for Jack Kerouac (1922-69) br br Jack the America of your dreams is gone br Gone the brownstone tenements of the night br Gone the empty coffee houses of lonely evenings and silence br Gone the boxcars and hoboes and prayers to St Teresa br Gone the warmth of a blazing fire on a winter night. br Jack the America you loved has become br the America of senseless noise br the America of arrogant impositions br the America of threat and aggression br the America of brutality br the America of broken hearts and broken promises. br An insect feeding on the world br suckling greedily demanding more br deaf to the voice of reason and temperance. br Jack come back br bring back with you the America even outsiders loved br the America of open highways br the America of boundless forests br the America of sunsets by the river-pier br an America generous of spirit. br The planet needs this America. br Jack bring back your magic br and banish our nightmares. br Bring back your gentleness br and teach America how to be free. br br 3.viii.2007.