PHILIP LAWRENCE SHERROD'S WEBOOK.COM BLOGS: September 2010

BOOK: 7

"BEIGE*BUTTS/-..-I*(!)"?

poems..(C)copyright

philip lawrence sherrod

"BEIGE*BUTTS/-..-I*(!)"?

poems..(C)copyright

philip lawrence sherrod

LILLY PUFF PUBLICATIONS 1994

NEW YORK, NY

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOG

TYPSET

IN:QUADRO(15)

CARD NO.

No part of this book may be reproduced by

hand-or any

mechanical-

means, without/-the- written consent-of the

author.

FIRST EDITION

PART*TWO/-..OF*/-..THREE*
*PARTS!
-with or with(out-..my*glasses)-..i see-..them(beige-butts)..filters on a white.. *stem-..SYMBOLIC* NORDIC*
NICO*TINE *BLUES..the -*petals-

-shad*ows..(at angles/-..RIGHT* or
LEFT* -*WORDS)..-*flowers?

-Left*bysum buddi..(Who sez..-What'S Up*/-O-//..(CUM'ON/- RIGHT*DOWN_
N'-BLOW*YU'/-..*WAY?)-..i*didn't

   want-*-tu..*SMOKE*(-Jus'..Pikk'd Up
th../-4hi-ng?
   ..when*i/-.. wuz..l7)..*habit!..*like.. dang*lin'..CAR*ROT/-.. n4ront*- of/-..RAB*BIT'/-..'n-(GOLD..no!-(ORANGE)-.."BREEDIN'LIKE-?

- -*BIRDS*/-OF *FEATHER!..-tickles *me..))

-that*man/..-WORKIN'*PULLIN'_
*SHOULD*N'T/-..(?)-
Pull-*

-*PULLEY*..-(PULLET*/-.."FRENCH"_*HEN)!
-!*SWUNG*-?

*-ROUND/-..MY/-*..* HEAD*-..*AGAIN?

luk'd"r..over &*/-..-*saw!
-Black*Hand.. /-*squeezin'*.. sum*-*Beige*Neck?

*on/-.. *PARKBENCH?)..-*tryin'/-..

to*MILK..th'tip?..wf'/-..BLUE*BALL*

CAP! -*UP?..yess..-on.
LEGAL*DISCLAIMER:

Original*Poems were*Created..&
*Copyrighted..Jan.07, 2001.-All*..*-*Personal*Names..*Used..are*Fictional-!../-?- &;..-*Created./-*...as*Original*Characters/-

!..-To*Represent*Symbolic-?

Human-*Relationships!..-&*All*Created*..
*Persons/-!(?) ..&***Person

al*Names-?

..are*(-Over* 18yrs.-old!). -The*Work..
*Represents/-! ..an*Attempt!-To*Explain/-?..The*Vicissitudes??/-..&

*Dilemmas/-?of*Being*Modern* (?)..&*
-Dealing*With*/-?…Modern*Living/-?..&*Human*Imagination/-?..(?)

-As*...-*Psychological*Factions(!)

Note:..Punctuation*Used*To*An*Excess/-?
..As*A*Way/-?..To*Guide*

The*Reader/-?-..Control*The*Reader/-..To*The

   *Point. ..(!?)-Of*Understanding/-..
The*(Poet’s*Intent!)?..-
   As*Well*As.. ?-Create*An*Additional/-?
..*Art*Form!

JANUARY 07, 2001

   ABOUT MY POEMS:."these works/-..come*from-
..(Every*Day*Attempts!/-)?
   To*Co*mmun*icate/-..With**Others!(?)..-(About..One's*/-..*Intimate*Feelings!)
   *Some*Tmes/-?..Falling*Short/-..Of*/-..Complete*/-..Dia*

   logue/-?..&*-Failing*-..*All*/-?../*Human*
   Under*standing’S!(?)..of*the-../or of*a..(?)-
   ..-Poet's*Concern*/-..Of*LIMITED*Traditional/-*
..*Boundaries!-
   -of*/-..&*For*/..-The/-* Majority/-?..&-As*These*/-

Compelled*/-*LIVING*..-*IMAGES-..(!)?-

...Are*Forced*/-..*Upon*One!..-Bye*the-..

..-(Un*Educated*/-?..-Multi*/-

..*Tudes!)?"(?)

(They*Are*Serious*Attempts/-..At*Love!)

Note: -all*mye*poetry/-..is writ-

ten/-..as-..(the*Spoken*Word!)?

   *Dedicated*/-..-To*The*Way/-..-Most*People(!?)
   *Speak*/-!-...   *Con-*sciously/-&..Or*/-..
   Un*-Con*sciously(!)?..-&*as*words;**
   (Are*Heard/-..? With*All/-..*Those*/-..*Little*/)-
..(*IN*CON*GRU*-ITIES..?

..of-Color*Full/-?..In*Ventions/)-?..&*
..amp;*Person*alities/-?

..*Cre-*ating/-..Some*/-..Quite*Color*Full/-..

*Dramatic*Speech(!)?

   ..Such*As/-..*The*Use/-..of*Slang/-..&
   *Col*loquial*..-(Small*Rural/-..To*Urban*ites/-
*Language(!))?
   ..-The*Way/-..-You*Hear*Them*Speak/-
..As*Opposed/-to*The*-?

*(Proper*/-. ..*English*Dictum!)-..In*Short/-..I*Have*
-Taken*/-..*Liberties!
..-As*A*Poet/-..To*Remind*America(!)?

-of*The
*Rich*-ess/-of*(..the/-..*American*Language!)?
..But*then/-..*Again/-

..I*TAKE/-..

-LIBER*/-..*TIES(!)?

-Using*/-Low*Class*Slang/-?
..*With*/-..Hier*/-..*Archial**Voice(!)?

PART*TWO/-..OF*/-..THREE*PARTS!

"BEIGE*BUTTS/-..-I*(!)"?

poems..(C)copyright

philip lawrence sherrod

Oh! Pleeze! Pleeze!

(you've..got to!)

takeme/..to th' SHOOTING GALLERY?

What do you..mean?

At-.. Asbury Park! (If you.. -*shoot- th' Squirrel

? -He runs UP &/-amp; *DOWN*..(th' LOG!))

If you..shoot th' Buzzard! his*(EYES..

LIGHT*-UP?)& *he.. *SQUAWKS*!!If you..

shoot* th' Piano-Player?

(N' th'seat(-?..*ASS*)he(REARS*UP)?

N'..Plays th' Piano!!&..

If you..shoot- th'(GALS*- *NAVEL?) she lifts.-

.UP-/ HER DRESS?

& *LAUGHS*!

(i know..your'e a good..

*shooter?)Oh!Pleeze!Pleeze! *shoot..

for*me!

So I Can* Get* Some*thing..

(A BULL*SEYE)? &

(I)WILL*..TAKE(IT*)*HOME?

(&it'll..be jus' like-)

when i was..(a little*- girl)?

and..YOUR'E MYE..(BIG*PAPA)?

WF' .. TH" (BIG*GUN)?

MARRY *ME!.. MARRY *ME!

she said! (for 3yrs.-straight-)..until-

th' 4thyr./..&th'Sthyr. ..bye-then/she had seen..

too-much/-..of him?(er' *Idol/-(?)..-*fallen/-..*struck..*down!)

..bye(er'..CRITICAL DREAMS!)

she' ad..

2ndTHOUGHTS! ..she'said.

..fe*-male

..figure *bound(bizarre-/-..*case)?..*shot- &(sexually*/-..*molested!

bizarre'(bi-zar')adj.(F.,Fr.,It_,Sp.) bizarro**gallant fro

Basque

bizar beard, whence the meaning*manly, *brave. Odd,

extravagant orExcentric in style or mode; involving

sensational contrasts

or striking incongruities-Syn.

see FANTASTIC-bi*zarre'ly, adv.bi*zarre'ness, n.

Creativity- is far cryfrom.. emotionalinstibility!

i.. liketh'way.. you smell(shesaid)

i.. liketh'way.. (shesaid)you smell

that'swhy..

(I did it!..you DIRTY

COPPERSI)(he..wasn't..worth(it)?

Alas..Others have been.. led..astray!

(it)is not easy in this lifetime?(To

Learnthe Truth-About OnesSelf?

)

Do you like

th'way..(my bra fits)? (or)..should(it)go- a little

lower?)

..the

y found

..the body(Inside..THE BIZARRE)BATHHOUSE

SINO

Among the CARVED SEAHORSES..

(CURVED IN BRONZE-COPPER-METAL)

White Light

had bleached the..

beach. pieces

of MOTHER*NACRE(although*still*visible)

were(UP..FOR GRABS)!!

i.. smell

th' way you(like) shesaid.

WHITE*CAPS

RIDING.

ROUGH*WATER.. &WIND! WAVES*BROKE

(_GAINST THE BLACK*JETTYS!!)like.. heart

pulsin'

repetitous rocks(Piled Up! for Low Tide!)we

have..

BITTEN Off!more

(than we)can CHEW(shesaid)?

BETWEEN..

STAR*FISH..DRYING*OUT! &(notdying)?

SANDFRYED..BY SUN!!TH'SEA-GULLS CALLED..

