they're closing Steinbeck's library
out in Salinas, CA
where the seeds of
Cannery Row,
of Mice and Men,
and the destination of the GOW
were planted, sown and left,

shame on us,
the world says so,
no to a half a penny tax,
an angry cent
in the pockets of mice,

i've never been to Salinas,
nor Spain where Hemingway's'
bulls gorge matadors,
but their words are in my room,
at my fingertips,
with no talent to write fingers like sausages,
but enough foresight to type:
pity for a man's legend of pity lost.

 
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