Peter Orlovsky, Allen Ginsberg, Fernanda Pivano, Steven Taylor, playing a squat in Milan, 1979.  [photo: Giovanni Giovannetti /  courtesy Ginsberg Collection]
Around this time, Allen, Peter & Steven were playing Allenâs translation of Bashoâs âOld Pondâ which literally translated is: Old pond/ a frog jumps in /waterâs soundâ. This they turned into a full song, the first few stanzas here:Â Â
âThe old pondâa frog jumps in, kerplunk! Hard road! I walked till both feet stunkâ Ma!Ma! Whatcha doing down on that bed? Pa!Pa! what hole you hide your head?â
âLeft home got work down town today Sold coke, got busted looking gay Day dream, I acted like a clunk Thâold pondâa frog jumps in, kerplunk!â
âGot hitched, I bought a frying pan Fried eggs, my wife eats like a man Wonât cook, her oatmeal tastes like funk Thâold pondâa frog jumps in, kerplunk!â
#allenginsberg #peterorlovsky #steventaylor #fernadapivano #GiovanniGiovannetti #basho #haiku #oldpond #poetry #poetrycommunity (at Milan, Italy)