Saturday

From "Lichtenberg Figures", by Ben Lerner




I did it for the children. I did it for the money.

I did it for the depression of spirit and the cessation of hope.
I did it because I could, because it was there.
I'd do it again. Oops, I did it again.

What have I done? What have I done
to deserve this? What have I done with my keys,
my youth? What am I going to do
while you're at tennis camp? What are we going to do

with the body? I don't do smack. I don't do
toilets. I don't do well at school. I could do
with a bath. Unto others, I do
injurious, praiseworthy, parroted acts.

Let's just do Chinese. Just do as I say. Just do me.
That does it. Easy does it. That'll do.