(lovers-pickedbarefoot.. ) between

(th'shells)?

small pebbles.. liketrinkets.

we(both)smell..

th'way(similar)?

shesaid.

trinkets.. of Purple Pink!

(Mother of Nacre)KISSES..

likehands..unfolding?

& LOOK!

&(hewatched her!)Run.. both BEAUTY

& WILD!-*WILL..?

run in her(NEW*LIFE)!! runn..Laughing & Splashing?

Screaming?like..

smallchild. . (turned*loose).

LAST WEEKS'INDICTMENT OF NURSINGHOME

BOSS

BARTHOLOMEW..

LAWSON.. on charges(that he paid) $5000. to have/a

Union TrailerOffice!/Blown Up!

Large Holes.. have been dug!

in several of th' gardens?

-which line- th' Street! (we fill themin..(then a (week*

later)?? &..they're backsays one man..Tom Paradisidice

who'sLived-on the Block

..for Years!43yrs...tobe

exact!..(he killed a rat!)?

that wasclimbing! (Up OUTSIDE

NEIGHBOR'S

HOUSE!)"IT WAS..HEADED..FOR

TH'KITCHEN VENT".

(he..smashed(it)witha..shovel?)

WARLORDS.. OF MATRIMONY! SMILE!

at..OFFSPRING!!(their*inheritance

their*instinct)?Smile Child- better

than Cry!? (than laugh-AGE OLD PHILOSOPHY)?

..th'(flower..gives th'(stamen)

to th'WIND! & we..should(do*no*better)?

..MARRY ME! MARRY ME!(she said..toth'

DRAGONFLY!!)? not seeing..his PREDACEOUS

HOOKS?

..(NATURE HAS WARM..SENSITIVE EYES!)

Be GLAD FOR THAT AMERICA!

..(th'Look of a Child) ..grown Adult?

"On a Blank Piece of Paper! (th'child wrote"YET WE

FALL FROM CATEGORY"homework..

(a way of saying..i love you)!

I have decided(ironically-enough)that it..is impossible

- to continue(any-relationship)especially ours?

The Kind of Woman that You Are- (beit Sympathetic

Romantic)which..at this point? is entirely unclear

to me?. &Must at -anothertime..be given closer attent

ion!?/ Your Explicit Needs- not to (SPEAK*OF)your-

CAPABILITIES(of which..seem NEAR*NIGH

INEXHAUSTABLE)? not to mention..your BEAUTY

& GREAT EDUCATION!!? GOODLOOKS &..

with some DEGREE OF AOULT*GROWTH..IS

TOLERABLE..& I GUESS?

to be..EXPECTED!! BUT I CAN'T GET OVER..YOUR

LADYSHIP'S* CDMPLEX*..which is to be filed

under(th'PLURAL GENDER).

I hope.. you/can forgive..myebrashness? but..the-

AMOUNT(!?)

of MONEY! (that(it)must take)?? TO KEEP YOU.. IN

EYESHADOW

& LIPSTICK(not to say..TELEPHONECALLS)is beyon

d me! A Man

in MY POSITION(EVEN..WITHSOME..DEGREE OF

AMBITION?)wouldlike..toput(SUCH*A..FINE

FEATHER*INHIS..HAT!!)But..ofcourse(ifyouwish)

IWILLTRY..TO MAKE AMENDS..WITHMYE*

SPIRIT(foryour sake)?.but FROM_EVERY(FDRM..OF

LOGIC(itseems..tome)that.. I'M..ATA DISAD

VANTAGE! AMAN withlittle

ORNOEGO(wouldfindit..difficult/tosay..theleast)lest..

forhis(yOURS&MINE)IFHE..PUSSYFOOTS*A*

ROUNO*both TOSHY..&(NOT_BLE..TOSTANDUP_)

..akindof MR. MILKTOAST!?.if you(please)? IDON'T*

KNOW!!

YOU..*UNDERSTANDME..WOROS(sometimes)PUT*

METOO

ATA..LOSS? But I THINK(Ihave..goodINTENTIONS)?

? To. PUSSYFOOT ..AROUND SUCH-A-STRONG*

WOMAN..IS BOTH(afulltime)JOB & TEDIOUS ..not to

sayONE..WITH(STRONG-or-HIGH CHEEKBONES!!)

AsShe.. Said( "IHAVE. .HIGHCHEEKBONES_'.) I-..

WILL.. (LAST*LONGERTHAN-

MOSTWOMEN)WILL..isonething(FATE*IS*

ANOTHER)!! But you wererightYOUARE..INTHAT

CLASS!!..FROMCARMEN..TOLADYMCBETH!

HYSTERIA.. ISKNOWN(fromONLYTH-PURE*IN*

HEART!?(thebest..ofus)?The way you.."TWIST

YOUR..HANDS"!! WITH(out)GUILT!

Isbeyondme(oneLady..fromyourStature)One

bothPrime&Foremost-. SoWhy ShouldI GoOn?

(thisnote- is both inadequate &boring)&..

(NOT*TH'BESTOF*WRITING)!! But THERE'S..

TH'CATCH!!

this(feeling)DEEPDOWN*INSIDE*OFME?.Inmye

words if nottosay incontent! (I get a Pleasure..OUTA-

MYESEEMING-INADEQUA-cy? Thatmight..

explainEVERYTHING..&

MIGHT(COMEAS..A*SHOCK..TOYOU!!)(But..I kno

w this to be true!

th'sparrows.. flitted(around*ina*flurry) twittering &

twitting?

th'..youngones(THISYEARSBIRD)? twoofthem

tryedtoget(TH'ADULTBIRD'S)

attention ..

(TOYOUNGYET- TOTAKEON*RESPONSIBILITY)

bathed..inth'fountain?

untilone(WASCAUGHTbyea 'DOG:!,

Somuch..th'MERRIER!

shesaid.

th'MOB..gathered AROUNDAT1st!(INCURIO*

USITY)?LOOK-ING!

UPIWNECOULD5EE!!..SOME(figure)HIGHOUT

*ONA*LEDGE?(th'SEX.. COULD notbe

ESTABLISHED!!)? BUT(it)LOOKEDLIKE..

AWOMAN!! oratleast(AMAN..INWOMAN'S

CLOTHING!!)? Then..therecamea..VOICE! JUMP!

JUMP! JUMP! The crowd..madea..MURMURING

NOISE?(Asth' fig..URE

SEEM(TOMOVE)?.SHIFT/IT'S(POSITION..ON

THE(LEDGE)?? JUMP! JUMP! JUMP! The

(TAUNT..WASREPEATED..(HIGHER*INTONE*

)? (THISTIME*)!! The figurethis..timeMOVED

FOR SURE..TO-WARDS? THE..LEDGE?? One

Thought?(HOWCOULD..SHE*HE*IT)?? JUMP!

JUMP!

(There..came(thebody)(FREEFALLING..ATFIRST

..THEN(TURNING*OVER

6TIMES)..SPINNING..SLOWLY..THEN(PLUNG

ING..FASTER*ASIT*HIT!! (the pavement..witha

(big*thud)!

END..OFTHEROAD..FORTORMENTED(YOUNG*

MAN) -the case of the solitary..

cyclist came.

-to a GRIZZLY CONCLUSION:

this week when

(all that was..left?)

of 16year-old

ANTHONY SANDARCO

was found(floating)

..in the channel

off Staten Island.

"We fill.. them in.. then

(A WEEK LATER)(THEY'RE BACK)"

one man says?

The Early Morning

HoursReveal..some(ofwhatth')NightTime

Brings

(DEAD*MICE)litter..

th'street! &1 saw.. (THREEE-LAYING THERE!!

..th'other day!)Notesanother woman.

Should I give..

myeself over to you..(YOUR*OREAM*STATE)??

yourWHI

MSEYS..yourFLAKEYFANATICAL*FAN*

TASYS..?

I .am sure(it-would)go Bad-(FOR ME! )We

are..BENIGNbeing(BIROS-OF..OIFFERENT

FEATHER?)It(Wouldn't..Work

n-'The Best of(OUR*IMAGINATION)Yours..or Mine?

(NoTask-is

Too Oifficult-EVEN*IF-THE GOAL..Is Not

PERCEIVEO!!)An Attitude ..can be FOREVER!!

BUT as- as tate-of MYE(ETERNAL INTEREST)of

MIND!? One must HOLO*ONTO..(EVEN*IF?)..? I

amsorry(YOUOON"T..SEEIT)thatway.. Shouldyou-

ever..Concern(YOURSELF? with..(SOMETHING*

MORE? ??))..I will be there!&as..usual(yu..cn-_mee)?

ConSTANTLY(holdingyourhand)&..LAVISHING*

GREAT*PRAISE..on you!!..&offering You(MyeHand

kerch_f?)I BEFORE (E)..-EXCEPT-..(AFTER-C).

Hello?(A Collect Call from Helen?) No.. I don't have..

enough money. "YOU..HAVE MORE..MONEY

THAN YOU KNOW.. WHA T TO DO WITH"! No..

(thank you)I said

What About The Pot? What?(aboutwhat?) OH! OH!

