Mike Magee, "Pledge"
brief excerpt

1

I plug elegance
two thief rag
off-Dionysus tastes of America
in tune theory public
four widgets hands
one day shun
on dirge odd
ring the busy bell
with lip hurting
and just this
for all

2

hype ledge a lesion
to deaf egg
oft die you nightly stains of a miracle
and too deep repugnant
for withered spans
wan etching
unnerved dog
inapplicable
with liver tea
and just this
for all

13

my friend Steven
tofutti bag
over mitt lighted stinks of a measuring cup
and tutoring Bobby
for fifty claims
one eggplant
undercooked
and uneatable
with liverwurst
and just this
for all

16

I planned a neat myth
today's rags
ugly unified fates never heard a ya
& ten & three colonies
or fifty nifty states
coronation
underground
indemythical
palabricity
and just this
for all