Song of Myself #5 - Mate
Song of Myself #6 - Duck-shooter
Song of Myself #5 - Mate
5. The mate stands braced in the whaleboat,
lance and harpoon are ready,
I contemplate the greats –
Moby who took Ahab’s leg
Monstro who swallowed Geppeto
Jonah’s
Orca
the humpbacks yet to be saved by the USS
Enterprise
sperm who battled giant squids in the briny
trench
narwhale
the last beached at San Clemente
and wonder if my harpoon is sharp enough
lance is honed enough
hawsers are strong enough
that I might join the legendary hunters
and defeated
rest
beneath
Song of Myself #6 - Duck-shooter
6. The duck-shooter walks by silent and
cautious stretches,
each window sparkles
with the latest ware
shipped straight from Chicago
for the Main Street stores
hip boots water lilies flannel suits
unmentionables
ice cream maker recliner rugs crystal vase
camp stove flamingo lawn ornament sauce pan
harmonica zither mandolin
I puts down a fin for the harmonica
lays away zither and mandolin
with a sawbuck
raise my scattergun
empty the till of 17 greenbacks
duck in a barrel
they let me keep the mouthharp