McCLURE, Michael


Mercedes Benz

Oh lord won’t you by me a Mercedes Benz
My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends.
Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends.
So oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz.

Oh lord won't you buy me a color TV.
Dialing for Dollars is trying to find me.
I wait for delivery each day until 3.
So oh lord won't you buy me a color TV.

Oh lord won't you buy me a night on the town.
I'm counting on you lord, please don't let me down.
Prove that you love me and buy the next round.
Oh lord won't you buy me a night on the town.

(Everybody ,) Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz.
My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends.
Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends.
So oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz.

FOR JACK KEROUAC: THE CHAMBER

…..

IN DARK HELL IN LIGHT ROOM IN UMBER AND CHROME I

feel the swell of
smoke the drain and flow of motion of exhaustion, the long sounds of cars

the brown shadows
on the wall. I sit or stand. Caught in the net of glints from corner table to

dull plane
from knob to floor, angles of flat light, daggers of beams. Staring at love's face.
The telephone in cataleptic light. Matchflames of blue and red seen in the

clear grain.

I see myself -- ourselves in Hell without radiance. Reflections that we are.

The long cars make sounds and brown shadows over the wall.

I am real as you are real whom I speak to.
I raise my head, see over the edge of my nose. Look up

and see nothing is changed. There is no flash
to my eyes. No change to the room.

Vita Nuova--No! The dead, dead, world.
The strain of desire is only a heroic gesture.
An agony to be so in pain without release

when love is a word or kiss.