Poetry of Daniel Borzutzky > Woodland Pattern Book Center

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Daniel Borzutzky

Daniel Borzutzky is the author of The Ecstasy of Capitulation (BlazeVox Books, 2007) and Arbitrary Tales (Triple Press, 2005). He is the translator of Port Trakl by Chilean poet Jaime Luis Huenun; and he has translated several stories by early twentieth century Chilean writer Juan Emar. Daniel's writings and translations have appeared in dozens of publications. He lives in Chicago and teaches in the English Department at Wright College.

Desire: 7 Modules

Daniel Borzutzky

Never drive a car when you're dead.
- Tom Waits

Pharmaceutical Module

I can't make it with you, baby,
because the demands of the chemical insurgency
have decelerated your ability
to make a mountain out of my molehill.
I want to make it with you, baby,
but my brigade is not deployable.

Historical Module

I want to make it with you, baby,
but my squadron does not have the aptitude
to penetrate your fortress.
I want to make it with you,
but the great sweep of human history
is no longer on my side.

Inflationary Module

I want to make it with you, baby,
but misguided central planning
has led to a pervasive misallocation of capital.
The central bank is closed, baby,
and I can not make a deposit.

Incentives-based Module

I want to make it with you, baby,
but I can not actualize the potential
of my unilateral morphology mechanism.
I need subsidies, baby,
to achieve my intended goal.

Biological Module

I want to make it with you, baby,
but I can not allow you
to inspect my factory.
My mobile lab has been looted, baby;
my missile only shoots blanks.

Privatization Module

I really want to make it with you, baby,
but my resources are not sufficient.
You must implement an innovative policy
to stimulate my private sector.

Cosmetic Module

I want to make it with you, baby,
but you look so good
and I feel so great
that any further action
would permanently dismantle
my weapons-launching capacity.

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