Jack Kerouac`s 81st Birthday Celebrations in Edinburgh March 2003

In the afternoon we went along to a screening of Jack Shea`s film “Who owns Jack Kerouac?” which was fascinating and gave us all a real insight into his, and his family’s, tragic lives….

What is it about many genius`? They seem to spend their lives pressing the self-destruct button….although their work can be such an inspiration to others.

We returned to the venue in the evening for a mixture of music and performance poetry…and wow, what an amazing night!

Allan Taylor was his usual wonderful self…he seems nicer every time we meet him!....and his performance went down a storm……it was such a new audience for him, as most of the people were there for the poetry so listened intently to every word he sang….and then went crazy after his short set!

There were a range of poets, but the highlight for me was the work of Ron Whitehead, one of the foremost American “Beat” poets. This event was part of a “War Poets” tour in the UK to communicate to us the current feeling of many of the American people against their war-mongering Administration. They were concerned that in the UK there is currently much anti-American feeling, and much of it is misguided as we never hear from the people, on the government.

If you hear Ron’s poem “I Will Not Bow Down” its current relevance is frightening….and made a big impression on all of us.

Frank Messina was also there from New York and gave some of his poetry inspired after Sept 11th….and that ran you over like an express train too!

Both Ron and Frank have very differing opinions on many things, but their current opposition to the war was shared, and their unity spoke volumes to all of us.

Speaking to Frank afterwards, he told us of being in New York on Sept 11th and seeing 3,000 people lose their lives….he said all he wanted to stop was that happening again…..in any country, and that includes Iraq.

When I picked up the newspaper today and read that we only had 3 days left before an attack, their voices became very real….

Ron met with the Dalai Lama recently, and from the words he was given, he wrote a poem….and I think that it is the last thought we’d all like to leave this message with….

NEVER GIVE UP

Never give up
No matter what is going on
Never give up

Develop the heart
Too much energy in your country
Is spent developing the mind
Instead of the heart
Develop the heart

Be compassionate
Not just to your friends
But to everyone
Be compassionate

Work for peace
In your heart
And in the world
Work for peace

And I say again
Never give up
No matter what is going on around you
Never give up