American Poetry Now: Pitt Poetry Series Anthology

Barbara Hamby

 4 barbara haMby Barbara Hambyistheauthorof Babel,winnerof theDonaldHallPrize inPoetry,Delirium,whichwontheVassarMillerPrize,thePoetrySocietyof America’sNormaFarberFirstBookAward,andtheKateTuftsAward;and TheAlphabetof Desire,whichwontheNewYorkUniversityPoetryPrizeand waschosenasoneof thetwenty-fivebestbooksof bytheNewYork CityPublicLibrary.SheteachescreativewritingatFloridaStateUniversity.  4 barbara haMby Ode to American English IwasmissingEnglishoneday,American,really, withitspill-poppingHungariangoulashof everything fromAnglo-SaxontoZulu,becauseBritishEnglish isnotthesame,if thepaperbackdictionary IboughtatBrentano’sontheAvenuedel’Opéra isanyindication,tooculturedbyhalf.Oh,theEnglish knowtheirdahlias,butwhataboutdoowop,donuts, DickTracy,TrickyDick?WiththeirelegantOxfordian accents,howcouldtheyunderstandmyyearningforthehotrod, hotdog,hotflashvocabularyof theU.S.of A., thefragmentedfandangoof Dagwood’severydayflattening of Mr.Beasleyonthesidewalk,fetusesfloating onbillboards,drive-bymonsterhip-hopstereosshaking thewindowsof mydiningroomlikea.earthquake, Ebonics,Spanglish,“youknow”usedascommaandperiod, theinabilityof 0%of thepopulationtogetthepastperfect: Ihavewent,Ihavesaw,IhavetookenJesusintomyheart, thebattlecryof theBibleBelt,butnooneuses theKingJamesanymore,onlyplain-speakversions, inwhichJesus,raisingLazarusfromthedead,says, “Dude,wakeup,”andtheL-manboltsuplikeaB-movie mummy.“Whoa,Iwastoasted.”Yes,ma’am, Imissthemongrelplenitudeof AmericanEnglish,itsfall-guy, rat-terrier,dog-poundneologisms,thebombof itall, therushingRiverJordanbackwoodsmutabilityof it,thelow-rider, boom-boxcruiseof it,fromNewJoiseytoHa-wah-ya withitsslydog,malasada-scarfingbeachblanketlingo totheubiquitousValleyGirl’s like-likestuttering, shopaholicrant.Imissitsquotidianbeauty,itsquerulous back-bitingrighteousindignation,itspreeningrotgut flag-wavingcowardice.SufferingSuccotash,sputters SylvestertheCat;sinedie,saythepork-belliedlegislators of theswampsandplains.Imissallthoseguys,theirTweety-bird resilience,theirDorisDayoptimism,thecandidunguent of utterunhappinessoneverychannel,themidnighttelevangelist euphoricstew,thejunkmail,voicemailvernacular.  4 barbara haMby OneveryboulevardandrueImisstheTarzancryof Johnny Weismueller,JohnnyCash,JohnnyB.Goode, andallthesmart-talking,gum-snappinghard-girldialogue, finger-poppingx-ratedstreettalk,sportsbabble, Cheetoes,Cheerios,chilidogdiatribes.Yeah,Imissthemall, sittinghereonmysidewalkthronesippingchampagne verseslineduplikehearses,metaphorsjuking,nounszipping inmyheadlikeCorvettesonDexedrine,Frenchverbs slittingmythroat,yearningforJamesDeantojumpmycurb. The Mockingbird on the Buddha ThemockingbirdontheBuddhasays,Where’smyseed, youJezebel,where’sthesunshineinmybluesky, where’stheHittiteprincess,Pharaoh’stemple,where’stherain forthemiseryIlovesomuch?Themockingbird ontheBuddhascoldsthetreefortryingtostaystraight inthehurricaneof wordsblowingoutof thecoldnorth, windlikescreams,nightlikebrandyonthedarkcutof myheart. ThemockingbirdontheBuddha,musicishislife, hehearsthetunesof theuniverse,cacophonyof calypso, hackingcoughintheblacklungof desire;he’sruddy withlust,thatsweetsteppingpuffed-upoldgreybirdo’mine. ThemockingbirdontheBuddhasays,Eatup whilethenightisyoung.Havesomepeachcobbler,girl, havesomefriedoysters,havesomePouligny Montrachet,machère,forthenightiscoming,andyouneedmeat onyourbonestoridethatwildhorse.Themockingbird