Dream Song 8: The weather was shitty. They pulled all his teeth

John Berryman

Dream Song 8: The weather was shitty. They pulled all his teeth
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The weather was shitty—
They pulled all his teeth, his dentures helpful
Messed with his bridge game

They ditched all his lovers—
Got underneath his skin, bitchily saying
”You don’t understand anything. So there.”
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The weather was shitty—
They pulled back his sheets till he shivered
Pleading “Please not the electrodes again!”

They installed two-way mirrors—
In his bedroom so they could ogle at him
Making love to old cheap prostitutes
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The weather was shitty—
It weakened his eyes just awful
He stuck burning thumbs into his ears

They rubbed him raw with the—
Same old pulp palimpsest storylines
Then they took away his crotch