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{on the streets of quitratue} ray sweatman Was trying to interview Neruda on the subject of love on the streets of Quitratue when right before my eyes he sheds his human skin and turns into a puma. I say 'Look Pablito, these streets aren't so barren. Look at the gal with the pail over her head and that one selling flowers…ah it aint so bad.' But he just goes right on clawing the humidity and sniffin' the air when Yehuda Amichai walks by on four legs with a testicle and penis of his woman's new love and her panties firmly entrenched in his mouth. 'Hello Yehuda, perhaps you can shed some light on love.' But he just growls at Neruda, who waves him off with his claws and nose and keeps on diggin' and sniffin' for the one he lost when a voice from the shadows 'Over here…Here. Here.' When Charles Simic starts screaming out some woman's name like a famous actor on a crazy streetcar full of naked lightbulbs about to jump the tracks, which causes poor Yehuda and Neruda to scratch and sniff even more when Richard Brautigan screams from the alley: 'Forget love. Let me die in your yellow hair.' Which is followed by the cry of a blonde: 'I think he's dead. Please get him off!' When Russell Edson enters, dragging a six-foot pink eraser. 'Ah, Mr. Edson, just in time. With that perhaps you can take our pain, ease our minds. You used it quite well to erase your Amyloo.' But before he can open his mouth, Yehuda and Neruda are tearing at each leg. When James Tate enters walking a goat on a leash. 'Ah, Mr. Tate. Good to see ya. Perhaps you can shed…' But he just points in the distance where a man as naked as Adam discovering original sin is cradlin' the sun in his lap and lettin' it go down on him. When Tate exclaims: 'My God! Have you ever seen such?' 'No! Should we call the police?' 'No. I don't mean him. The sunset! Look at it!' But soon it's nothing but a dark parking lot, me waiting like the lone flickering streetlamp, trying to hold on for one more glimpse, people coming and going and looking suspiciously in my direction when who should enter but you and a policeman inquiring, "Do you know this man?''No, Officer. I think there's been some kind of mistake.' |
