Sunday, June 21, 2009

Coffee with Kerouac


Many, many years ago at Harvard Square in Boston, Massachusetts, I sat at an outdoor café' drinking coffee with Jack Kerouac. Over our cups, Jack offered to me his succinct and discerning perspective into where he found the visionary words written in his poetry and books. And, on what being a writer of your own experiences truly means to your craft.

The words he wrote elevated and enlightened a generation (and the poetry form, itself) -- as only Jack Kerouac could.

During a brief moment of silence between us, I idly watched the hurried and harried crowd of tourists and Cambridge denizens meandering around us under a setting, summer’s sun.

A thought occurred to me. I averted my attention from the crowd back to our table-for-two and asked, "Jack where did you come up with all that incredible material for On the Road , and the poems you've written over the years?"

Jack sat flatly in his chair while I spoke, staring blankly down into his cup . A sudden melancholy caught me by surprise, as I thought how he appeared so much older than his actual age of forty-five. Seeing him in this weakened physical state, it felt to me as if he had been prematurely aged by the world, which he had chronicled for his generation.

I think Jack sensed my sadness. He averted his sunken and wearied eyes (which still held a dark, piercing stare) from the cup of coffee cradled in his world-worn hands and faced me. Leaning his thin and sagging shoulders forward, he began to speak, and his voice sounded as callused as his hands. But, there was an intense conviction in those words he next spoke to me that projected a vitality and strength, which belied his frail appearance.

Jack said, "Jeff, there's no need to worry about, or even to ask where the hell mine, or for that matter your writing comes from. We can sit here until we’re both bones talking s*it over that subject; it's irrelevant to the real point."

"Here's the thing; all the words, imagery, or whatever you'll ever need are here all around you now." He illustrated his point by gesturing towards the street, and at the people walking by with those leathery hands.

He continued. "Everything you have, or will ever experience, is where your writing will come from. Take what you need from that. And, stop worrying about where anyone else got their words. Think only about what you want to write and then just f**king do it, man!"

A wry smile arose on his face as that intense stare relaxed. He reached over and gently patted my much younger shoulder with one of those callused hands. And, in a commiserative tone he said. "Jeff, you worry too much about how you're going write, be concerned with only what you're already writing. Always ask yourself this question when you sit down to write: am I writing about what I've experienced, or am I just acting like an old, tired mockingbird? Which kind of writer are you gonna be, kiddo?”

Grinning widely now Jack said, “People will come along, read your stuff and then make up their own minds whether they care about it, or not. Just, make sure that you tell 'em what this old world showed you, the way you saw it and you’ll be just fine."

Jack cheerfully raised his nearly empty cup in a celebratory toast, as he sardonically concluded, "And to hell with them all my young friend if they don’t dig your groove!"

And, ever since that day of coffee and conversation with Kerouac, long away from now, I've tried to be the writer he so generously instructed me to be.

I believe that hearing Jack Kerouac's unwavering conviction in what your own truth and words are, has not only helped me to find my own true writer's voice, but made me a better man for it in the process.

My heartfelt gratitude goes out to you, Jack, on whatever celestial road you're now traveling!

20 comments:

  1. Jeffrey, I really enjoyed reading this post.
    It was almost as if I was there. You are a brilliant writer. I was very intrigued by Jacks wisdom on dreams writing and his thoughts, and yours also. I have always enjoyed writing, in fact, I love it. I must go by life's experiences and travels because I just don't dream or my dreams are just not vivid enough for me to lose sleep over them, honestly, I just don't think I dream.

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  2. Thank you Joan! I just saw your comment here today, so replying now. Yes, Jack is truly an American Icon. I am blessed to have been able to sit with him and hear him speak his boundless wisdom to me. That conversation forever changed my life and my perspective on writing.

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  3. Jeff,

    You're writing struck the strident chords of my memories, back to my theme writing class in college when I got a "D" for the term and decided I wasn't a writer.

