.. and
I had gone in to Kansas City as his guest, and had been seated on his
right hand--I, in my painfully shabby clothes.
The professors and students could not see why I made such a stir with
prominent people, how I held their friendship despite my eccentricities
and deep poverty.
* * * * *
"I can't help you any more," observed Belton to me, as we sat in the
lobby of the Coates House where he was putting up.
"Who the hell's asking you to help me?" I replied. "I came down from
Laurel with no ulterior motive; I came just to pay you a visit, and to
thank you personally for giving me six months of freedom from economic
worry while I wrote my fairy drama ... anyhow, please remember that it
wasn't me you helped, but Poetry!"
"It's too bad you can't be a Single Taxer," he sighed. "I like you,
Gregory, and I'd put you on my pension list if you'd only shift some of
your fanaticism for poetry to the Single Tax cause."
Since then I have been frankly sorry that I did not play the hypocrite
to Belton, in order to be put on a pension for several years. I might
have achieved great verse during the leisure so afforded for calm,
creative work.
* * * * *
I started a poetry club on the Hill.... I determined that it should be
anarchistic in principle ... we should have no officials .
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