ALRIGHT!About th' Pot-O'-Petunias(&HertzRent-a-

Truck).. SOWE.. SO.. HERE'S(TH'SECONO*OAY)?

?(-WE'RE..MOVING! NOW..LISTEN TO THIS!!

BATS!! BATS ARE FLYING AROUNO..(MYE

ROOM)? &I'M

TRYING..TOSLEEPI'MSLEEPINGUP(N'TH'

ATTIC)? &BATSAREUP.. IN(MYE*ROOM)..&

ICAUGHT!

ONE! &PUT(IT*IN*AJAR)..SOIT'S

ALONGEARREO*BROWNBAT).. SOTH'NEXT

MORNING.. IT'SABOUT 7:30..&(IAMGOINGFROM

TH'..BREAKFASTTABLE?.

&BACK(UPINTO)MYE..ROOM)?.TO(GET*

TH'BAT)? TOSHOW*EVERYBOOY.. TH'BAT!)..?

CAUSE..EVERYBOOY(ALLTH'GIRLS)WANTEO..

TOSEE..TH'BAT? SOI'MCOMING..OOWN..

&(LISTEN*TOTHIS)..THEYHAVE(NEWBORN

KITTENS!!)? LISTEN TOTHIS!!...TRAGEOY!!

I'MNOT*KIOOING YOU? NEWBORNKITTENS?

6(OFTHEM)??? &YOUKNOW(IF YOU

KICK A KITTEN?) IF(YOUKICK

AKITTEN??) AWOMAN..THEWOMANOF

THEHOUSE_WILL(TURN*ON*YOU?)ASIFIT

WERE*..ONEOFTHECHILOREN)??

_YMBOLICALLYSPEAKING!! &sureenough? Iwas..

Iwas(LOOKING*INTO..THEJAR!!)?

take(astride)..takin_another(stride)?

&I'M..WALKIING(WF'MYE*BIG*BOOTSON??) &..

&I*

MNOTTHE*TYPE(OFPERSON)(WHOEVER..STEPS

ONANYTHING)?? I'MALWAYS(VERYALERT)..

I'VE..NEVERREALLY*DAMAGED..UH..ANYTHING

!?(NOTWITHMYE*FEET)LIKETHAT!..NO! NOW..

15EE..TH'CAT(TH'MOTHERCAT)??

&.. ALLTH'LITTLEKITTEN5(ALLAROUNDIT)? .

&IA55UME..ALLL*TH'LITTLE

KITTEN5*ARETHERE?

BUT..THI5(ONELITTLEKITTEN)WA5RIGHT..

THERE?? Alittlegreycat? kitten? &he(she)?

blended..

right(into*th'rug)? BAROOM..BAROOM..BAROOM..

B A ROO M!

(&I'M..LOOKINGAT*TH'BAT)?

&..ALLOFA..5UDDEN!!ARGHHHH!!!

&1.. REALIZED!!?(THERE5..UH THERE5.UH

THERE5UH!!)?

BUNDLE(a small bundle)? over there..

&I(CAN'T5TOP..MYEFOOT?

..IT'5*TOOLATE!! IT'5*TOOLATE!!

&RIGHTACRO55..THEEDGE

OF(MYEBOOT)..th'little(kitten)goes.. KerFlop!

itrolls..

about(overtwice)? &YELP5!OUT!.. &I5AW..

BLOODGU5HING!!!(nowreally)? ..&I5AID(OH!

MYE GOD!!)

WHAT(HAVEI.. HAVE I.. 5TEPPED(ON)!!??)

have(I)stepped

on(IT)'5 head?? oh!I..firstofALL*I*(DIDN'T*BE*

LIEVE*IT)??

WHERE(DID)ALL*THATBLOOD(COMEFROM)??.

YOUKNOW(IJU5T)..

THOUGHT(I)..I'DKNOCKED*TH'WIND(OUTA..IT)!!

Outtahim/herP &..

THENTHI5BLOODCAME(GU5HIN'OUT)!!? &Isaid..

oh! oh!oh!

Isaid..uh! uh! HEYMAC! MAC!COME HERE!! &..

(WHENEVER(I5AID)THAT!)??

CAROLE..th'WOMAN(OFTHEHOU5E)KNEW!?

..what(itwas)? sheknew(Ihad).. gottenon(oneofth'..

littlekittens..? 50.. THEBLOOD5GU5HINGOUT..

&..MACINDOE(HADA*KNAPKIN.. INHI5*HAND)?

&BOY!

IMMEDIATELY..HE5TART5WIPIN'(IT...UP!!!)

*LIKE..CRAZY!! Whha..are youdoing?HA-HA-HA-HA-hehe?

(Isaid..that's..not(goingto..do anything..er'good!!?

IMEAN..YOUKNOW..youknow??Ha-Ha-Ha-He?

IMEANyouknowyouknow..th'catsgoing{todie)?

Thekittens..going(to

die)?Ha-Ha_Uhhhh Wha:t(areyoudoing?) What(are..

youdoing..

?? Hesaid(they-maybe)if(theydon't)see th/blood..

they(won'tget)excited?(hewhisperedtome?)

IsaidMac..thatdoesn't..thatdoesn't(THAT'5._VANITY!!

-THAT'S

.. HAHA..THAT..OOE5N't..RIGHTTHING5(like..LIFE

orDEATH!!)?

50UH!.. th' littlekittenthen..startsyelpin'

&..startsbellowingout..squeeling(out-&

CHOKING ON TH'BLOOD!!)

&.. crawlsintoth'(fireplace)?

(&th'ashes..&..startsbellow

ingout..&(chokingon(allthat)blood!?)

&soMaclndoe..didasmartthing!

hepulled(it)outofthere)&he..tiLted(it)UP!

&th'blood..isrunning(outof(it's)nose).. &(it'srunning

(outof.. th'mouth&nose)?

&&..(it'snot)goingdownth'throat)&&..choking

(it)? Now..(ha-ha)50ALLDAYLONG--

WEWE(TOOKIT)TOTH'(VET)!

&5HEFINALLY..5AIO(5EEHERE!..(TH'ONETHING

..THAT5HAPPENED**INTHAT HOUSE!

((THAT'5EVEN*MORE OF A TRAUMA!!?)

THEY(HAD'DACAT*

.. JHAT(BIT)..INTO(AN*ELECTRIC*CORD!!!!!!)??

&(HE*JU5T)*TH'..

ELECTRICITY*JUST(ATE*OUT)..TH'(WHOLE

(MOUTH..OFTH'CAT)))))? Shetookit*toth'(VET)..

but&(FOR 9MONTHS..she(fed)this(cat)?)

..butth'cat.. it(ALL*HEALEO*OVER..but..(ithas)N

Oroof

INth'mouth(imean..(itsmouth)?))

NO..ROOF(OFTH'MOUTH(NOW)I!?

ITJUST..TH'ELECTRICITY..JUST(ATEUP*THE

WHOLE*MOUTH)I!!

(JUST*ATEUPTHAT(WET)!!? MOUTH!!??

ALLII?

so.. SHEOION'T(WANTTOGO..THROUGH(WITH*

THIS!)

ITWAS..ITWASTOO(TRAUMATIC..OF(AN*EX

PERIENCE)I!? FOR(9mouth..er'months)

(SHEHAOTO..FEEOTHISCAT..TH'STHIS(TWIST

EO*MONTH(er..mouthY)?

Idon't(know..what(it)? Mouth-OPENEO&..ALL

(Idon't

know..)fumes? odors..? alltha-..blood!?) SOI..SHE

SAIO..IF(IT'S*GONNA*LIVE?SAVEIT!

IFYOU(CAN*SAVE(IT)?IFNOT..

JUST..PUT(IT*TO*SLEEP)?? (SOWETOOK(IT..

OFF)..TOTHE(VET)!!&WER'E(RUNNING*

OFF(TOTH'VETII)..

&th'littlecat/er'(kitten)..youknow(there'snothing_

icouldsay?)

youknow..

I..KNEEWWWW!(THATI*OION'T..(HIT)TH'

LITTLE(CAT).. VERY(HARO)!! II..

COULON'T..UNOERSTANO??(whereallth'blood..

wascoming(from)?? I musthave..steeppedonits(head)?

or(i)kickedit(init'slungs)?? YouKnow??

&&&(itsits)hemorraghings? on..th'(inside)?

(where's(allthis)blood..comingfrom? Sowetookittoth'

VET! )

Iwentalldaylong.. Weloadedanother..12hrs.

(weworked-almost..15hrs.

almost..18hrs...before(wegotback)toPrinceton

.) In(fact)&..found(out)..thatth'little(kitten)..

only hada(bloody*nose). that(i)hadhit..(it)justright

onth'(little)nose. &(youknow)how(theyare)so*soft?

they..

were(justbarely)walking? ..&all? ButI..couldn't(figure

(it*out) ..youknow? ..&(Ihit*it)so..lightly?

&&wahtwhatisthis..blood?

youknow..&so(itturned)(out)..it(only..was a bloody

nose.

&.. atth'edge/ofthe/jaw?) there'salittle.. whatwhat..

theguy(called a split-lip)?. which(it)wasonlyalittle..area

..aboutthis(big)?.alittle- split(theyareso..soft?)

aaathisatthat(stage)? where..&for(3hoUrs..&3hours

when &3hourslater.. whenwhen..after(it)happened?

