I grab leaves, dead threshed-out sheaves and table leavings, pieces of scuffed leather.
See how I rummage, piggish become—seek chow: maimed fries;
I’ve pie tins.

Picking up a Cornflake, tasting it—like rancid chum.
Torn and frayed dumped T-shirt, oozing gummy toothpaste,
Battered, splintered knotty boards to jetsam before long.
I am the dregs man, vie-for-cracked-eggs man;
I Snag detritus. . .booze bottles too.

Mister city policeman hitting
Fingers gripping piece dropped by a ’ho’.
See how I cry like losing-cherry Vi,
See how tears run.
I’m crying. . . .

Yellow ’nanas rusted, chicken bones, a dead dog’s eye,
Crab shells, rotten alewife, pornographic priests’ pix,
Toys that were once bought for girls, and once they’re nicked, tossed down.
I am the dregs man, vie-for-hen-legs man;
I Snag detritus. . .chewed wattles too.

Picking up some English Darjeeling bags dunked and done;
Though they’re done, they’re fun to add to bran
Flakes crumbled, papers inkwell-stained.
I am the dregs man, find-rotten-eggs man;
I Snag detritus. . .chewed waffles too.

Shed shirt, shred skirt, boulder-holder,
Butt that’s lipped and smolders, lapin* poo.
Seamstress-reviled torn pieces in piles,
Seamy besides. . .
Tie-dyeing.

Sent-home-from-France pictures—climax is the Eiffel Tower;
Empty, spent, bent pens; pins; stinking hairy crisped mutts;
Manacles of dominatrix bent on thrashing Joe.
I am the dregs man, find-old-clothes-pegs man;
I Snag detritus. . .chewed offal goo. . . .

Every button plucked up,
Every bobbin plucked up,
Every bobber plucked up,
Every bauble plucked up,
Every bobble’ plucked up,
Every bottle plucked up,
Every bongo plucked up,
Every buckle plucked up,
Every bungee plucked up,
Every booger plucked up. . .


[fade on Elizabethan Trashmen]
Well, ev’ryone hath heard concerning the bird,
Bird, bird, bird, certainly “bird” be the word.
Ah, well, dost thou not know anent the bird?
Ev’ryone knoweth that the bird be a word.
A-well-a goo goo g’joob, goo goo g’joob. . . .


*rabbit