Lawrence Ferlinghetti

NUMBER 20

.

The pennycandystore beyond the El

is where I first fell in love with unreality

Jellybeans glowed in the semi-gloom

of that september afternoon

A cat upon the counter moved among

.

the licorice sticks

and tootsie rolls

and Oh Boy Gum

.

Outside the leaves were falling as they died

.

A wind had blown away the sun

A girl ran in

Her hair was rainy

Her breasts were breathless in the little room

Outside the leaves were falling

and they cried

Too soon! too soon!