5882. ABBREVIATION #122

ABBREVIATION #122 [1955]

In the small Museum of Time, there was a set-up

of 'Pushcart Man', circa 1974. I lingered there and

just stared for hours. So much to be had : I bought a

Coca-Cola from the vendor, I had a bag of fries from

the China Stove. Sitting down on a bench, I daydreamed

too much. Am old face, in the candle wax, was burning up.

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This is nothing like the time to be squeamish or sad.

I ran the bicycle race with my own two hands and ran off

screaming for John Ashbery donations. I'd hit the clock

and it was running. I could not decide between Blake

or Ginsberg or Crane. I went to the clothing store at

40 Nassau Street just to see what was there then: they'd

all buried the ashes of Langrock's Clothiers at the bottom

of Canterbury Hill by the Cloaca Maxima when it was there.

-

Kathy DeStefanno and Judith Bettina. I know them both.

I watch them sing. I hear them play. I went to the memorial

concert for Milton Babbit, just to hear them say : 'Abbreviation

#122 means the singing of time is in its infancy now.'