Student: Rinpoche, why do you write poetry?
Chogyam Trungpa: Well, I think just to simply…
Gregory Corso: Because he wants to be like me – famous! – and Allen. He wants to get into the poetry racket, that’s what he wants to do.Chogyam Trungpa: I think I write because some situation is created to put things down which doesn’t make any sense but usually it’s kind of some notion of a celebration
Gregory Corso: That’s a nice word, “celebration”. That’s a goodie. I love you, man.
Chogyam Trungpa: Thank you
Gregory Corso: Alright. That’s all. I have a ball when I write poetry. I never write when I’m unhappy.
Chogyam Trungpa: Sometimes I do, too.
Gregory Corso: That’s why I don’t write much.
Chogyam Trungpa: But you celebrate your unhappiness?
Gregory Corso: Celebrate unhappiness?
Chogyam Trungpa: Yeah, or boredom, for that matter..
Gregory Corso: Boredom?
Chogyam Trungpa: ..which is a great thing.
Gregory Corso: I don’t know boredom. I don’t know loneliness. I know alone-ness. See?
Chogyam Trungpa: Yeah
Gregory Corso: And I dig being alone. ’cause that’s where poetry comes out – for me, anyway. You’re sweating, both of you. Am I sweating too?
AG: Just from my fingers.
Gregory Corso: Oh good God, it’s (just) like Nixon! – Shit! – Why don’t you have a..whaddaya call it?..air-conditioner here, Rinpoche?
AG [to Trungpa] – Do you want to open it up?
Chogyam Trungpa: Yeah
AG: Can we open it up to…other students..
Chogyam Trungpa: Sure, why not?
Gregory Corso: I think I’m in a high-class joint (here). Okay, it’s open
AG: Yeah, it’s open, ’cause there’s a million poets in the room. There’s Diane (di Prima), there’s Bill Merwin
Gregory Corso: Oh yes, Billy’s here.
AG: Anne (Waldman)‘s here – and then there’s all these poetry-writers
Gregory Corso: Is that sexy poet-ess here? what’s her name? Kyger?..where’s Kyger?
AG: Is Joanne here?
Student: No, she’s getting ready…
AG: Yeah, she’s getting ready to give a reading..