I.
In the beginning was the word. And
the word was with god. And
the word was god.
Remember how easy it was?
to learn—your
ABC's?
Remember
how much harder? the Roman
numerals were?
II.
Opera becomes
the preferred form of entertainment
for a while.
Words become
husbands in need of
more and more—supportive and
immaculately-
decorated wives.
III.
Quick, quick!—
There's nowhere on earth
left to sail! Leave the forest,
but damn its trees!
Everything in sight—
must now be paved
straight-away.
Say, how many "Sycamore
Streets?" do you think
they'll be able
to keep straight?
Answer me, councilman. I'm serious.
IV.
If John F. Kennedy's car could communicate
with the others on the highway,
it'd say—
if we all just agreed!
to move forward
at the same time,
at the same rate,
we'd all get home sooner,
and everything would be safer!
It is not our disordered and terrible bulk,
but rather—our lack of trust
slowing everything up!
Forget about what time it is, for once.
And have a little faith—
in space.
V.
Dateline 1965—
Dylan goes electric.
Elvis has already been there.
But no one liked his gospel songs better.
Except for my mother.
So it didn't matter.
VI.
Cash-only Restaurants
could at least
have one of those goddamn
cardthings inside them—he snorted, gobbling the red hots,
confident
that she had understood him
perfectly.
VII.
Honey, get off the toilet, already!
I'm trying to use the shower.
VIII.
The channel 2 news
isn't really so bad
when you think about it:
It's all—What happened
someplace else
to other people. And then,
your tremendous sense of relief—
that neither were you
responsible for it,
nor are you presently
being called upon
to do anything.
IX.
Honey, get off the computer, already!
I'm trying to use the phone.
X.
Eventually, all of their ships
were blown back
to where they started from.
And there came to be
invented—the most fabulous
napkin dispensers
which could—legitimately
double
as picture-menus.
