MICHAEL GIZZI







AT GO FIGURE FARM


Clodhopping round the country dressed in steel
He punches a coachman in the side
Look at those ribs like the hoops of a barrel
A singer transfixed on the head of a pin
Verse is out of the question
A dull detonation shakes the ground
A few guys unloose their fireflies
His nose falls off and becomes a ball of dust
A stiff-bosomed white shirt opens the door
Two pilgrims quarrel in hurried whispers
Sex complex as the eyes of insects
Easily dazzled by round objects
Two chicken hawks plunge into a copse
If we want a little whiskey we can sell a few eggs

— for Bernadette

Here's one from Michael Gizzi's newest book of poems New Depths of Deadpan
(Burning Deck). He's been publishing since 1973 and editing
journals and books from lingo, Hard Press and currently with Craig Watson the imprint
Qua Books.