surprisingly nimble in the bowers of his brain,
making quantum leaps routinely … his mind was racy.
felliniesque alumnus from cooper union, nothing less than¹
hoozie-wah visionary crazy johnnie gumbo.

saw his brother down in d.u.m.b.o., partying²
on new year's eve. he explained how this inane
unshakably outspoken devotee of frank n. furter,³
rippling hippy mumbo jumbo … (crazy johnnie gumbo)
had become a fashionista camped in colorado.

late one night while standing on the port jeff docks,
i noticed ten bazillion frank lloyd wrights feeding off
this kool aid jing … feverishly architecting, hoisting
freak flag high above a twinkly crested iwo jima,
long before nick zedd and lungleg came to burst upon⁴
the scene-ah … this sweet heathbar crunch james dean,
a trumpet blast of day-glo green, sending shimmers from
his main street health food store, all cloaked in dreams …
crazy johnnie gumbo!

chatting with me fitfully at closing time i came to know …
this outrageous culture vulture crazy johnnie gumbo.
lilliputians pin him to the floor and start to glow
in cartoon memoriam … crazy johnnie gumbo!