The Lost Poet

The only poet whose work I could ever memorize was the obscure but memorable F.J.Beasley whose work came to my notice in the late 1950s, round about the time I discovered writers like Jack Kerouac, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Gregory Corso and Allen Ginsberg.

I had climbed up to the school roof to sit in the sun when my attention was caught by an inscription painstakingly etched on a grey, slate roofing tile. It read :-

"If wine and women hold no joys,
Try bottled beer and little boys,
And if for these you have no use,
Try lemonade and self abuse."
F.J.Beasley.

Some years later the building was demolished and Beasley's words lost for ever - until now that is.