1. Electric's shut off,
Ain't got no money for rent,
Where'd I set my beer?
Interpretation: In white trash literature, the use of alcohol is often linked with poverty. Here, the author has apparently erred in the budgeting of his disability check, and been forced to neglect his domestic financial responsibilities. Fortunately, this crisis has not affected his ability to acquire beer. The author is left to ponder the whereabouts of the elusive beverage.
2. Carnival's in town,
Who's that runnin' the zipper?
Like to git with him.
Interpretation: Note how the lure of the carnival is enhanced by the enchanting possibility of new romance. In this haiku, one can almost hear the "clickity whirr" of the zipper ride. It's as though the reader sees through the author's eyes: A hansome, although oily-ish, traveling man who's yearning for a reason to stay in one place for the first time since his release from juvie 7 years ago. Maybe she shall inspire such desire!
3. Gene's trailer's all that!
Blow-up couch with cupholders,
Kegerator too.
Interpretation: Here, the author expresses an inordinate degree of admiration toward his middle-aged uncle's uncompromising style of interior decorating. Although his uncle's ability to hold a job or accept other adult responsibilities may not be highly evolved, he can always be relied upon to provide beer for his nephew, as well as for the other minors who comprise his social group.
4. Bleached blonde, darkish roots,
Year-round tanning in Wolff beds,
Smells like Aqua Net.
Interpretation: The combination of the unique fragrance of Aqua Net hairspray and the classic beauty of tanned skin inspire feelings of nostalgia in the poet, as he recalls Angel, an aspiring nail technician with whom he shared a love for celebrity impersonators, such as "Marilyn Monroe."
5. Doin' women's work,
Wayne don't git home 'til seven,
still got time to mop.
Interpretation: With apparent ease, the author is both intensely involved in her work, and obediently observent of her gender role. Although several years earlier, in the late nineties, she had pondered leaving said existance and pursuing a career outside of the domicile, in the end she opted not to engage in a what she perceived to be an uphill battle against the forces of her time.
6. Lookin' fer work.
Ain't had much luck around town.
I don't got much skills.
Interpretation: The poet states that since he has only limited employment skills (the local trade school requires a diploma or GED), he has been unsuccessful in obtaining gainful employment. Note the contrast between the author's eagerness to find work and his stagnant attitude toward his presumably substandard skill set.
7. Sink full of dishes,
Crunched up chips on shag carpet,
Smoke then take a nap.
Interpretation: This haiku eloquently describes one person's refusal to be sidetracked by negative phenomena, such as unsanitary living quarters. Professors of aesthetics would agree that self-medicating should indeed serve as effective means for continued, mindless neglect of the unsightly domestic condition.
8. The yard be a mess.
Got 4 rigs in the front yard,
And 6 scrapped out back.
Interpretation: A word picture, this haiku represents the perils involved with one's lawn being uprooted by the coming and going of mud-covered trucks equipped with lifted suspensions, while at the same time it implies the apparent affluence of the trailer's tenant, through the mention of it being a multi-vehicle dwelling.
9. Trimmed up that mustache,
Pressed a crease in them Wranglers,
I fear he's cheatin'.
Interpretation: Instead of admiring her common law husband's efforts to improve himself aesthetically, the author finds his actions to be the catalyst for a devastating sense of crisis. Should she "accidentally" conceive a child on order to keep him, or consult a 24-hour psychic hotline for advice, or both?
10. Hard headed boss man!
One day I'm workin' fer me,
Makin all the bucks!
Interpretation: An exquisite example of one man's aspirations to remove himself from the viscious minimum-wage cycle, this haiku is speckled with imaginitive possibilities. Might the subject indeed part from his position along the assembly line and pursue an entrepreneurial venture, such as the manifestation of his Pet Gnome idea? Indeed, a career in which he might improve upon his talents and skills shall be superior to the heirararchial structure to which he is accustomed.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
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