ontheBuddhasays,It’stimeforachange,littlemissy.You’ve beeninchargetoolong.It’stimeforthebird totakeover,becausehestaysuplate,knowswhatnightcanbe, past,pasttwo,whentrouble’sdarkandbeautiful. Youneverknewwhathityou,andthat’sthebestfeeling inthewholewideworld.Themockingbird ontheBuddhamakeshisnestinsidemybrain:helooksgood ingrey,getsfatonthought,he’smyenemy,  4 barbara haMby OneveryboulevardandrueImisstheTarzancryof Johnny Weismueller,JohnnyCash,JohnnyB.Goode, andallthesmart-talking,gum-snappinghard-girldialogue, finger-poppingx-ratedstreettalk,sportsbabble, Cheetoes,Cheerios,chilidogdiatribes.Yeah,Imissthemall, sittinghereonmysidewalkthronesippingchampagne verseslineduplikehearses,metaphorsjuking,nounszipping inmyheadlikeCorvettesonDexedrine,Frenchverbs slittingmythroat,yearningforJamesDeantojumpmycurb. The Mockingbird on the Buddha ThemockingbirdontheBuddhasays,Where’smyseed, youJezebel,where’sthesunshineinmybluesky, where’stheHittiteprincess,Pharaoh’stemple,where’stherain forthemiseryIlovesomuch?Themockingbird ontheBuddhascoldsthetreefortryingtostaystraight inthehurricaneof wordsblowingoutof thecoldnorth, windlikescreams,nightlikebrandyonthedarkcutof myheart. ThemockingbirdontheBuddha,musicishislife, hehearsthetunesof theuniverse,cacophonyof calypso, hackingcoughintheblacklungof desire;he’sruddy withlust,thatsweetsteppingpuffed-upoldgreybirdo’mine. ThemockingbirdontheBuddhasays,Eatup whilethenightisyoung.Havesomepeachcobbler,girl, havesomefriedoysters,havesomePouligny Montrachet,machère,forthenightiscoming,andyouneedmeat onyourbonestoridethatwildhorse.Themockingbird ontheBuddhasays,It’stimeforachange,littlemissy.You’ve beeninchargetoolong.It’stimeforthebird totakeover,becausehestaysuplate,knowswhatnightcanbe, past,pasttwo,whentrouble’sdarkandbeautiful. Youneverknewwhathityou,andthat’sthebestfeeling inthewholewideworld.Themockingbird ontheBuddhamakeshisnestinsidemybrain:helooksgood ingrey,getsfatonthought,he’smyenemy,  4 barbara haMby myEinstein,myever-lovingmonkeyboy,everymonkeythought Iblameonhim,everynightsosweetmybodybreaks apartlikeaSpanishgalleonraininggoldontheoceanfloor. Ode to the Potato “Theyeatalotof Frenchfrieshere,”mymother announcesafteraweekinParis,andshe’sright, notonlyaboutlespommesfritesbutthecelestialtuber inallitsforms:rotie,purée,nottomention augratinorboiledandoiledinlasaladeniçoise. Batataedulisdiscoveredbygold-madconquistadors intheWestIndies,andonlya00yearslater inTheMerryWivesof Windsor Falstaff cries, “LettheskierainePotatoes,”forwhatwouldwebe withoutyou—lostinaseaof friedturnips, mashedbeets,roastedparsnips?Micorazón,moncoeur, mycoreisnottheheartbutthestomach,tuber of thebody,itshollowstemthethroatandesophagus, leafingouttothenoseandeyesandmouth.Hail theconqueringspud,allitsnamesmarvelous:Solanum tuberosum,Igname,Caribe,RussianBanana,YukonGold. Whenyouturnedblack,Irelandmourned.OMr.PotatoHead, howmanydealscanamanmakebeforehestopsbeing smallpotatoes?Howmanymencanawomandrop likeahotpotato?Eatitcookedorrawlikeanapple withsaltof theearth,appleof theearth,pommedeterre. Tuber,tuberburningbrightinakingdomwithoutlight, deepwithintheearthwheretheIncanpotatogodsrule, forgingtheirgoldenorbsfortheworld’sraveninggorge. Fang Iwanttobesevenfeettall,walkoutof theGabonbush, speakingFang,togazeintotheskyandsee anoverturnedbowlof godlessblue,awildstorm intheheartof thedevil,arockyseaof scudding,  4 barbara haMby myEinstein,myever-lovingmonkeyboy,everymonkeythought Iblameonhim,everynightsosweetmybodybreaks