Improv/Imitation 1, Week 8

Laura Kasischke, "Barney" (Writing Poetry, pp. 182-83)
Chad Parmenter, "Holy Sonnet For His New Movie" (Writing Poetry, 183-84)

"When Gumby Forgets to Feed Pokey"

When he waves his perfect, symmetrical hand,
all slick with dough and drenched in food coloring,
miniature horses with loose, plastic eyes
become putty, a pool of miraculous, holy clay--
a miracle greater than turning water to wine.

He distorts himself upon particles of light and radio-waves.
He distorts himself so we don't have to.

Devout believers guard themselves
against the nocturnal rebellion of drowsiness,
sedating themselves with night-lights
and the adrenaline rush that engulfs their
apprehensions like rolling waves
upon which professional surfers elevate
or evolve into mystical giants--
a wave, a liquid Babel only seen on television.

He suffers the salt-and-pepper snow-storm
and this is just a test; he suffers
the infomercials
without information about commercials; he
suffers through Girls Gone Wild,
I Love Lucy, and
whatever Pat Robertson said this week.

Jerry Falwell never asked for forgiveness;
he was never forgiven.
Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson caused 9/11;
no one forgives them.