(thelittle..kitten..was runningaround

attacking*(hisher)brotherssisters! &whenI.. go

thome

thatnight..(it)gotup..&started(PLAYING & EVERY

THING)! TH'WOMAN..

butth"woMAN..(TURNEOONME..(THEN)? -

TH'(VERY*WOMAN)..That

hadtried..(togetme)..intoth"Swimmi:ng*Pool?

&took(off)allherclothesshe's(A..BEAUTIFUL*WO*

MAN)!I..SH'SVERY..PRETTY..SH'SBUILT*VERY..

FANTASTICI!

&&&&SHEs..VERY*ATTRACTIVE..SHE'SA..PICES!! So..

..&Soshe(trysto)enticeme.. intoth'Pool?

&Itellher(NOWLOOK..I'M..NOTGETTING..INTO

(THAT*POOL)WITHYOU.. I'M..

GOING(TOGO)INALLTH'WAY!!)..IAMNOTJUST

(GOING)TOGET(INTH'POOL)

..YOU(AREGOING*TOHAVE)TO(EMBRACEME)..&

I'M..GOINGTOGO(IN)!!

UH..&UH..SO yesss.. wellanyway..

SOUH.. YOUR'E.. going(toeat)? ..uh

(justalittle(cake)? ..uh..justalittle?

AREN'TYOU(SWEET*TONITE)?

LOOK..I'mgoingtocommitSUCIOE(ANYWAY

TONIGHT).. it'sNOTGOINGTOHELP!!

heISSOSWEETTONIGHT!!(IDON'TWANTTOKNOW

..WHAT'S..

GOINGON!? ) well.. 501.. SOUHH!!.. ITURNED..

OUT(TH'LIGHT!(&IT)TURNED OUT..THATUH..

WERE'COMINGBACK!!

FROM(LOADING..THE'SECONO*NIGHT)!!?

WE{ATESUPPER)..&THEN.

WE(WENT*OUT)..OUTTO'WORK!

heworkedhard.. &all(he)achieved.. inth'end..was

Beigebutts.

th'repetition..th'petaled soul?

(Lost in forethought?.

shedressed in Pink)

BLONDE IN FROM VIENNA! looks better..

than(I) expected! slightcrook?.UnderHer

Double(chin)? STRONG*SWING*OF*LEG..

DOWNTURNED*FEATHERS

..on her hat!

LONG-Nose (couldmakeadrawingCLASSICALMODEL

..th'past?

-CARVED IN ROCK!) ..like the CIRCLE?

likea(COMPLETE*FLOWER)..forthe

(plucking) ..LOST(MYE)POWER..TO

(NAVIGATE)!!

(questionmarkonhis-lip.)

(Me & my wife were coming

here to drop)..myesonoff?)

recounts..Philip_itzPatrick..(AND A

DEAD RAT..THERE..

..RIGHTon..theFLOOR}!? LIKE: Late one night(Isaw..

two

..(cats)I thought-itwascats?) ..THEN I SAW..TH'

LONGTAILS..??

along the..horizion..flames

(PINK SEA BIRDS)Red

PINK POWDER! (CON*Descending too!

th'kind..onyour'cheekbones)YOUSEE!!

..fromth'Mind!(BLACK POWDER-N'EYES

HELMETS!I)setat..rightangles?

(TO*HE*BEIGEBUTTSI)..a toast!

after

theyheard..miscellaneous..middleassed

song? Outclassed

BYEO'ARK*GLASSESI

probing..into(th'pits!) REALITY*STARING(-MeInto

Th'Face?)

TO*BEABLE*TOSING*AGAIN?

th'song..divided..into(th'SOFT*HORIZION?)

WHEWI(Howth'KEY*FITSI)

how..th'(KEY*TURNSI)

ANDIF

IF..(i ever get out?)

ofthismess? LOCKED IN I I

..(HAPPINESSwf'aSMILEI)

each-plume-lost-{n'lOVE?)

THATWILLNOTDO..shesaid.

walking..in(1ft. of water

tracksrunning..in2di

rections)?

I must retain/th'difference(split/downmiddle?

INTRO-VSEXtroVERS_E or VISION..)

I must in noway/LOSEth'DANCE?Forth'SONG??

LikeatIntervals?Of-th'World?

I must FIND*THE*COLOR*..of LOVE?A DOVE N'

..matter..with(out)content!

Content*Wif'OUT..WOODAGE?

..enragedth'(Look of th'

bewildered Quarry?)

I came/as fast as I couldlWHEN I HEARD

OF YOUR..DELIMMA!? They(toldme)you

wereat the HOSPITAL?IT..

CAME AS NO SHOCK TO ME!(the

way you had been acting

for the past(TWOWEEKS)??

what can i(say?morethani_already-have?)

(YOUR CRAZYNESS! HAS FINALLY*GOT..OUT

OF HANOI)?

try..towritedown..yourthoughts?

(..awrist(CANNOTTAKEMORE..THAN(ONE*

HYPHEN)?)?

AND(BOTTICELLI'S SPITOUT.. TH'FLOWERS?

FROMHIS.. VENUS?'S(mouth) )

Princess Margaret says.. (jealousy

-i

s- no concern)? Di & Charles(argue)..

over- PrinceWHATS HIS NAME..?

therewere..novisible marks.. left on the body?

husband says..he found wifedead? &..20"T.V. SET

MISSING!!

th'TULIPS thenth'..GERANIUMS

come&go..(inseason)?

th'STATUE STILL..

STANDS!

Policesay..(they are trying..to(figureout)?

why

a Brooklyn Lady? who-..-was sunning

on?

a Brooklyn Rooftop!(wasshotltodeath!)?

Isay..FLOATIN'LIKE..A(FOURPOINTED*STAR)

th'SILVERMOTH'S WHITEWINGS??_ (layontop-of..

thtTOILETS*YELLOWURINE!!))

whyareyou..so Macabre?shesaid

.. (iam..interestedin..theWORLDHESAID I)

theydanced(InThePastryShop)between..

th'WeddingCakes &ChocolateCovered*

Cherries..

(it'ssoNice..toSee! someone HAPPY!)

..&with..SOME5TEM*N'MOUTH!!

6/16/84

Found- &Lost!(lastnite..Ginsberg)gaveaway..5INGING!

(WILLIAM*PATTERSON*COLLEGE)

KNOWLEDGE/nowof..Jana Harris?

shesshould..trysohard..(MostTalentedOne?)5Princess

/ofHardKnocks!..gonesoft..fromCalifornia?

&TH'MACABRE*DEATH*GODDE55!-Anne

Waldman? alas..(5WAYIN'likea PUPPET! WAR

LORDE55!) supportin'er' HIGHNE55..WAR-LORD'S

PoliticalTheorys!of..

ANTI-WAR ANTI-L

OVE ANTI-EVERYTHING!

ANTI-POETRY! (outaluckonlife?)

THE ULTIMATE 5UPREME*MORALISTS?

morals/wrinkles(itsuglyhead)&n'worseway..

PETER*ORLOVSKY..(man-i-kin)??

..WAVIN'/&GE5TURIN'..&NODDIN_!!!(..like

COURTJE5TER)to EVERYTHING(like)A*OK*GURU

I5M!!? _.toeverywhimsey(ofth'GEMINI'5*DUAL

*HEADS

..ofCOMMUNIPERFORMANCE?)

..WHATHAVEYOUDONE_afterMINDBREATH5?

Ginsberg.. ..yes..Ginsberg..(OLDMAN MUMBLING-)

..wf'(ONE*EYE*COCKED)like Rembrandts' ..KING*

50LOMON?-You'11nevermakeit!)to..Th'PENTAGON!!

&ONECORRUPTION..deservesanother?

..YE5..0LDMAN(asgenius..soDI5CONTENT!!)

..5INGING..th'POPULAR*IDIOM

..ofa MIDDLECLA55ED*PERFORMANCE?

..goosingyour..(I5RAELI*FOLK50NG5..

TOTH'WIND!!)

GOD..HOWIT RAINED!! THATNIGHT!!!!

..&(i never read..MR. WIGleyCUM5..

The problem..firstcameto..our attention? when Alice

Tribaudo(an-aide

..to AssemblyWoman..Jane Rebuno)?

toldus..ofproblems(thatsomeBensonhurst people..

were*having..with*rodents.)

2blindmice..2blindmice..atesomeCHEESE&SWALLOW

ED..th'DICE!!SO NICE..

..LOOKED*INTO*THECAMERA&saidCHEESE..

PLEEZE!!THRICE!!!

..weseem..tobeCRAWLING..INRATS!!(stepbystep)?

when(it)wasborn? thechild became2ndinLINE.. to(th'

BRITISH THRDNEafter..CHARLES).

catch-catch can

in Israel or Iran(THELOSERS..NEVERWIN!!)?

This girl..in(RedShorts)

hasjogged..AROUND THE ENTIRE PARK..

32times-(HUFFING&PUFFING)

&hasyet..tocomeup..withone(GOOD LINE OR BLADE

OF GRASS)?

..things of remembrances..Past? eh?Whitman/Proust?

