poem by Kurt Vonnegut

by phil on Tuesday May 17, 2005 6:44 PM

Joe Heller

True story, Word of Honor:
Joseph Heller, an important and funny writer
now dead,
and I were at a party given by a billionaire
on Shelter island.
I said, "Joe, how does it make you feel
to know that our host only yesterday
may have made more money
than your novel 'Cach-22'
has earned in its entire history?"
And Joe said, "I've got something he can never have."
And I said, "What on earth could that be, Joe?"
And Joe said, "The knowledge that I've got enough."
Not bad! Rest in peace!

-- Kurt Vonnegut

(in the May 16th New Yorker)

Comments

lee hoover said on June 9, 2005 2:59 PM:

INDEED!

Philip Dhingra said on June 9, 2005 6:16 PM:

DAMN RIGHT!

lara said on June 12, 2005 10:03 PM:

this is a poem?

Philip Dhingra said on June 13, 2005 1:45 AM:

lara, yes it is.

you
don't
like?

Patrick Pound said on July 12, 2005 12:10 PM:

The brilliance of these men can't be measured. I would like to thank both of them for turning me on to reading for pleasure rather than obligation.

Luke McKay said on October 8, 2008 2:10 PM:

I'm a Kurt Vonnegut fan but this poem wasn't genius.