Mexico City Blues [182nd Chorus]

The Essence of Existence
      is Buddhahood—
As a Buddha
      you know
      that all the sounds
      that wave from a tree
      and the sights
      from a sea of fairies
            in Isles of Blest
      and all the tastes
            in Nectar Soup
      and all the odors
            in rose arbour
      —ah rose, July rose—
            bee-dead rose—

and all the feelings
      in the titwillow's
      chuckling throat
and all the thoughts
      in the raggedy mop
      of the brain—
      one dinner

From Mexico City Blues. Copyright © 1959 by Jack Kerouac. Reprinted by permission of SLL/Sterling Lord Literistic, Inc.