I WATCHED YOU EXPLOIT MY FATHER’S BODY FOR THE USE OF HIS HEAD
WE BUILT A PICKET FENCE, SPLIT A WATERMELON
AND BECAME CLOSE FRIENDS
BUT ON THAT SUMMER DAY THE ICE CREAM BEE-HIVE
WASN’T THE ONLY THING THAT WAS MELTING
ALSO SUBTLY WAS OUR MUTUAL RESPECT,
THE ICY SILENCE OF THE TAUNT “I’M TELLING”

NOW FURTHER ON DOWN THE FARM PROPERTY WAS WILMA,
OUR FAMILY HORSE
SHE WAS 200 YEARS OLD, HAD LEARNED TO READ ENGLISH
AND TAUGHT A LEARNING ANNEX COURSE
SHE WAS WHISTLING A SECRET THROUGH HER BIG TEETH
ABOUT THE SUDDEN PRESENT
I THINK IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE PAST,
AN ILLEGITIMATE CHILD, A HIDDEN RESIDENT

SOON BETWIXT THE WALLS OF THIS HOUSE
FATHER INSTALLED YOUR TV BROADCASTERS
SATELLITES, TRADITIONAL RABBIT-EAR ANTENNAS
AND A SET OF NOVELTY TALONS
YOU WERE GIVEN THE ABILITY TO INVENT STYLE
INSTEAD OF HAVING A TALENT
THIS OPPORTUNITY WAS THE VERY FIRST
OF YOUR MANY IMPOSÉD DISASTERS

I STUCK A FINGER DOWN MY SILKY THROAT
WHEN I LEARNED ABOUT THE WAVE POOL
DAD WAS AFRAID OF SWIMMING
AND WASN’T A BIG FAN OF THE LAWS OF PHYSICS, EITHER
BUT THERE IT WAS ONE DAY,
IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR LATE VICTORIAN LIVING ROOM
GODDAMN IT, SISTER AMOURATEUR,
YOU’RE THE WORST OF THE BUNCH, DID YOU KNOW THAT?
DID YOU KNOW THAT?

THE SUDDEN SWORD OF HUMAN PUNCTURE,
THE WALLS BEIN’ HIT BY SCREAMS
INFANT TODDLER BEORDIBIRD THE THIRD
WAILIN HIS NEW CONSCIOUSNESS SONGS
FATHER EYEIN’ ME LIKE I’M THE MISFORTUNE BRINGER
AND NOT HIS BANKING OF DREAMS
OUR VISITOR’S A HOMER-SUITOR
AN AIRPLANE FLYIN OVERHEAD IN BETWEEN MY BRAIN SOCKETS

BUT THIS IS AN UNPOPULAR SENTIMENT
FOUR SETS OF EYES
ONE BABY SET
ONE HORSE SET
ONE DAD SET AND ONE YOU SET
AND I KNOW I’M NOT TO BE ROASTED BUT GHOSTED

MY LIFE FLASHED BEFORE MY EYES
AS YOU HELD ME IN YOUR NEW ELECTROCUTER
THIS WAS A BATHTUB FILLED WITH BROWN WATER
AND A PLUGGED-IN TURNED-ON HAIR DRYER
THERE’S NOTHING LEFT FOR ME TO SAY
I’M MADE ENTIRELY OUT OF CHOCOLATE WAFERS
BUT I SAW YOU EXPLOITIN’ MY DAD’S BODY FOR HIS HEAD
AND NOW I SEE THE HEREAFTER