    My pen was silent for 25 years until I came across a magical writing muse named Julie Jordan Scott. Julie awakened me to my own writing voice, and here I rise.

    Your writing is deep, emotive, connective and true. Thank you my friend, for being you! You are a thoroughly enjoyable morsel of life.

    Adela

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  4. Dear Adela,

    Thank you so very much for your kind and generously offered comments!

    I’m so pleased that you were once again able to find your muse, and that it now sings for you in your own writing. You are a fine writer, as well.

    I’ve truly enjoyed reading your blog posts and highly recommend to my visitors at the WriteStep to visit your Self Care Mastery blog at www.selfcaremastery.com and read the enlightening and energizing posts there too.

    Keep being the wonderfully inspiring and empowering person that you are Adela, and keep writing!

    Warmest regards,

    Jeff (R. Jeffreys)

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  5. Jeff,

    Oh, how I enjoyed reading this post!

    You took hold of me and suddenly I was there, REALLY there -- I felt the weight of a coffee cup in my hand, and a light breeze tickling my face. I could hear you and Jack -- your words, and yes, your silences.

    I purely loved it.

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  6. Beth,

    I am so pleased that my simple writing had you, ‘REALLY there.’ That means much from someone who I believe is such a phenomenal writer as you are. Your wonderful words here not only encourage, but inspire me to post more here, soon! I thank you for taking the time to read my work. And, I wish you all the success you so richly deserve for writing, ‘CeeCee’!!

    Jeff

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  7. Ah, your writing is clean and crisp, but never "simple" ... never. One of the many things I love about your prose is how you instantly create a fully developed image with a minimal of words!

    My hat is off to you, my friend.

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  8. Beth,

    You just exactly described my intention, when I write. You’re. truly amazing – So, insightful! And, thank you, once again for your kindly expressed review of my work.

    I bow to your graciousness, dear Lady.

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  9. Jeff, you are a charmer, aren't you? :) And I imagine Jack was, too. Thanks for sharing. K.

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  10. You're welcome, Karen. Jack was simply awe inspiring to me. I have been called, "charming" on at least one occasion. ;)

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  11. Like this very much. Wish I could have joined you.


    Melanie

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  12. Thanks, Melanie. Jack was, and is still, one-of-a-kind...

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  13. Jeff, how wonderful you were able to converse with Jack Kerouac. Such great advice to give someone who is just starting out! I also have to agree with the commenters who said your writing really put them in the scene. I was there with the two of you and smelling the coffee!

    I loved how you described Kerouac and even how he drank his coffee as well as letting readers into where you were and your thoughts about it. I haven't read anything of yours except this blog which I blundered into while finding it on a comment on Facebook. But now I am going to follow you, because I love the way you write.:)

    On another note, I agree with Kerouac that you need to write about your own experiences. When people try to write about things they don't know either through life experience or from research it doesn't work. I hope that the person to whom you pointed this blog will see that difference.:)

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  14. Great advice, all.

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  15. Thank you, Pj! I am very glad that you enjoyed the piece.

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  16. Lionmother, I was just a kid, but everything he said to me that day--stuck!

    Thank you so much for wonderful compliments on my work! And, I totally agree with all the points on writing you so sagaciously stated here.

    I hope to add new articles here, soon.

    Regards,

    Jeff

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  17. Fantastic post! Such great words of advice from you and Kerouac.
    Loved your description of the whole scene also, you draw the reader in very well!

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  18. Thank you so much for your kind words, neekswrite! I very much appreciate your feedback here.
    Warmest regards,
    Jeff

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  19. Thanks for this. I really need to read more Kerouac. On the Road was great, but I know he wrote more.

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  20. My pleasure, Will. Kerouac's writing tossed the bar away for contemporary poetry. He tugged at the cerebral sleeve of his young generation, and pulled them out of their suburban slumber and into a return to free and open thinking. I am sure Bob Dylan would agree.
    Regards,
    Jeff

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