
    ,,! ,,JACKET

    ,,*APT] ,I
  ,ALL MY LIFE ,I H _H AN AW>E;S ( O!R
"TS & PLACES4 ,I H BE5 AW>E ( O!R P]SONS
9 ME4--,OH1 & TRU/ ME1 S H Y1 MY R1D] T
IS 6BE4 ,R1D BACK 96YR *ILDHOOD1 & ?
S5SE ( AW>E;S ,I SP1K ( W 2 REMEMB]$ Z
AN EXP]I;E ( YR *ILDHOOD4 ,Y 7 !N N
FIX$1 N CRY/ALLIZ$4 ,Y 7 PLA/IC1 A S\L 9
FLUX1 A 3SCI\S;S & AN ID5T;Y 9 ! PROCESS
( =M+--AY1 ( =M+ & =GETT+4
  ,Y H =GOTT5 M*1 MY R1D]1 & YET1 Z Y
R1D ^! L9ES1 Y REMEMB] DIMLY ! HAZY
VI/AS ( O!R "TS & PLACES 96: YR * EYES
PE]$4 ,!Y SEEM DR1MS 6Y TD4 ,YET1 IF !Y
7 DR1MS1 DR1M$ !N1 :;E ! SUB/.E ( !M8
,\R DR1MS >E GROTESQUELY -P.D$ (! ?+S WE
"K4 ,! /UFF ( \R %E]E/ DR1MS IS ! /UFF (
\R EXP]I;E4 ,Z A *1 A WEE *1 Y DR1M$ Y
FELL GRT HEI<TS2 Y DR1M$ Y FLEW "? ! AIR
Z ?+S (! AIR FLY2 Y 7 VEX$ 0CRAWL+
SPID]S & _M-LE7$ CR1TURES (! SLIME2 Y
HE>D O!R VOICES1 SAW O!R FACES
NI<TM>I%LY FAMILI>1 & GAZ$ ^U SUNRISES &
SUNSETS O!R ?AN Y "K N[1 LOOK+ BACK1 Y
"E LOOK$ ^U4
  ,V WELL4 ,^! * GLIMPSES >E ( O!R-_W;S1
( O!R-LIFE;S1 ( ?+S T Y _H N"E SE5 9 ?
"PICUL> _W ( YR "PICUL> LIFE4 ,!N :;E8
,O!R LIVES8 ,O!R _WS8 ,P]H1 :5 Y H R1D
ALL T ,I % WRITE1 Y W H RCVD ANSW]S 6!
P]PLEXITIES ,I H PROP.D$ 6Y1 & T Y YRF1
]E Y CAME 6R1D ME1 PROP.D$ 6YRF4
  ,^WSWOR? KNEW4 ,HE 0 NEI SE] NOR
PROPHET1 B J ORD9>Y MAN L Y OR ANY MAN4
,:AT HE KNEW1 Y "K1 ANY MAN "KS4 ,B HE
MO/ APTLY /AT$ X 9 8 PASSAGE T 2G9S 8,N
9 UTT] NAK$;S1 N 9 5TIRE =GET;L;S4 4 40
  ,AH1 TRULY1 %ADES (! PRISON-H\SE CLOSE
AB U1 ! NEW-BORN ?+S1 & ALL TOO SOON D
WE =GET4 ,& YET1 :5 WE 7 NEW-BORN WE DID
REMEMB] O!R "TS & PLACES4 ,WE1 HELP.S
9FANTS 9 >MS OR CREEP+ QUADRUP$-L ON !
FLOOR1 DR1M$ \R DR1MS ( AIR-FLI<T4 ,YES2
& WE 5DUR$ ! TOR;T & TORTURE ( NI<TM>E
FE>S ( DIM & MON/R\S ?+S4 ,WE NEW-BORN
9FANTS1 )\T EXP]I;E1 7 BORN ) FE>1 )
MEMORY ( FE>2 & ,,MEMORY ,,IS ,,EXP]I;E4
  ,Z = MYF1 AT ! 2G9N+S ( MY VOCABUL>Y1
AT S T5D] A P]IOD T ,I / MADE HUNG]
NOISES & SLEEP NOISES1 YET EV5 !N DID ,I
"K T ,I _H BE5 A />-ROV]4 ,YES1 ,I1 ^:
LIPS _H N"E LISP$ ! ^W 8K+10 REMEMB]$ T
,I _H ONCE BE5 ! SON (A K+4 ,M--,I
REMEMB]$ T ONCE ,I _H BE5 A SLAVE &A SON
(A SLAVE1 & WORN AN IRON COLL> R.D MY
NECK4
  ,/ M4 ,:5 ,I 0 ?REE1 & F\R1 & FIVE
YE>S ( AGE1 ,I 0 N YET ,I4 ,I 0 A M]E
2COM+1 A FLUX ( _S N YET COOL$ SOLID 9 !
