Why, good morning Miss Toliver, how are you

My pressure went up on me     If you have sons and daughters
            they cause your pressure to go up
            Come on down to the station and see me   Baby
            I got to get back on the air   Come on down


En Louisiane

            spit out a seed and up springs a watermelon

The old leprosarium in Carville lost its tax exemption
          during the Reagan years; then the army moved in

          We don’t stand for corruption we demand it

Chicken pox can be dried up by scaring chickens
                                                                               to fly over the afflicted child


En Louisiane
           Formosan termites on the wing

           more religion than you can shake a stick at
                                                                              en Louisiane

Remember Pop        lived through his execution
had to let him go       that’s the law         en Louisiane

In the mind of Joe Christmas
her death not an aberration but an abstraction to him
                     brought on by bitchery and abomination

            Found: the doctor’s wife  
her two-year old quadruplets crawling around in her blood
unharmed       unharmed        the papers said

Book the good doctor’s cell in advance — high season rates

Go home now Pop        This bed is reserved for a predator

           This bed now belongs to the good doctor

           Bubba’s got fresh gar for the senior citizens
           None of that old gar         Come on down and see
           between The Projects and The Sweet Potato Man

           In this subtle and savage light…

Wrap this program around the shut-ins and the shut-outs
           have a little mercy, etc.

           I AM SENTENCED TO DEATH BY ELECTROCUTION! 
           According to state records, in 1970, 30 years ago. To have
           electricity pass through my body until I am pronounced dead. Yes,
           you heard me right, I am all stirred up. I am the seventh child to
           the late Sister Rose. — Aaron

He lived in that big old house         with his dogs     his guns

Was that a Harley or a coffin you were driving

Can I take off my tie yet

Keep on rockin’ in the free world

No we’re not parole officers
No we’re not church ladies
The redhead here is a photographer and I’m her humble factotum

Dino knows       he’s got to be good until he gets off paper


                                                                           The sickly ambrosia of hope

church marquee: LIFE FRAGILE
                               HANDLE WITH PRAYER
the subtle and savage light

          the fecundity        the enstiflement      the hole that dreams