I went through a great Bible reading period this summer.
What better time do you read the Bible, Revelations, Ezekiel,
and Daniel than the summer in Tucson when it's very hot?
Very depressed.
And visions mean a lot to you then.
[LAUGHS] You half sort of hallucinate.
You think people are knocking on your door at 4 AM and you say,
yes.
And you know that nobody's there.
And it's really strange.
I also bought this album by some Greeks from England called--
they're called Aphrodite's Child.
And the album just has three big sixes on it.
That's the mark of the beast from Revelations.
And it's a whole Book of Revelations set to music.
And I just dance around to-- it's really good music.
And they're talking about the horsemen.
And you can rock out to Saint John.
Anything you want-- this is the day and age of anything
you want.
It's really disgusting sometimes.
[LAUGHTER]
This is called "Christ's Bracero."
Dick, I hope I use the right word because I'm not a farmer,
but I write lots of farming poems.
And I have put the wrong word in here for corn--
what you do with corn.
And I forgot [LAUGHS] I had reap, but you don't reap corn.
We'll see.
"Christ's Bracero."
"I hired you to pick corn, but you can quit any time.
Inside the green husk are kernels of fire.
I don't say they aren't good.
I put sugar in my wine, but it can't match the kernels
crackling on your tongue.
It's up to you.
Just take my advice, stay out of the field at twilight.
You set to work.
I slip down in my wicker chair, counting six, six, six,
then I doze.
When I wake, smoke is spurting from the tips
of the unpicked corn.
The sun, the moon, two round teeth rock together
and the light of one chews up the other.
I stand on shaking legs and hold my breath
until I see you limping forward.
You stayed there too late.
You bow your head.
Yellow kernels fill your eyes and slide down your cheeks.
Your right foot rests on the ground,
while your left, a split hoof, paws it gently.
I feel the heat growing in my armpits, my crotch.
I lead you into the house where we lie on the floor.
I rub your hands over my body.
Lucifer, the apocalypse is over.
Clover sprouting from its grave.
I am the first, the last, and you are nothing.
Hold me."