We wish to thank you for your cooperation in

sendingphotographs &/or slides of your work/for the

consideration of the Award Committee for Art/which we/are returning

to you herewith.

We regret/that we/are unable to include/your work in

our FDRECOMINGEXHIBITIDN/but we hope/we

may be able to calli upon you again/..i_ the nearf_ture

somesuggestion:Hello?

hello-somesuggestion:some..(weknow..that)?but

circle th'circle..th'professionalcircle/th'-circle..inth'park!

when I first noticed(BEIGEBUTTS..pasttense)? littering

up?(th'area..D)?

sunning themselves/nearth'fountain..

thisyear unlike (anyother ) 1. . & 1-there is no..water?

..th'spigit/isstill..there

..butth 'water?

..this_is 'unlikeanyother(*YEAR)? ..thereis..nowater!!!

thatiswhy..(I came to the circle)

..th'center(ofth'self!)? stillexists!(Me-You)infact/An-

inclusion..wateringdown(Axiom)er'th'center(A_ia)I

..don'tknow(whogaveer'..reason/orauthority-) tocut..

(th'water)off? ThenInoticed(them(beigebutts)d-lit*tering

up! Th'place)!!

&remembered..th'dogs..running & jumping! -

inth'circle/withan..occasional(chill)? ..dog&child?

holdingout..fromhisparents/DDGGONE! SOME EXCIT

EMENT! WATERFLYING..EVERYWHERE!!

..Somesaid-butth'-cigarett-BUTTS(e)

wereup/forgrabs!! onlyfilters?.growingon..

anoccasional-stem? filtersdry..no(nicotine*left)?

then(it)became..evidenttome-th'pulltops-? ??

th'lids..insome(greatnumber)were(competing.. bent)on-

with(in-beigebutts)as..symbol? Mostfilters?

(lookalike?)likehumansdo..(thatwillwill..neverdo)?

That!/willneverdo/withoutth'(COMMERICALSTAMP!)of

..letters/stillmissing?

likeabook?/fromletterless(NoFood!NoThrill!)Look!!

The High & Dry..Th'UpLift!!?/th'subjectwithout..th'verb

?Curb..that(INSTINCT!)Yess..

but..th'beigebutts(onth'grass?)weresunning?/some

scientific..somescantily-clad? (inlines..denotingFASH_

ION)?Bad er Sad

some-yearn-forburn/somefor-real-TRUTHYEARN&

BURN?shesaid..&whatis..real-TRUTH?(shesaid?)

.. (it )is.. youtMye. .Darling I

but we know!(TRUTH IS MULTIPLICIPLEI)

morethan..fragmentsof/th'Circle? brokendown/hetried/

whotried?Itriednottoadmit..thatYEATS?

Butth'trouble/inwriting(BEIGEBUTTS..convincedme?

like-PRINTWORLD..)

convincedme?

TITLE GALLERY DATE PRINTSIZE

EDITION

***************************************************************

CURRENT EDITIONS:

Bona-Fide Death At U-Haul ART 1974 51/4"x5"

University

Nixo Gene(War) ART 1974

Princess Oceana(EastHampton)ART 1974 Cigarchrist

At Absurd V-Mass ART 1974

My Cowkissll ART 1974

Susan With Dress UP! ART 1975

puntar'spayment(18 Etchings) ART 1976

CatWoman Of Houston St. ART 1976

Coke-Cocla Cigar-Christ! ART 1977

Helena Of Pudena(Doing-Palmas) ART 1977

MOnnie 50Hea ART 1978

Fuck's F'rnack Hera Sinndy- ART 1979

dro..mme(!)?

Federer'sLemoa!

-12Gauge 6 1/2Shot-ART 1980 33Y4"x3"

"Man On Crutches(With...*Lunch*pail!)"?

Woman Squatting..N'(MAD*I*-SON*SQ.PARK!(?)"

9"x6" 50 9"x173/4" 50 3"x173/4" 50 2"x2" 50 7 3/8"x8" 50

7 1/8"x7 7/8" 50 5 1/8"x5 1/4" 50 5"x41/4" 50 6 1/4"x4 5/8" 50

5 1 /4"x5" 50

5"x8" 50

ART

1980 2 1/4"x2 1/4" 50

ART

80 2"x2 1 /8"

Note(All Etchings) Price-an-Request!

Artist-SOLDOUT! ARTIST is in delimma!

&..inneed(Of*Money)?

Hello..hello-(butth'-BeigeButts?(-onth'Grass-?

)) were*sunning..burning*(mi_htconsume/..

-meth'consume)? that'sa goodone/Mr.

Beige..thanI_understand?)Yousee..ButtsSir-,Butts!?

&..thatdid(it)? ASSinth'CIRCLE! ASKth'CIRCLE?

Shelikeyou(shiftsher- position!

Gainstth'CIRCLE&lifts??)th'DRESS!!?

Butwhatif..(th'watermight(dryup)&leave us??)

th'DRYNESS..FOLLOWS(US*BOTH..TOTH'

GRAVE)?

&she..shelikeyou(showin'more Beige?

than..meetsth'eye?)(showin'moreBUTTS?)

thanever..Iexpected..said(AWLC'MON!)

YU'LL..(NEVER*GIT*..TOHEAVEN*/-..ONA*

CINN-AMON*/-..*BROOMSTICK!)?

.&me..sittingback..(&staring/atth'APPLE..n'th'MIRROR??)

Hello/-..Hello?(Its a'.. collect call-

for Philip?)..-Person to..-Person?

hello.."he's not here?"

(HECERTAINLY..IS!! THAT'SHIM..SPEAKING!!)

OPERATORI!(your'e call..isthrough!I)?

..hellohoney?.it'sme..Helen!/..&(justwantto..tellyou

ILOVEYOU!)(thatsnottrue..LOOK!)

FOR(FIFTHTEENYEARS..IT'SBEEN..TRUE!!)

Drinking..Money & Water! Water & Money..&th'Circle?

going..around(ForFift_teen*Years)drinking?

I'MRICH!!..MYEUNCLE*SAUL..(died..&mymother..

got(it)th'BITCH!! &I..I'MA..DECANERE!!

NO*MILLIONS..FORME!!) (decadentanyway..Isaid)

mye UncleSaul(whispered..inmyear)?

..money&water/money&water/&th'circle?

thisforthat..dearDAUGHTER!I?

danglin'(N'FRONTOFME?)..th'CIRCLE?

..&I(GOTRELIGION..WF'APIGEON!!)..

comesee/come-..sah?

LOOKINGCLOSER/atth'CIRCLE?.

(CIRCLING..aroundth'CIRCLE)?

(GREEN*DARK*LEAVESIDOMINATEDBYE..

BEIGE/SNAKING*BUTTS)? LIMBS..ofaPECULIAR*

ORDER? (LIM8S/LEAVES/MONEY/WATER..)

OUGHTER..

BOUT..(DO*IT)DEAR*DAUGHTER!!?

Thatguy..really(about)ruinedyou?

(pasttense)?Imean

.. LOOKIHEWASHEDME..FEDME..

BOUGHT(MYECLOTHES?&TOLDME..

TO. . BRING (HOME) TH"BACON! !? )

WHAT MORE..CANYOU(ASK?.&

WIPED. .MYASS!!)?

Don'tbeCrassBut/..strife..N'THISLIFE?

WILLvsLOGIC(TRAGIC)FATEvs

WISDOM? how..doesthatgrabyou? how..

doesthataffectus?

NOJOKE'WORTH(TRYIN'TOESCAPE)?

..TH'RIDDLE?

(WHOLET*TH'WATER..

OUTA..TH'CIRCLE?)

LOOKIN'CLOSER.. atth'CIRCLE!/circling/around..th'

CIRCLE? -anothertype..ofCIRCLE?(Twoofthem..

-came/arriving..atsame(time)?)

-wf'BeigeShapes?(call(it)adog?

-dogs ! BeigeTerrier !wf 'Butts?

-&plenty..ofcommon(sense)?

SomeMetaphor..wf'out

AnyLiving(SYMBOL)!!

-ABALL!! _OFGREEN!! -(GREEN*DARK*

LEAVES)! -DOMINATEDBYE?/BUTTS?

/SNAKING

LIMBS.. -somuch..forthat!

-(th'littlegirl? -in(REDTOP)..went.. -th'otherway.. -

(IHUNG..UP! )

but..th'water??

like..molecules*moving??

(inanempty/room)? wf'out..talent? (TH'MINDS*

MIRAGE/mirage-

like..n'(mi*razh')n.(F.,Fr.mirer..tolookat/carefully..

air/semirer/tolook..

atones elf? inaglass

? reflect..bereflected!? fr.VL.mirare/tolook-at?

1.AnOptical..Phenomenon

producedby.. astratum..ofhot? air..varingin/ intensity?

(er'airvarying..density/ accross..whichth'/ observer..sees

REFLECTIONS?) usually..(INVERTEDof..some

distance?) distantobject? or..objects/2.Something..ILL-

USOR

Y? ..likeaMIRAGE/-CIRCLE-/money/-water7

RATS! ! shesaid.. The(peopleof..West24thSt.)-arescared

scaredthat.. theremay(simply. .be. no way)?

ofstopping..the(FURRY*LITTLE*CREATURES)?