M\LD ( MY "PICUL> FLE% & "T & PLACE4 ,9
T P]IOD ALL T ,I _H "E BE5 9 T5 ?\S&
LIVES 2F /ROVE 9 ME1 & TR\#D ! FLUX (
ME1 9 ! EF=T 69CORPORATE XF 9 ME & 2COME
ME4
  ,SILLY1 ISN'T X8 ,B REMEMB]1 MY R1D]1
:OM ,I HOPE 6H TRAVEL F> ) ME "? "T &
SPACE--REMEMB]1 PL1SE1 MY R1D]1 T ,I H
?"\ M* ON ^! MATT]S1 T "? BLOODY NI<TS &
SW1TS ( D>K T LA/$ YE>S-L;G1 ,I H BE5
AL"O ) MY _M SELVES 63SULT & 3TEMPLATE
MY _M SELVES4 ,I H G"O "? ! HELLS ( ALL
EXI/;ES 6BR+ Y NEWS : Y W %>E ) ME 9 A
CASUAL -=TA# H\R OV] MY PR9T$ PAGE4
  ,S1 6RETURN1 ,I SAY1 DUR+ ! AGES (
?REE & F\R & FIVE1 ,I 0 N YET ,I4 ,I 0
M]ELY 2COM+ Z ,I TOOK =M 9 ! M\LD ( MY
BODY1 & ALL ! MI<TY1 9DE/RUCTI# PA/ WR"\
9 ! MIXTURE ( ME 6DET]M9E :AT ! =M ( T
2COM+ WD BE4 ,X 0 N MY VOICE T CRI$ \ 9
! NI<T 9 FE> ( ?+S "KN1 : ,I1 =SOO?1 DID
N & CD N "K4 ,! SAME ) MY *ILDI% ANG]S1
MY LOVES1 & MY LAU<T]S4 ,O!R VOICES
SCR1M$ "? MY VOICE1 ! VOICES ( M5 & WOM5
A=E"T1 ( ALL %AD[Y HO/S ( PROG5ITORS4
,&! SN>L ( MY ANG] 0 BL5D$ )! SN>LS (
B1/S M ANCI5T ?AN ! M.TA9S1 &! VOCAL
MAD;S ( MY * HY/]IA1 ) ALL ! R$ ( XS
WRA?1 0 *ORD$ )! 9S5SATE1 /UPID CRIES (
B1/S PRE-,ADAMIC & PROGEOLOGIC 9 "T4
  ,& "! ! SECRET IS \4 ,! R$ WRA?6 ,X
HAS UND"O ME 9 ?1 MY PRES5T LIFE4 ,2C (
X1 A FEW %ORT WEEKS H;E1 ,I % 2 L$ F ?
CELL 6A HI< PLACE ) UN/A# FLOOR+1 GRAC$
ABV 0A WELL-/RET*$ ROPE2 & "! !Y W HANG
ME 0! NECK UNTIL ,I AM D1D4 ,! R$ WRA?
ALW HAS UND"O ME 9 ALL MY LIVES2 =! R$
WRA? IS MY 4A/R\S CATA/ROPHIC H]ITAGE F
! "T (! SLIMY ?+S ]E ! _W 0 PRIME4
  ,X IS "T T ,I 9TRODUCE MYF4 ,I AM NEI
FOOL NOR LUNATIC4
,I WANT Y 6"K T1 9 ORD] T Y W 2LIEVE !
?+S ,I % TELL Y4 ,I AM ,D>RELL ,/&+4 ,"S
FEW ( Y :O R1D ? W "K ME IMMLY4 ,B 6!
