The Machine

[crow]

and there are corn snakes,
if there are corn snakes. i really like this line, it's that carry on adults use to scare kids shitless

 i feel like i'm now in fable land ***and the title has just become a serious anchor that adds nothing but dead weight.***
Maybe you are powerful that way.
You could whistle loudly.
You could whistle quietly.
You could be a soundless animal.

You could pretend to be mad in a public place. are there public places in the woods?
You could stare at the thing you're worrying about.
You could masturbate in a gas station bathroom. that sounds like a good though out of character thought,
You could wash off with pink soap.
You could ask permission first and, after hearing no, cause distress by going into the bathroom anyway, for normal reasons. for me this stanza is all filler while i like some of the lines i can't reconcile them to what i perceive the poem to be about. okay he could salivate over or about his food but why have a wank?

[/quote]

This is exactly what I needed to hear. Thank you immensely. This thing is fighting with itself, trying to be two poems. One is about fable land, the other is about "the machine". 

I could probably harmonize the conflated ideas, but I'm guessing the easier approach would be to pull the two poems apart. I'll see which works better.

I'd welcome more thoughts and insight, but there's a lot between billy and ellajam to piece through, so no need for more—I'll read and appreciate any and all feedback—Just . . . yeah