apartlikeaSpanishgalleonraininggoldontheoceanfloor. Ode to the Potato “Theyeatalotof Frenchfrieshere,”mymother announcesafteraweekinParis,andshe’sright, notonlyaboutlespommesfritesbutthecelestialtuber inallitsforms:rotie,purée,nottomention augratinorboiledandoiledinlasaladeniçoise. Batataedulisdiscoveredbygold-madconquistadors intheWestIndies,andonlya00yearslater inTheMerryWivesof Windsor Falstaff cries, “LettheskierainePotatoes,”forwhatwouldwebe withoutyou—lostinaseaof friedturnips, mashedbeets,roastedparsnips?Micorazón,moncoeur, mycoreisnottheheartbutthestomach,tuber of thebody,itshollowstemthethroatandesophagus, leafingouttothenoseandeyesandmouth.Hail theconqueringspud,allitsnamesmarvelous:Solanum tuberosum,Igname,Caribe,RussianBanana,YukonGold. Whenyouturnedblack,Irelandmourned.OMr.PotatoHead, howmanydealscanamanmakebeforehestopsbeing smallpotatoes?Howmanymencanawomandrop likeahotpotato?Eatitcookedorrawlikeanapple withsaltof theearth,appleof theearth,pommedeterre. Tuber,tuberburningbrightinakingdomwithoutlight, deepwithintheearthwheretheIncanpotatogodsrule, forgingtheirgoldenorbsfortheworld’sraveninggorge. Fang Iwanttobesevenfeettall,walkoutof theGabonbush, speakingFang,togazeintotheskyandsee anoverturnedbowlof godlessblue,awildstorm intheheartof thedevil,arockyseaof scudding,  4 barbara haMby poisonedboats.Iwanttolookintothedarkcanopy of treesandhearthemotherof alltalkingcreatures, flutteringmountains,agreenseaswimmingwithfishthatfly. IneedFangforrevenge—firesmoldering intheheart,aquickknife,asickness thatfellsgrownmeninthemiddaysun.Iwantwords liketeeththatcouldteartheflesh fromthethroatof myworstenemy—herface staringatmefromeverymirror.Everymorning myvoiceisabirdflyingovertreetops, droppingberriesbitterandsweet intomouthsopenandclosed.Icanhardlybear thesunonmyskin.OFang,cometomeasasuitor withtwogoatsandanorchardof pomegranates,woome withyourstraightback,takemedeep intothenightwhenstarsfalllikefaithlesslovers ontheblacktrees.Ineedthemouthof aviper, avampire,amaddogpullingchildren fromtheirmothers’arms.Iwantmyhearttoswell likeawidebrownrivercarryingtrees,huts,limbs totheflood-maddenedsea.OFang, heartof asnake,bodyof impenetrablewater, darkcontinentof betelnutandmonkeypod, eruptfrommytongue,givemeaworldIcannotgivemyself. Ode to Rock ’n’ Roll Tonightthebandissogoodyouhavetodance,thelead singer’svoicelikehoneyatthebottomof ajar, sodeepyourhandgetsstuck,fingersskimmingthelast beadof sweet,sostickyyourememberriding inacar,anMGormidnightblueMustang, throughafragranttropicalnight,itwas, theradioplaying“Ain’tTooProudtoBeg,” onlyyouwere,didn’tevenknowwhatbeggingwas, butnowyouknow.Oh,you’vedonesomebegging inyourtime,beenwaydown,solowyouthought  4 barbara haMby poisonedboats.Iwanttolookintothedarkcanopy of treesandhearthemotherof alltalkingcreatures, flutteringmountains,agreenseaswimmingwithfishthatfly. IneedFangforrevenge—firesmoldering intheheart,aquickknife,asickness thatfellsgrownmeninthemiddaysun.Iwantwords liketeeththatcouldteartheflesh fromthethroatof myworstenemy—herface staringatmefromeverymirror.Everymorning myvoiceisabirdflyingovertreetops, droppingberriesbitterandsweet intomouthsopenandclosed.Icanhardlybear thesunonmyskin.OFang,cometomeasasuitor withtwogoatsandanorchardof pomegranates,woome withyourstraightback,takemedeep intothenightwhenstarsfalllikefaithlesslovers ontheblacktrees.Ineedthemouthof aviper, avampire,amaddogpullingchildren fromtheirmothers’arms.Iwantmyhearttoswell likeawidebrownrivercarryingtrees,huts...