MAJOR;Y1 :O >E B.D 6BE /RANG]S1 LET ME
EXPOSIT MYF4 ,EI<T YE>S AGO ,I 0
,PROFESSOR ( ,AGRONOMICS 9 ! ,COLLEGE (
,AGRICULTURE (! ,UNIV]S;Y ( ,CALI=NIA4
,EI<T YE>S AGO ! SLEEPY LL UNIV]S;Y T[N
( ,B]KELEY 0 %OCK$ 0! MURD] ( ,PROFESSOR
,HASKELL 9 "O (! LABORATORIES (! ,M9+
,BUILD+4 ,D>RELL ,/&+ 0 ! MURD]]4
  ,I AM ,D>RELL ,/&+4 ,I 0 CAU<T R$-H&$4
,N[ ! "R &! WR;G ( ? A6AIR ) ,PROFESSOR
,HASKELL ,I % N 4CUSS4 ,X 0 PURELY A
PRIVATE MATT]4 ,! PO9T IS1 T 9 A SURGE (
ANG]1 OBSESS$ 0T CATA/ROPHIC R$ WRA? T
HAS CURS$ ME D[N ! AGES1 ,I KILL$ MY
FELL[ PROFESSOR4 ,! C\RT RECORDS %[ T ,I
DID2 &1 = ONCE1 ,I AGREE )! C\RT
RECORDS4
  ,NO2 ,I AM N 6BE HANG$ = 8 MURD]4 ,I
RCVD A LIFE-S5T;E = MY PUNI%;T4 ,I 0
?IRTY-SIX YE>S ( AGE AT ! "T4 ,I AM N[
=TY-F\R YE>S OLD4 ,I H SP5T ! EI<T
9T]V5+ YE>S 9 ! ,CALI=NIA ,/ATE ,PRISON
( ,SAN ,QU5T94 ,FIVE ( ^! YE>S ,I SP5T 9
! D>K4 ,SOLIT>Y 3F9E;T1 !Y CALL X4 ,M5
:O 5DURE X1 CALL X LIV+ D1?4 ,B "? ^!
FIVE YE>S ( D1?-IN-LIFE ,I MANAG$ 6ATTA9
FREEDOM S* Z FEW M5 H "E "KN4 ,CLOSE/-
3F9$ ( PRISON]S1 N ONLY DID ,I RANGE !
_W1 B ,I RANG$ "T4 ,!Y :O IMMUR$ ME =
PETTY YE>S GAVE 6ME1 ALL UNWITT+LY1 !
L>GESS ( C5TURIES4 ,TRULY1 ?ANKS 6,$
,MORRELL1 ,I H _H FIVE YE>S ( />-ROV+4
,B ,$ ,MORRELL IS ANO!R /ORY4 ,I % TELL
Y AB HM A LL LAT]4 ,I H S M* 6TELL ,I
SC>CE "K H[ 62G94
  ,WELL1 A 2G9N+4 ,I 0 BORN ON A QU>T]-
SEC;N 9 ,M9NESOTA4 ,MY "M 0 ! DAU<T] (
AN IMMIGRANT ,SW$E4 ,H] "N 0 ,HILDA
,TON;SON4 ,MY "F 0 ,*AUNCEY ,/&+1 ( OLD
,AM]ICAN /OCK4 ,HE TRAC$ BACK 6,ALFR$
,/&+1 AN 9D5TUR$ S]VANT1 OR SLAVE IF Y
PL1SE1 :O 0 TRANSPORT$ F ,5GL& 6!
,VIRG9IA PLANT,NS 9 ! "DS T 7 EV5 OLD :5
! Y\?;L ,WA%+TON W5T A-SURVEY+ 9 !
,P5NSYLVANIA WILD];S4
  ,A SON ( ,ALFR$ ,/&+ F"\ 9 ! ,W> (!
,REVOLU;N2 A GR&SON1 9 ! ,W> ( #AHAB4
,"! H BE5 NO W>S S9CE 9 : ! ,/&+S H N
BE5 REPRES5T$4 ,I1 ! LA/ (! ,/&+S1 DY+
SOON )\T ISSUE1 F"\ Z A -MON SOLDI] 9 !
,PHILIPP9ES1 9 \R LATE/ W>1 & 6D S ,I
RESIGN$1 9 ! FULL E>LY RIPE;S ( C>E]1 MY
PROFESSOR%IP 9 ! ,UNIV]S;Y ( ,NEBRASKA4
,GD H1V5S1 :5 ,I S RESIGN$ ,I 0 H1D$ =!
,D1N%IP (! ,COLLEGE ( ,AGRICULTURE 9 T
UNIV]S;Y--,I1 ! />-ROV]1 ! R$-BLOOD$
ADV5TUR]1 ! VAGABONDI% ,CA9 (! C5TURIES1
! MILITANT PRIE/ ( REMOTE/ "TS1 ! MOON-
DR1M+ POET ( AGES =GOTT5 & TD UNRECORD$
9 MAN'S HI/ORY ( MAN6
  ,& "H ,I AM1 MY H&S DY$ R$ 9 ,MURD]]S'
,R[1 9 ! ,/ATE ,PRISON ( ,FOLSOM1 AWAIT+
! "D DECRE$ 0! MA*9]Y ( /ATE :5 !
