MY FAVORITE PANTOUM

Traffic Report: This is Pale Otis in the Chopper
    by Ron Overton

Paul, we're bumper to bumper on the L.I.E.,
we have several overturned cars and carnage at Exit 43.
There's lying and backbiting on the George Washington Bridge
due to a car on fire under the apartments. (What?)

We have several overturned cars and carnage at Exit 43,
drivers strongly advised to take the high road.
Due to a car on fire under the apartments. (What?),
we've got a ton of rubbernecking from inside the apartments.


Drivers are strongly advised to take the high road
there's a jackknifed tractor-trailer truck on the Southern State.
We've got a ton of rubbernecking from inside the apartments,
all tenants should snap their noggins back inside.

There's a jackknifed tractor-trailer truck on the Southern State,
we suggest scooting over to the Long Island Expressway.
All tenants should snap thoer noggins back inside,
fiercely random thunder storms are hightailing it our way.

We suggest scooting over to the Long Island Expressway,
traffic is flowing smoothly until the Second Coming.
Fiercely random thunder storms are hightailing it our way,
please stay indoors along with your neo-formalist friends.

Traffic is flowing smoothly until the Second Coming,
don't sweat the chemical fire engulfing I-80 in Paterson.
Please stay indoors along with your neo-formalist friends.
Ultimately, all roads lead to entropy and a gilded pandemonuim.

Don't sweat the chemical fire engulfing I-80 in Paterson,
frankly, we are skeptical that you will ever realize your destination.
Ultimately, all roads lead to entropy and a gilded pandemonuim,
and, as for the claustrophobic, gridlock is a hell of a way not to go.

Frankly, we're skeptical that you will ever realize your destination,
there's lying and backbiting on the George Washington Bridge,
and, as for the claustrophobic, gridlock is ahell of a way not to go.
Paul, we're bumper to bumper forever on the L.I.E.

from Psychic Killed by Train,
    published in 2002 by Hanging Loose Press, Brooklyn, NY