thanks for mailing Statement but I can’t understand this kind of writing, but granted, it does take talent to write 8 or 10 pages and say absolutely nothing, and it’s safe too. At first I thought it was Robert Creeley but, no, I see Robert Kelly. I’m afraid you’ve been sucked in by the poetry nestlings who pluck each other’s feathers. but if you can make money off them, fine. [* * *]

[To Carl Weissner]

Early May 1968

[* * *] god yes! would you do the selections and (I hope) translations on my poems for Verlag kiepenheuer & witsch? got a good letter from R. R. Rygulla. if you could do the dirty work for me, it would help. I am up to my ass. take any poems you wish. I needn’t even know. tell Rygulla I said o.k. you don’t know how much I appreciate. like I say, up to my ass. just now, I have been doing paintings in the kitchen. this bird, Martin, wants 75 small paintings which will be mounted in the backs of special hardbound copies of Terror Street. I’ve made around 60 paintings up to now he wants 20 more. give me 20 more, he says, and I’ll pick them up Monday. I’ve done 6. these editors just don’t realize that paintings just can’t be made up, oh splash splash the merry brush—each painting must come from the balls like a fuck. few men can fuck 6 times a night. 20 is just impossible. [* * *]

[To Jon and Louise Webb]

May 16, 1968

[* * *] I have been writing 6 columns a month, 4 for Bryan and 2 for The Underground Review (New York). I am going to tell each of these guy “one a month” and if they don’t want that, let them shove it. mostly I am disgusted with the contents of their papers. very high school stuff. plus 6 columns a month gives me no time to fiddle with my precious poems, esp. feeling as weak and down as I do now. [* * *]

[To John Martin]

May 29, 1968

rec. your beautiful check and the 20 copies Terror Street. hey, boss, no royalties on the tape? but we workers always complaining! check much more than I expected, and I hope you don’t get stuck with a closetful of Terror Streets.