S]VANTS (! /ATE W L1D ME AWAY 96:AT !Y
FONDLY 2LIEVE IS ! D>K--! D>K !Y FE>2 !
D>K T GIVES !M FE>"S & SUP]/ITI\S
FANCIES2 ! D>K T DRIVES !M1 DRIVELL+ &
YAMM]+1 6! ALT>S ( _! FE>-CR1T$1
AN?ROPOMORPHIC GODS4
  ,NO2 ,I % N"E 2 ,D1N ( ANY COLLEGE (
AGRICULTURE4 ,& YET ,I KNEW AGRICULTURE4
,X 0 MY PROFES.N4 ,I 0 BORN 6X1 RE>$ 6X1
TRA9$ 6X2 & ,I 0 A MA/] ( X4 ,X 0 MY
G5IUS4 ,I C PICK ! HI<-P]C5TAGE BUTT]-
FAT C[ ) MY EYE & LET ! ,BABCOCK ,TE/]
PROVE ! WISDOM ( MY EYE4 ,I C LOOK1 N AT
L&1 B AT L&SCAPE1 & PRON\NCE ! VIRTUES
&! %ORTCOM+S (! SOIL4 ,LITMUS PAP] IS N
NEC :5 ,I DET]M9E A SOIL 6BE ACID OR
ALKALI4 ,I REP1T1 F>M-HUSB&RY1 9 XS
HI<E/ SCI5TIFIC T]MS1 0 MY G5IUS1 & IS
MY G5IUS4 ,& YET ! /ATE1 : 9CLUDES ALL !
CITIZ5S (! /ATE1 2LIEVES T X C BLOT \ ?
WISDOM ( M9E 9 ! F9AL D>K 0M1NS (A ROPE
AB MY NECK &! ABRUPTIVE J]K ( GRAVIT,N--
? WISDOM ( M9E T 0 9CUBAT$ "? !
MILL5NIUMS1 & T 0 WELL-HAT*$ ]E ! F>M$
FIELDS ( ,TROY 7 "E PA/UR$ 0! FLOCKS (
NOMAD %EPH]DS6
  ,CORN8 ,:O ELSE "KS CORN8 ,"! IS MY
DEMON/R,N AT ,WI/>1 ":BY ,I 9CR1S$ !
ANNUAL CORN-YIELD ( E C.TY 9 ,I[A 0HALF
A MILLION DOLL>S4 ,? IS HI/ORY4 ,_M A
F>M]1 RID+ 9 8 MOTOR-C> TD1 "KS :O MADE
POSSI# T MOTOR-C>4 ,_M A SWEET-BOSOM$
GIRL & B"R-BR[$ BOY1 POR+ OV] HI<-S*OOL
TEXT-BOOKS1 LL DR1MS T ,I MADE T HI<]
$UC,N POSSI# 0MY CORN DEMON/R,N AT
,WI/>4
  ,& F>M MANAGE;T6 ,I "K ! WA/E (
SUP]FLU\S MO;N )\T /UDY+ A MOV+ PICTURE
RECORD ( X1 :E!R X 2 F>M OR F>M-H&1 !
LAY\T ( BUILD+S OR ! LAY\T (! F>M-H&S'
LAB\R4 ,"! IS MY H&BOOK & TA#S ON !
SUBJECT4 ,2Y ! %AD[ ( ANY D\BT1 AT ?
PRES5T MO;T1 A HUNDR$ ?\S& F>M]S >E
KNOTT+ _! BR[S OV] XS SPR1D PAGES ]E !Y
TAP \ _! F9AL PIPE & G 6B$4 ,& YET1 S F>
0 ,I 2Y MY TA#S1 T ALL ,I NE$$ 0 A M]E
LOOK AT A MAN 6"K 8 PREDISPOSI;NS1 8 CO-
ORD9,NS1 &! 9DEX FRAC;N ( 8 MO;N-WA/AGE4
  ,& "H ,I M/ CLOSE ? F/ *APT] ( MY
N>RATIVE4 ,X IS N9E O'C1 & 9 ,MURD]]S'
,R[ T M1NS LI<TS \4 ,EV5 N[1 ,I HE> !
S(T TR1D (! GUM-%O$ GU>D Z HE -ES
6C5SURE ME = MY COAL-OIL LAMP / BURN+4
,Z IF ! M]E LIV+ CD C5SURE ! DOOM$ 6DIE6


