William S. Burroughs

William Seward Burroughs II (also known by his pen name William Lee; February 5, 1914 – August 2, 1997) was an American novelist, short story writer, satirist, essayist, and spoken word performer.

He is a primary figure of the Beat Generation and a major postmodernist author who wrote in the paranoid fiction genre, he is considered to be “one of the most politically trenchant, culturally influential, and innovative artists of the 20th century”.

His influence is considered to have affected a range of popular culture as well as literature. Burroughs wrote eighteen novels and novellas, six collections of short stories and four collections of essays. Five books have been published of his interviews and correspondences. He also collaborated on projects and recordings with numerous performers and musicians, and made many appearances in films.

“TO JHON DILLINGER AND HOPE HE IS STILL ALIVE
Thanksgiving Day November 28 1986″
William S. Burroughs

Thanks for the wild turkey and
the passenger pigeons, destined
to be shat out through wholesome
American guts.

Thanks for a continent to despoil
and poison.

Thanks for Indians to provide a
modicum of challenge and
danger.

Thanks for vast herds of bison to
kill and skin leaving the
carcasses to rot.

Thanks for bounties on wolves
and coyotes.

Thanks for the American dream,
To vulgarize and falsify until
the bare lies shine through.

Thanks for the KKK.

For nigger-killin’ lawmen,
feelin’ their notches.

For decent church-goin’ women,
with their mean, pinched, bitter,
evil faces.

Thanks for
“Kill a Queer for Christ”
stickers.

Thanks for laboratory AIDS.

Thanks for Prohibition and the
war against drugs.

Thanks for a country where
nobody’s allowed to mind his
own business.

Thanks for a nation of finks.

Yes, thanks for all the memories
— all right let’s see your arms!

You always were a headache and
you always were a bore.

Thanks for the last and greatest betrayal
of the last and greatest
of human dreams.