Hotel Wentley Poems

Michael McClure, Philip Lamantia,
John Wieners, David Meltzer
San Francisco 1958

Hotel Wentley Poems
—for John Wieners
__________________

A poem for movie goers

“I walk down a long
passage way with a
red door waiting open”
—John Wieners,
“A poem for museum goers,”
Hotel Wentley Poems

I go to a—
Movie bored
And lonely

It’s one of—
Those Edvard Munch
Horror movies

I check out—
The john but
Nobody’s there

I go upstairs—
The balcony full
Of old whores

I open my—
Mouth like Munch
And Scream
______________

Young lovers—
In the shadows
Making out

Sea-snakes—
Squirming up
Against the walls

Octopus eyes—
Sushi lips squish
Up the aisles

I open my—
Mouth like Munch
And Scream
________________

An old queen-
Sleeps off her
Drunk binge

Bette Davis—
On the screen
“What a dump!”

Lovers paw—
Each other
I begin to weep

Cyprus trees—
Spanish Moss
Dracula sucks

I open my—
Mouth like Munch
And Scream