by Jack Kerouac

The stars in the sky

In vain

The tragedy of Hamlet

In vain

The key in the lock

In vain

The sleeping mother

In vain

The lamp in the corner

In vain

The lamp in the corner unlit

In vain

Abraham Lincoln

In vain

The Aztec empire

In vain

The writing hand: in vain

(The shoetrees in the shoes

In vain

The windowshade string upon

the hand bible

In vain-

The glitter of the greenglass

ashtray

In vain

The bear in the woods

In vain

The Life of Buddha

In vain)