LEARY Requiem

Terence Winch

1.
They gave Timothy Leary a cigarette
and some pills, brought him into
the kitchen, and chopped off his head.

On the video he laughed, claiming no regrets
and said heíd do it all again, whatever it was.
Except he couldnít now because he was dead.

2.
Since you asked, hereís why the rich get richer:
their closets are filled with old magazines
with inside information on secret treasures

3.
I don’t know how all these bugs get in the house.
Leary always said you should keep the phone off the hook
because there are many calls, but few are chosen.

I’ve looked everywhere, but now I can’t find my spouse.
She is always hiding somewhere, her nose in a book.
Meanwhile, they’ve taken Leary’s head and had it frozen.

4.
So when the day crunches you in its tight grip
and you’re starting to get another migraine,
pretend you’re voyaging off through the blue yonder

With everyone you love on a happy ship
headed for some edenic, unspoiled terrain,
with no more talking acidheads to ponder.