Verbatim 16th February 2000

a) One-line exquisite corpse

1.
what I was was abuzz with this: a wish 
to high heaven like the Church of Christ 
the Goaltender, a-sphynxiated like a hydra. 
But I didn't have enough hands to 
strangle. Nor enough spangle to what 
Jesus said was the buzz: consider the ABC's. 
They flutter in the breeze so you toe the line 
or it's curtains for all ya lowlifes. Training the 
soccer team in Rockette's styling had been a 
mistake - they high kicked and toed 
the line for flourish, not sport.


2.
An historic occasion in hibiscus 
sojourn - 
the first jicama plant. 
The first jicama sojourn. 
An occasion to rejoinder 
vehemently like a talk show host 
put on the defensive; words crisp 
as fresh-cut jicama, saturated 
J. Springer. 
(the smell fills the room) (unmistakeable 
whiffs of sandalwood to remind me of 
Crystal Beach 1989) And the smell 
of a red-lit bathroom wolfs: 
red tide.



b) Pantoums; one paragraph each:

1.
Cakes McPhadden appeared,
Listless in mid-horizon June evening;
Legions of the defeated enveloped the curbside,
Like a phalanx of exhaustion.

Listless in mid-horizon June evening;
They scrambled fo their cookers
Like a phalanx of exhaustion
Advancing against industry.

They scrambled fo their cookers
In a protest against convenience, microwave food.
Advancing against industry,
They threw their pots at McDonalds.

In a protest against convenience, microwave food.
Wielding diamond necklaces from their tycoon elders,
They threw their pots at McDonalds
While singing choice verses of Verdi's "Othello."

Wielding diamond necklaces from their tycoon elders,
They serenaded Cakes
While singing choice verses of Verdi's "Othello,"
And he sprinkled powdered sugar on their noses.

They serenaded Cakes
Cakes McPhadden appeared,
Legions of the defeated enveloped the curbside,
And he sprinkled powdered sugar on their noses.


2.
This expectant archway
Vomiting people in the morning,
Any time of the day or night
I walk below.

Vomiting people in the morning,
Out the window
I walk below
Under a gush of past drinks, meals, lives.

Out the window
Just past the western el of Volker's Bowling Alley,
Under a gush of past drinks, meals, lives
The gnarly remains of faux-artistry in lower Broadway

Just past the western el of Volker's Bowling Alley,
Modern Bohos lay in giant pools of party vomit.
The gnarly remains of faux-artistry in lower Broadway
It stunk more than bum shit.

Modern Bohos lay in giant pools of party vomit.
Stale pizza and melted tar from eight years' road construction
It stunk more than bum shit.
Which made ample fodder for Jake's PhD thesis.

Stale pizza and melted tar from eight years' road construction
This expectant archway
Which made ample fodder for Jake's PhD thesis
I walk below.

3.
Late night longings
Inebriated phone calls to old lovers
Turns into dialing for Domino's
Passion sated by pepperoni.

Inebriated phone calls to old lovers
Though the thirst for Hire's Root Beer hardly
Passion sated by pepperoni,
Much less stale anchovies carted in from Nepal.

Though the thirst for Hire's Root Beer hardly
Even matters,
Much less stale anchovies carted in from Nepal
Could only help. O! My salty love!

Even matters,
Such as the upcoming Grand Poobah election at the Moose Lodge;
Could only help. O! My salty love!
For you I'd move to Idaho and live on rump of steer.

Such as the upcoming Grand Poobah election at the Moose Lodge;
I'll forgo, to stay with you.
For you I'd move to Idaho and live on rump of steer,
Even though I prefer pork.

I'll forgo, to stay with you
Table-top games of bones
Even though I prefer pork
To sex.

Table-top games of bones,
A late-night longing
For sex
Turns into dialing for Domino's.