Obit: Poet Thom Gunn

Subject: Obit: Poet Thom Gunn
From: GUEST,amergin
Date: 30 Apr 04 - 10:55 AM

The great Britisih poet Thom Gunn died in his sleep at age 74:

Thom Gunn

Subject: RE: Obit: Poet Thom Gunn
From: Amergin
Date: 30 Apr 04 - 10:05 PM

I was first introduced to his poetry by my poetry teacher in college many years ago...it was a book called The Man with Night Sweats, in which he wrote about friends and other people that he knew who were full of life and had many things to contribute to society...but died from AIDS...

Subject: RE: Obit: Poet Thom Gunn
From: Rapparee
Date: 30 Apr 04 - 10:15 PM

I read his stuff back in the '60s. A great loss.

Subject: RE: Obit: Poet Thom Gunn
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 01 May 04 - 08:26 PM

Did he write any songs? (Or the makings of song?)

Subject: RE: Obit: Poet Thom Gunn
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 02 May 04 - 08:04 PM

I answer my own question - though I don't know if it's got a tune (reminds me very much of Danny the Dealer in Withnail and I):

Street Song

I am too young to grow a beard
But yes man it was me you heard
In dirty denim and dark glasses.
I look through everyone who passes
But ask him clear, I do not plead,
Keys Lids acid and speed.

My grass is not oregano.
Some of it grew in Mexico.
You cannot guess the weed I hold,
Clara Green, Acapulco Gold,
Panama Red, you name it man,
Best on the street since I began.

My methedrine, my double-sun,
Will give you two lives in your one,
Five days of power before you crash.
At which time use these lumps of hash
- They burn so sweet, they smoke so smooth,
They make you sharper while they soothe.

Now here, the best I've got to show,
Made by a righteous cat I know.
Pure acid - it will scrape your brain,
And make it something else again.
Call it heaven, call it hell,
Join me and see the world I sell.

Join me, and I will take you there,
Your head will cut out from your hair
Into whichever self you choose.
With Midday Mick man you can't lose,
I'll get you anything you need.
Keys lids acid and speed.

Thom Gunn

(From this site, which has a few more poems.)