Poem 139: Cutting Loose in the USA

fire in the dog
glow in the bone
clutch in the heart
fog in the throat
avalanche in the ear
balls in the feet
thunder in the head
waters hope in the garden
of the licking groin,
where moisture springs
eternal in the apple
of the juicy aye
lights the infant tree,
as brigading gallants
ride in the valley
of the carney-vale,
the karnal canal
on clone-y island
the bucking Bronx ,
riding the jet stream
ole’ sun-glassed Geronimo
hoofing it,
splits the heel of fire
on Ascension day,
hip-yip who’s Ray
vacuums vacant
sky balloons
scar-lettered blue
the turning screw
in the abode
of the mother lode
the death of corn
flakes a tissue
of bugs lying in state
whispering
Capitols the wine,
offering a red tube
in the brain
needle the vein
pulling the knife
switching the blade
cut to ribbons
the sinews bend
in the sliver of the river
shedding skin
casting the snake
snaking the wrist
flicking the line
tuning the rod
rune-ing the day
working the worm
warming the bait
for the cold fish
who will not worry the hook
hooked on the wire
skimming the fly
flie-ing the zip
zipping the pip
priming the pot
putting the shot
filling the slot
keeping it hot means
fuelling hope
for the gutsy lope
down the dopey slope
for the fugitive grope
of the fishing rope,
baptized for the pearled
rise of great price,
down by the riverside
slaving away
skin to the bone
carry me home
alone ,jerking the pike
with the jewel in his nose
stoned to the gills
watcher on the hills
shepherd crook
stick in the gullet
in the palace of the mullet
dead in his aye
pisculi- where love lies
grasping for Lazarus
flailed in his basket of light,
and in his clay
dried to the very bone
of bone dry
by this terrifying absence
of water.