The Jingle
Polyester is raised up on column 4
then joined or depressed on joint 3
on Saturday Albert
reduced wigmakers
to minuscule wages
with his merry song
which is glued to aluminum arm 2
then slides into elevated leg post 1.
Translator's Notes:
The elements of the poem that resemble—or are—assembly instructions are meant to construct...what, exactly?
They could construct wigs, or anything. I describe a mundane task that requires ludicrous steps.
Was there an actual Albert singing an actual jingle to actual wigmakers that you can tell us about, or are these characters fictitious?
They’re fictitious, or they’re arbitrary, maybe like a painting composed of lines in different colors. I admire geometric paintings that break geometry. I am hoping the contrast between regularity and absurdity in this poem creates a similar effect.
Source: Poetry (December 2011)