WHO..HAVE(COMEUP)..FROM(BELOW_?

(imean..really!..said(onewoman)whoask

ed..nottobe..identified?)

..soyousee?

..BeigeButts!presents..aproblem?

..Whatwas/th'Score?(1Bto3)!

..WESLAUGHTEREO..THEM!!

but..ifas(in)/th'm_rage?/th'hotcircle?

..returns?(likeina..desert?..it'sWATER

we..seek!) ..worth(two)BEIGEBUTTS! ..-

th'CIRCLEinaweek!?

but..burning..n'circles..shesaid(AROUN'

Oth'MIND)? ..th'moneybush/inashes?

&theycame..froma..far

WISEGUYS! (er'WISEMEN/fbllowin'aSTAR)..fromth'

Fields?(OFBURNING*CIRCLESOF..BEIGEBUTTS-

OFWATER*/Frankinsence

&Myrrhh!)..&RATS!

(like..Bach-heopened(it)up!DN*TH'FOURTH

NOTE!!

ofTH'FIFTH*CIRCLE)!

Dear Customer:

Just a few days from nowwhen your entry arrives-

at the Clearing House--(A*LUCKY*NUMBER)-

...ABSBLUiELY WINS!!

you a PRIZE WORTH $5.00 FOR SURE...and possibly

much much more

such as (WATER or LEAVES-& BEIGEBUTTS!!)

...ABSOLUTELY GUARANTEES!

you THREE*OPPORTUNITIES*TO*WIN

from

3(FULL*SETS*OF*FREE*PRIZES)including..3

(GRAND*PRIZES)?

...ABSOLUTELY gives you

A*SHOT at the$250,OOO.OO SUPERPRIZE!! (a-

miracle Bonus on top of

A COpy OF BEIGEBUTTS! &..

ANY(CIRCLE*AWARD)..you may WIN!!

..leaves & bits(of paper)..small(whirlwind?)

..goingaround..inacircle?

th'SnapDragons..thenth'Liliescome&go..(inseason)?

th'Statue

stillstands..

"you can'tsaythatyou..cansitouthere..

orsit- anywhere..thesepeople sitintheir..yard/they

sit..intheir..yard&theysee.. them-running

intheir..yard?

he(pointing..

toa man)?-caughtone

(inhis..window!)

Dear Mr.

Blank!

As your President, I..

am calling upon you to make a*most

unusual sacrifice.

Not the kind of sacrifice that

a National Emergency might requireof you

your children or your grandchildren but BEIGEBUTTS

has to be protected

from foreign invasion.

I must ask all of you to make thisSACRIFICE for

BEIGEBUTTS & our country. For this reason(I am

personally inviting you)to become a member of the

"PRESIDENTAL*TASK*FDRCE"!! And you are

urgently neededHere's why:

one fellow

saw a neighbors dog(GDLIATH)-carrying something

in-his-mouth:

He picked(it)up&..KILLED(it)?

&..what we saw

. .was a rat?

Police

say..(they are trying..to(figureout)?

how

a Brooklyn Lady? who- was runningon(topof)

a Brooklyn Rooftop!(wasknifed!todeath!)?

Isay..FLDATIN'LIKE..A(FIVEPDINTED*STAR)

th'JEWISHMDTH'S BRDWNWINGS!!((layontop-of..

th'TDILETS*GREENURINE!!))

whyareyou..so Melancholy?shesaid.. (iam..interestedin..

theSTATE-(DFTHINGS)HESAID!)

eydance

(InThePornoShop)between..

th'DildoCakes &ChocolateCovered*Cherries..

(it'ssoMean..tohear! someone SAD!)

..&with..SDMESTEM*N'MDUTH!!

Melancholy(mel'an. kol'i or esp.Brit.,-kul.i)n.;

pl.Cholies(Df. melancolie, fr.LL., fr.GR.melancholia,

fro melas,-anos, blackIchole( gallbile)l. Archaic & Hist.

Athick(darkacridbile?)

-formerly imagined to be

a (SECRETION-of the KIDNEYS or SPLEEN?)

&the causeof GLOOMINESS? -

IRASCIBILITY*orMENTAL..OEJECTION?

later..MELANCHOLIA

2.(a)OEPRESSION ofSPIRITS?-dejection

. (b)PENSIVE*MEOITATION?-Syn. seeSADNESS??

-adj. 1.SUGGESTIVE orEXPRESSIVEof

MELANCHOLY..orDEJECTION?

DISMAL? DEPRESSING? 2.ProducingSADNESS?

LAMENTABLE? -asa

MELANCHOLY(EVENT)??

3.SERIOUSLY..THOUGHTFUL..orMEDIATIVE?(ly)?

PENSIVE?

..th'sparrows..inth'park? ..&th'dogs..did(bark)?

..another(woman)

claimed..thata..neighbor? had(complained)?

of a mouse(RUNNING PAST-HER FEET)?

in her bathroom?

& th' CIRCLES. . OFth'..MIND(REPEATED-th'CIRCLE

S?)

-OFth'..EYE(WATER..&MONEY)??

THATSHALL..NOTDO..shesaid.

..engaged..th'LOOK-(

..ofth' BEWILDERED*QUARRY)?

"DOYOU..TAKE..THISMAN??-"

-MARRYME!! MARRYME!!(nowshe..

said.)?

-INTO_OLY*MATRIMONY?-inTHROBBING

MINDBEAT.. -th'THOUGHTS!!INCREASED!!

moreTHINKING(..thanSONG!!)..(without*statement)??

whatabout..th'POT?

whatsthat? aboutth'POT! youknow! whataboutth'POT?

youmean? Pot-of-Petunias?

&..Herti?-Rent-A-Truck?

..yeah.. OH! OKAY!.. wellheregoes.. UHHHH

IIIIUHHH.. (I)TURNEDOUT (IT)TURNEDOUT..

THATUH.. WER'ECOMINGBACK..FROM

LDADING TH'SECONDNIGHT!! WEEATSUPPER!!

&THENWEW[NT

..OUTTOWORK? &notonly..this th'WODJE'Sarevery

nice...

people! WODJE&Caroldecide...

he..hedecides(hewantsto)hefeels(guilty) that(heisn't..

helpingus)? &hewantstobelong.. SOat2:30atnight

(we'refinishingth

'meal?)&..hesays OKAY! !LETS(GOUNLOAD*NOW)!

! &(ILOOKED*ATHIM)? AreyouCRAZY!?

You&Carole(gotobed)&&.. Ken&Iwillgo(&UNLOAD)

?&&.. &Conniesaid.. I'mGoingToo!

I'mGoingToo!&&..prettysoon(everybodYisgoing)?

YOUCAN*IMAGINE?. Sowegointoth'Truck(Connie-

I&Ken) wedrive(it)overto..totohisplace? ..

whichisabout(15minutesaway..it's30minutesaway-

20to30minutesaway)? ..

fromPRINCETDNintoUH! HOPEWELL*JUNCTION

&UHHH..

WEUNLOA

D!! ..&WEGETTHROUGH!!

&I'MDRIVING(THETRUCKBACK(&SUDDENLY

ConnieDECIDES..)Shedoesn't.. SheShewantstotaketh'

WINE) thatwe'd..thatsh'dbought(&take(itback)in..withth'

car?) .. because(shethought-itwouldbesafer?)..thanleave

(it)inth'TRUCK!!? SOSHE..JUMPS(INTOTH'CAR!!)

SO (THEYDRIVEOFF!!)? &Ken&I..ARESITTING..

THERE(TALKING)!

&WE'RETALKINGABOUT*ALOT*OFTHINGS)?

b'CAUSEI'M..WORRIED(ABOUT*ALOT*OFTHINGS

!!)? somethings?IseeIsee..thatWoman

thatWOMAN'S..gonnaKILLME!! THATWOMAN'S..

GONNAKILLME!! (why?) &Itryedtotell..well..Connie!

SHE ..I'MAFRAID? SHE'SNOT..FORTH'BETTER?

FORMAC..ISEE(ALLSORTS*OFTHINGS!)SHE..

WANTSTO*BELONG*TOPRINCETON(&allthat)..

&&IWARNYOU..about CERTAINTHINGS!

I'M..TELLING(YOUcertainTHINGS)&hesaid..he's

BEGINNING(TOSEE)?(CERTAINTHINGS..)??

..SOMETHINGS..TOO!?(that..BOTHERHIM)?.that

(botherhim)?.

ANYWAY..THEN..NEXTTHING(WEKNOW)..IS-

THAT(SHEWOULDN'T*EVEN.. LEAVE(US)

ALONE??) SHE(HADTHEM)DRIVETH'..CAR..

BACK!! to see

whywe(weren't..comingon!!)?

&EXTREMELY*JEALOUS*WOMAN!! ..SOWE

DRIVE!! SOSOSO..

SOTHENI(GOTANGRY..&..&IDROVE(THAT*

TON..&1/2TRUCK!! OUTTATHERE!!) (IT)..WAS

ONE OFTHOSE.. BIGONES!! GGGRRROOAANNNN

innnnnn... GGGROOOAAAANNNinnnnn... &UHHHH

.. I'MDRIVING(SOFAST!!THATWE..GET(RID*OFTHE

M))..(BUT)IMAKE*AMISTAKE!!!? &IUGHH.

