A Coney Island of the Mind, 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!

From A Coney Island of the Mind. Copyright © 1958 by Lawrence Ferlinghetti.  Reprinted by permission of New Directions Publishing Corp.