28: The Magic Christian, 1959, by Terry Southern (1924–95)
Oh, I can say I’d never read
A book that seemed in any way
Like this one—yes, ’twas quite a day
When Southern words flowed in my head.
I think it was in ’65
When I read this—an English class.*
It kind of put me on my ass
With laughter: It was so alive.
I hadn’t known a book could deal
With things like this—oh, it is wild.
You read it—change to man from child—
It alters how you think and feel.
I read his others through the years—
But none would grab me quite the same
(In fact, some were a little … lame).
But this one? Laughed till there were tears.**
*American Thought III, Prof. Abe C. Ravitz; Hiram College
**The film, 1969, with Peter Sellers, did not affect me so strongly.
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