. &I..&I(HAVETOWHEEL..IN)? BECAUSE(THEYPICK(USUP)?

THATTTCAR

(HASSUCH..PICKUP..YOUKNOW)?IT'SUHHH..

IT'SUHHH.. WHAT(ISTHAT..CAR)?? THATCAR..

ISUHHII? (IDROVE(IT)..0UTATH'AIRPoRT!!?.

ToPICKUP..

THATKID??) thiskid..that's

uhh..{thatkid..tha'FLEWN'..FRoMDENVER)??.

thatWASGoNNA(PLAY..withtheir-son?)

&SHEwanted..me(ToDRIVE)TH'CARII)?

&WHATS-AMAZIN'..yoUKNOW? isThat..

yoUknow(yoUcould..

BE_OUTTHERE!!&..)-(thoseWoMEN..JUST

(TAKEoVER)!! they

just-DECIDE..whatTHEY!!(WANTyoU..toDo!I)?

&EVERYTHING..? ..(CoURSE..YOU'RE..STAYING*FREE..&EVERY

THING!!)? &EATING..&(ALL*THAT!) BUTstill-

youknow? THEY..BEGIN(To*USE)YOUr!

..ATWILL!I(BUTSTILL..THEY-

(BEGIN(To*USEyoU)..ATWILL??)

..&I.. II Idon' t- like(that) ! (that )-reallygoes..

against(me)!? ..thatreally.. issomething! 500...

WHAT..HAPPENS(ISTHAT)..I'MTRYING..(To

DITCH*TH'CAR)!! &I-

.. REALIZE(that..IT..ICAN'T*DITCH(IT))?

SoI..JUSTWHEEL(INTo)THIS..FIlLINGSTATIoN!I)

..PARK&TURN(oUT..TH'LIGHTS!!)

and..theycomedriving.. along(up!) Laughing

(youknow)

? Ken&I..(are..there)? ..&there'relaughing? &theysay..

well(yoU..CAN'T(GETAWAY)FRoM..US- canyou??

&SoTHEN..

Carolebacksout.. &startsdriving..thecar(aroundthe..

block)?

..&THEN(I)..BACKoUT.. &THEN(I)DIDIT!!

IDRoVE

..LIKEA FIEND!!!! BoYIWETURNED()SoMECoR

NERS..!! IN(THAT*BIG*TRUCK.. &KENSAYS..

oHHHHHHHH...

YOUR'ENDTGoNNNNAA..MAAKKEEITTTT!!)

HA-HA-HA-ha(SHERRRoDD...

yooooUUUUUURRRREEEEEE...NoooTTGoNNNAA

AAA..(MAAKKEE*IIITTTT)!!!

..THATTTTToNNNNNEEEEI! &HE &HE

(STARTSYELLIN..HA-HA-Ha

&..SCREAMING!!!) &SURE..NOUGH!! WE

GoTARoUND&.. ..UHHH..WEFINALLYUUHHH..

WEWE WE

DITCHED(THEM)!! WE(DRoVEDoWN)..THIS

(HIGHWAY)!! UNNBELIEVABLE!!! &yoU..KNoW?

? yoUyoU..KNoW?

(THoSE*BIG..TRUCKS)ARE..difficult(toturn)!

They(don'thave..)muchturn?

Youuucan'tturn..thoseBigTrucksl1?.tooFast? You

Havft'..toYou Havft(toSwingThemoUT!)?&..CUTem'

BACK!! &&you-youhavft..

tocut(it)atjustth'RightMoment(oryour're..offth'road?

or..youdon'tclear)?

YOUDoN'CLEAR..UHHH..TH'(INSIoEFENDER)?

AWLRIGHT.. 50 WE'reDRIVINGDOWN.. th'HIGH

WAY!! &SUDDENLY

(THER5S*ANoTHER..HIGHWAY)??CoMMING..

inlikethis!1 50I'MDRIVING.. &IGo(GRRRNNN..NNN

..NNN

ERRRCCKKKKKI)&IDRIVEBACK(UPINHERE)

..&THENPARK!(CATACoRNER?)ACROSS..TH'

RoAD!? (CAUSE)IWAS..(IN*THEACT*oFBACKING

oUT!)? &I(HADTOCUT..TH'LIGHTS!)

..youknow&THEY(..WENT..DRIVING(BYE)!!!

&THEYGoooo..GRRRNNNN.. ..&theygo..onpastus!)

So..wefinally(ditchedthem)onth'

Highway!? Now.. UUHHHH.. Wetook..

(ourtime) cause

hewanted.. tohear(what(I)had(tosay))I? we..(gothome)

hour&..ahalf(late)? later!?. &coming(into..th

driveway.. Iwasso..)-

UHHH..&WE(CAUGHTa..LUNARMOTH..A

BIGGLUNAR*MOTH!!) ..haveyouever..seen-those?

Babies..

There(aboutTHI5BIG!!)?

FLYING*AROUNO(ABIG)LAMPP05T!!?

OUT..ON.. TH'HIGHWAY!!(at..night!)

Andtheir..

PALEI(theirlike..LORCA'5*MOON5)??

EXCU5EME!!..theirtheir

.. PALEGREENYELLOW..CHEE5ELIKE..THEY'VE

GOT..(TWOBIGEYE5!!)LIKE?. down_ere//thenyou'

vegot(this)..

delicate.. lonnnnggg... trail..youknow-?(filagree?)

uuhhhh.. beaut-BEAUTiful..moTH5! UNBeliev

able!..&UHHH.. hehe'd..BeenBurn't..(BYEth'LIGHT)!!

&50I.. IFINALLY(LETHIM*GO)ANYWAY!

KENWE'VE(GOTTOTAKE)..EM'? WE..oughtto..

(take'eml)? &PUT*A*NEEOLE!!..throughthim!&

PINHIM*UP.. ! !)? &THA' THAT' 5.. THE (M05T

BEAUTIFUL! !?. &THEYALWAY5..theythey-

always(ARE*IN)EVERY*COLLECTION..))?

inall*TH'MOTH5..theyalways..have..

ONEBIG*LUNARMOTHI!

&&&thelrtheir. . theirRARETOO ! ! . . their

(notacommon)moth(caus_thei_)noctu_nal?

butANYWAY! - 50IUHHHH!.. WE'ORIVINGINTO..

TH'ORIVEWAY!! &5URE*NODGHl!ICUT

.. ..ICUT(THI5CORNER).. II..WA5N'T(ORIVING

FA5TI!?)-ICUTTHEN- BUT(TH'ORIVEWAY)?

WE'O(beenout..anhour&..half)&(wewere..both

(dogtired)!) &..bye(thattime)? somehowitwas(about..

4 about4:00o'clock)Iguess!? &we..mighthave

startedat(1:30loading?) 50.. 5URENOUGH!! 1

(I'MTURNING..THI5(ONECORNER)!! &THEY..

HAOHa-HA-HA-

ontheirONTHEIR(5UNPORCH)?.orROCKPORCH??

HA-HA-&(I'M5TILLLAUGHING)? HA-

HA..CAU5E(EVERYTRAGEOY)HAPPEN5(TOME)!!

!? ITWA5??. AAAAHUGGGEEHHH.. BBIGGGG..

CA555TTTIRRRONNN.. KETTTTLE!!!

WHICHWA5. . THI5BIGGGG! ! !

ABIGGGGAAANNNTIQUEEE! !

(BEAAUUTTIFFULLLBBBIIGGGGAANNTIQQUE

E!!) BUTIT

.. ..HAOABIG*HOLE(onthe..inside)INOTHERWORO5..

IT(WA5V

ERY..

FRAGILE)? &1111 50MMMEEHOOOWWW

WW!! BUMMPP

..INTO(THAT!)!!? CIRCLE..? POT? WITH(ONEOF..

TH05E.. BIGTIRE5!!)? &We'redriving..along..&Isay!

(Itwent

.. CCCCCCCCRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAACCCCCCKK

KKKKK!!! KKKKKKK!!!KK!

(RIGHTN'...TH'MIOOLE(ofth')NIGHT!!HA-HA-

AAWWWLLLLHHOOO-

HHHH!!!!HA*HA*HA*RIGHIN..TH'MIOOLE(OF

TH')NIGHT!!HA*HA.. CAN(I*IMAGGINEE?)

YOU(COUULLOO*(NOT)IMMAGGINEE!!?

Youcould(imagine)?

3_30(IN..THEMIOOLE)OF..TH'MORNING!!!? or

4:00AM.. CCCCCCRRRRRAAAAAAACCCCCKKK

K!!! CCCCRRRAAAACCCKKKkkkkkk!!!!

MAC..(WHATTTT*WA555555*THAAAATTTTT!!!

!)?? WHAAA..WAAAA5555(THAAATTTTT!!))?

HE5AIO(ITHINK..ITWA5-?

AAAA 5555TTTTTIIIIICCCCCKKKKK

KK)?? A5TICK? NO..HA*HA*HA

ASTTTIIICCCKKK!..HA-HA-HA ASTICK!!?

