from John Fahey's "America"

Finale

“With what magnificent explosions and odors will not the day
           be accomplished” – W.C. Williams

The cleanest poisons
           ever are ours
even-toned    in layers
trust    worthy
   bound by
the stainless view

the taste of heterocycles

the luculent burnt crust
    that edges nothing
has no edge

no guru no
method no
teacher no

almondbreadcaramelcinnamonfattyhoneymeatoilypungentrancidsweet
made from corncobs

and other waste products

a solvent and fungicide

upon exposure to air it turns dark brown or black

furfural
  folderol

also used in
    the fabrication of
        fiberglass and
automobile brake pads

It foretells the wheat
that is not wheat
but our convertible
in our nostrils
toward
the end
furfural
           folderol
thiazole

the smell of burning
houses on the air
the taste of them
on the tongue
as
    a
message mixes
so
    a medium-

sized circuit
may mislead

clear to pale yellow
harmful if swallowed
           flammable
   folderol
thiazole

bread alone or nutty meaty mocha

but great for
           dyeing
                       cotton

can you hear
your bread

on fire for wild ranges
    green senses burnt senses

or
unity
in finale

fall’s folderol’s
   chemical song
we’re all done
but not all full

eat this odor tidewater
winding sheet

furfural
           thiazole
folderol
           we need another idle tune for
           pyrrolines
           thiophenes
           pyrazines
flummery     fiddle
                       dee
                            deem

to famines
           love’s famines
               off the icebox
herald horn of flats
to green-sweet
  a honey-like

common to petroleum
    irritates eyes and skin

do you smell sulfur
                      darling?

so seem is the finale
the taste
            the smell
                        the seams to seem

and what do you see
                        fiddle
                                   deem

                        pyrroline

    thiophene                          thiophene

        pyrazine                     pyrazine

                        pyrroline

and what do you taste
            and what do you smell
when the day
            is
accomplished