from All Intensive Purposes

by Michael Lambert

“—the water’s fine, come in and drown.”

                                    -John Berryman

Tell me something wonderful.

Like, you know, how some people will swerve

At hemlock on narrow streets just to make things interesting—

Their faces as calm as Hindu cows. Lynchpin rev

Ival got me like: It’s my money and I want it 

Blown out of a humongous bolo tie!  Smokestack light

Ning, for heavensake. Better-had pick up some

Gizzards at the next Texaco, Llewellyn.

We’re in for a liverspotted potshot, sending holy

Water to the hydrophobics. Hallucinating John

Thoreau—Henry’s brother—who nicked him

Self shaving and died of Tetanus.

Lockjawed horse named “Traveller,” Robert E. Lee’s noble ste

Ed, stepped on a rusty nail now he’s a white girl. What?