Friday, April 13, 2007

Poem for Joe Heller by Kurt Vonnegut

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R.I.P. Kurt Vonnegut ~November 11, 1922 ~ April 11, 2007

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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 'Catch-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!

Photograph by his wife, Jill Krementz.