NOMAC..THAATTWASA..(TREETRUNK)..HA-HA-

IFANYTHING..NOTA(STICK)? 111HIT(SOME

THING!!) UUHHHHH..IUUHHHHHH.. MACK..

MACK.. II..HITTTT..SOMETHING(AGAINNN)!!

WHHHAAAAATTTIS..THAT?

II. .SAID. .WAS(THERE. .SOMETHING. .ONTH'

(END?)OF .. TH' POS[! !?)

UUHHHH..TH'EDGE(OFTH'PORCH)? HESAID

(YEAH!).. HESAID(YEAH!)(A*BIG*KETTLE)?

HELOOKEDATME..

&ISAID...OOOOOOOHHHHHHH!NNNNOOOOO

OOO!..OOOOO!!

IWASN'T(TRYING*TODESTROY*OUTTHERE!)

SOIPARKED.. (TH'TRUCK)?.&wewalkedback?

&thenmye(foot.. went..CLANK!CLANK! &there

was-(somedeepsilence?) &Isaid.. UHUH..UHOH!?

&Isaid..(theyv'eheard(it)? -.. theyv'eheard(it)?

..&CAROLESAID..SHESAID..WHAT'STHAT!!

..WODJE!!?? WHATT'S(HE..DONENOW!!?)

HA-HA(YOU

KNOW..AFTER(TH'KITTEN)?HA-HA

-YOUKNOWYOUKNOW..NOW(REALLV)?

NOW(THEEE'RE*PATIENCE..WAS(REALLY*

RUNNING*OUT!!)?)? Carole&Wodje(haveheard(it)

&.. ANYWAY(YOUKNOW..HOW(I)..

HAD TO*GETOUT..OFTHERE!!?QUIIICCCCCKKK

KK!!) NOW.

. ISAID..MACK(WEGOTTO)DO..SOMETHING!!

(NOW..LOOKMACK!!)I'MNOTGONNINGTO..

LEAVE(LIKETHIS)? WE'VEGOTTO..PUT(IT)

THISPOT

BACK(TOGETHER)! !?? .SO(HERE.. (IT) IS! ! )

LAYING..

LIKE(THIS(YOUKNOW»!!?

&ITHAD(DIRT)IN(IT)YOUKNOW?

&IT(HADDIRT)(INIT)..THISMUCH!!

&(THISBIG..AROUND)??

..DIRT(IN(IT)..UP(TOHERE)? &(TH'DIRTIS..

EVERY

W HER E??) &I..&I(DIDN'T)..REALIZE? &(ISAID)

..WHAT'S

THIS(GREEN*STUFF)? &HE*SAID. .PE*TUNIAS! !

(HESAID.. THEYHAD-

FLOWERS(INTHERE)??

ISAID..OOOOHHHH!NNNNNOOOOO! &(IT

TURNED(OUT)TO BE..GERANIUMS & PETURNIAS

?) TWOBIG..GERANIUMS

&TH'REST(WERE..PETUNIAS..

NOW(YOUKNOW)THOSE..THINGS

ARENDT!! &&WHEN(YOU*HIT*IT! )?.

ITIT ..SPLLAAATTED

OUUTTT!! &&..ANOTHER(TIRECAME)..ACROSS

(IT*HERE)??YOUKNOW..

&HERE(IT*IS)..JUSTA..(MAAASSSSHHEDD*

MEESSSSSSS!!!)?

&SO(MAC*SAID)..WELLYOU(KNOW)wecould..

tryto(put*it)BACK

TOGETHER!!?

&Isaid..YOUR*KIDDING)..ARE(YOU*KIDDING)!!?

YOUR'E(OUTTA..YOURHEAD!!)ISAID..

but(THAT'STHE..ONLY

THING(TODO!!)WE..GOT*TO*DO*IT!? SO..

Iwent

&GOTa..FLASHLIGHT..inth'House? &tiptoed(into)

th'House? &GOT*A*FLASH*LIGHT!)

CAME..back*OUT!&WE.. FOUND*TWO*

SHOVELS!! &we..found(anOLD*PIECEOF..BI_*_

RUSIY*WIRE!!) aboutthisTHICK!!

&WE(WRAPPED(IT)AROUND(1WICE)AROUND..

(TH'THING..) &TIED(IT..)UNDERTH'HANDLES!!?

RECONSTRUCTED(TH'WHOLE*POT)..

WEHAD..WEHAD(TOTAKOUT)

TH'REMAINDER..OFDIRT!!)? TAKE(IT*OUT)!?

PLACE(TH'STUFF

)INTH'INSIDE!..&oNE(PLACE(oFTH'PoT..WoULD

N'T)STAYIN? SoWEJUST..oVERLAPPEDITI!

(CASTIRoN*PoT)? WHICHyoUKNoW..ISQUITE

(VISUAL?) INoTHERWoRDS..HA-HA

SHE'sGoNNA..CoMEoUT!! INABoUT..2mos.)?

&she'sgonna see..(she'sgonna..see)Ha-Ha-

Ha(ALL*TH'..FLoWERS*DEADI)&she'sgonna..see

(WHATHAPPENED.. ToMYE...PooooTTTTTTT!!)?

(WHHHHAAAAATTT*HAAAAAPPPPEENNNED*

Toooooo*TH""""'pooooooooooooTTTTTTT!!?)?

HA*HA*HA*HA*HA_ HA*HA*HA*.. HA*HA*HA

*HA*HA*.. HA*HA*HA*???? yoUKNoW

HA*HA*HA* yoUKNoW.. SO.. ANYWAY..

SO..

WEWoRKed.. weworked.. weput(allth'soil..back(in)?

reconstructed. . th'pot! th' pot. . inth' dark?)? &he. .

started..laughing &1.. startedlaughing -like-crazy

(causey

ouknow-(we'd..beenDrinking)!? we'd..beenworking

(forab

out).. 15/18/2ohours..) &hesaid(this..istoo(much)&&

(we're-laughing)..&hesaid.. REMEMBER(th'PAINT

iING)bye-th' GRAVE*DIG

GERS!!?).. DDyoU(EVER*SEE)that..

PAINTING!!?

Of Qui..QuiBaud? uhh..QuiEWBoH?. uhhhh(1898?

.Painting

of- GRAVEDIGGERS?) it 'an AMERICAN PAINT

ING!?

&TheseEyes.. AreLikeThis!!??. &TheirDigging..

&(yoUKNoW..THEY(ARE*SCARED))??

&THEY'REBEING..BEING(CAUGHT!!)?

BYE*SoMEBoDY..HA*HA..

REMEMBER(THAT*PAINTING)?HA-HA_HA

WELL..THIS(REMINDSME..oFTHAT*PAINTING!)HA-HA-

HAyoUMEAN..ToSAY

.. YEAHooHHHYEAAHHH!(THATPAINTING)?

WELLHA-HA- WEWE

REARE..(GoING..To(GET)CAUGHt)!! WEWE..

CAN'T(PoSSIBLY..

&&WE..'ARESCRAPING..WE'ARE(SCRAPING)?

..WITH(TH'SHoVELS!!) ..ATNIGHT(SSCCRAPIN

NGG!!

&ATNIGHTTH'(CRICKETS..AREGoING..kkkkkk

krrrrrrrhhhher..kkkkkkrrrhherkkkkkkrrrhhherr..kkkk

rrrhhherrr!?) scrape..scrape..

SCRAPE.. uhhhhoovverhereKen..(moredirt)overhere

. overhere(moredirt..moredirt)!! ha-ha-ha ha-ha-haha

.. scrape..scrape..some(moreflowers)? ..(moredirt)?

Ha-Ha

-HaHERE..PRoPP(THEMUP..PRoPPTHEM..UP(To

(MAKETHEM)STAND!!))I!MAKETHEM..

(STANDUP)!!Ha-ha-ha.. BoY!(ITWAS..TooMUCH!

!)?

NAW..Reallyit'stoo..much? (THISoNE'stoo..stiff

(looking)?) ha-ha-ha..

So(WEPUT(ITALL..BACKToGETHER!!) WE

REPLANTEDth'FLoWERS..

NoW(yoUKNoW..THEY(ARENoT..GoING)ToLIVE

THEY'LLLIVE..ha-ha..hehe NoW(REALLY..

WHEN(WEGoT

THRoUGH..WITH(TH'FLoWERS..)? THEY

WERE..

THEYWERE.. LIKE(THIS)..kinda-horizontal??

WEHUNG..THEM(oN)EACH..oTHER!! (HUNGTHEM..oN(TH'EDGE)?? HA..HA-Naw..really? ha-ha-

&THEN(WETooK*WATER..TH'WATER?. &WATERED(THEM!!))) IN (HOPES!??).. THAT(A*CoUPLE?)..oFTHEM..(WoULD*STAND

(UP)!!))HA_HA BYE..INth'MoRNING.. Thenwe.. WASHED(AWAYTH'SoIL)..Pulled Rocks..DroppedLeaves

PART*TWO/-..OF*/-..THREE*PARTS!

"BEIGE*BUTTS/-..-I*(!)"?

poems..(C)copyright

philip lawrence sherrod

Friday, September 10, 2010