San Francisco Blues is an exuberant foray into language and consciousness, combining rich imagery, complex internal rhythms, and reverent attentiveness to the moment.

“It’s all gotta be non stop ad libbing within each chorus, or the gig is shot.”
- Jack Kerouac

I’ve not been a fan of his poetry, but this collection had the vibe of The City I live near, so I liked a bit more than usual.

from the 27th Chorus:

San Francisco
San Francisco
You’re a muttering bum
In a brown beat suit
Can’t make a woman
On a rainy day

And from the last page, the 80th Chorus:

San Francisco Blues
Written in a rocking chair
In the Cameo Hotel
San Francisco Skid row
Nineteen Fifty Four ( )

Like picking up someone's diary and trying to fathom their own coded language. It's interesting, frustrating, and sometimes breaks through into vivid snapshots of experience. Kerouac knew how to make a printed page sing the blues. These are early practice sessions. ( )

E' musica , non solo poesia. Il blues lo senti , lo assapori e lo mandi giù come una tequila. ( )