James Tate

The poet James Tate.


GOODTIME JESUS

Jesus got up one day a little later than usual. He has been dream- 

ing so deep there was nothing left in his head. What was it?

A nightmare, dead bodies walking all around him, eyes rolled 

back, skin falling off. But he wasn’t afraid of that. It was a beau- 

tiful day. How ‘bout some coee? Don’t mind if I do. Take a little 

ride on my donkey. I love that donkey. Hell, I love everybody.

D. H. Lawrence

 from Pansies THE WHITE HORSE The youth walks up to the white horse, to put its halter on and the horse looks at him in silence. They are s...