I am disappointed in your not responding to my mailing of The Curtains Are Waving, but hell, I do realize that Life does get in our way, sometimes. I have been just about out of my jughead mind for about a year and couldn’t answer a damn letter to anybody. you must have thought I’d a gone to BRIGHTON, Eng. but I didn’t write anybody. it was as if my head were chopped off. but now, strangely, things seem to be oozing back into place. I don’t understand these mental blackouts and I’d rather not have them. I’m not a prima d. I don’t play Arty. and basically I am a kind person, although it sounds unrealistic to say so. I think that finally and actually, there were too many people writing me at once and I simply gave up. I couldn’t keep up. now I am corresponding again, but only with 3 or 4 and I am keeping it that way. and I feel better. I answer everybody but not at the length that I used to. [* * *]

all right then, fire engines going by. I am on FIRE! here they come! they are circling back. they are going to put me out just like a landlady who never read Rimbaud, or Bukowski….

[To Jim Roman]

April 2, 1969

I think your Bukowski collection better than mine. somebody stole my only copy of my first book [* * *] and my only copy of “The Genius of the Crowd.” but I’m told that this happens to all writers. those who come and beat on our doors and drink our beer and take our time—also steal our books.

[* * *] since you have shown such an interest I will be mailing you, in the next couple of days, one of the two hardcover Penguin Library editions that were airmailed to me. Dark gray binding, gold lettering on the spine; pages thread-sewn. they’ve really done a beautiful job, but I do want to take care in packaging and mailing. but it will arrive, autographed to you, as per usual. these books will not be on sale in American until July 1969. [* * *]

[To Jim Roman]

April 14, 1969