The Collected Poems of Ted Berrigan (30 page)

I really like to be alone, if

I don’t have to be.

I like to come & go.

What I don’t like is how money is involved

in everything.

I like to give people

money.

I hate to be given money. It’s embarrassing!

I do like

to get money in the mail.

& I like to get paid lots of money

for doing something like reading, talking, or

publishing.

How come I can’t get paid

just for writing?

I do like to get presents

spontaneously given,

or just for me.

But it’s socially awkward that

some people for almost no reason

have money, & some don’t.

Anyway, money is

very perplexing,

& I don’t understand it.

I like Credit Cards.

Alas, I can’t pay the bills,

but I always spend with the Credit Card

in a terrific way!!

I take people to terrific

Restaurants!

I go to England!

I buy somebody their

return ticket, because they’re

broke.

I buy a couple of terrific

shirts.

& a pair of pants.