Beat People

if beat people were the world
    man-high speakers
        would line the walls

there would be
   jazz for everyone
      cool and multiphonic

if beat people were the world
      there would be lots of poetry
          most of it very bad

berets and cheesy goatees
     and long existential novels
        would never go out of style

if beat people were the world
     coffeehouses and bookstores
        and cinemas would prosper

there would be
     espresso in little china cups
          and good smoke for everyone

the coolest sunglasses
     would be from the goodwill
         and all of our pads
                 would be a bit dirty
         with mattresses on the floor

we dig it that way, man

if beat people were the world
      it would always be night
           with a cool-warm breeze
               blowing wild
                  down the city streets
                        the perfect neon night
                 to groove on your senses

satori for everyone
       and pass that jug of wine.

Appeared in Retro Spec