you cannonballed right into a pool of rainbow [Because diving is less hardcore a’course ]. Whilst I twiddled my thumbs in the Splash Zone You engulfed me in a tidal wave of color, kiddo. An unconventional collaboration, masterpiece, of energy and spontaneity; My love for you is quite frankly as expansive As the flood waters knocking on your neighbors’ doors. I must say, yer so swell to have around. Collected Works Sample Poems Inspired Poems Original Poems Bibliography

15. Bibliography Biography • http://www.notablebiographies.com/Jo-Ki/Kerouac-Jack.html • http://www.beatmuseum.org/kerouac/jackkerouac.html • http://www.essortment.com/jack-kerouac-biography-20773.html • http://www.biography.com/articles/Jack-Kerouac-9363719?part=0 • http://www.biblio.com/jack-kerouac~103337~author • http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/19163 • http://poemhunter.com/ • http://buddhismenlightenment.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/nirvana.jpg • http://www.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/9267079/2/istockphoto_9267079-black-white-floral-design-elements.jpg • http://www.hickerphoto.com/data/media/65/waterfall.jpg • http://api.ning.com/files/in-eQbD2U6Hdhff6ghdtsbrteoL2bWB65MxIgSte1bUIjP6z7KzCxWfUgSRHzDBIK2uO4xRTuAKybFX48ddTS-PW8n-ZxPWu/Color_Splash_Remix_by_BloodyKisses56.jpg Collected Works Sample Poems Inspired Poems Original Poems Bibliography