''Loading Mercury with a Pitchfork'' is

Richard Brautigan Richard Gary Brautigan (January 30, 1935 – c. September 16, 1984) was an American novelist, poet, and short story writer. A prolific writer, he wrote throughout his life and published ten novels, two collections of short stories, and four bo ...

's ninth poetry publication. Published in 1976, the book includes 127 poems.''Loading Mercury with a Pitchfork'' entry on Brautigan website
/ref> The four line title poem discusses the effort and interest in undertaking an obviously impossible task, such as loading the liquid metal

Mercury Mercury commonly refers to: * Mercury (planet), the nearest planet to the Sun * Mercury (element), a metallic chemical element with the symbol Hg * Mercury (mythology), a Roman god Mercury or The Mercury may also refer to: Companies * Merc ...

using only a

pitchfork A pitchfork (also a hay fork) is an agricultural tool with a long handle and two to five tines used to lift and pitch or throw loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves. The term is also applied colloquially, but inaccurately, to th ...

. Loading mercury with a pitchfork your truck is almost full. The neighbors take a certain pride in you. They stand around watching. "Loading Mercury with a Pitchfork" (1971)

External links

Entry on Brautigan.net

References

{{Richard Brautigan 1976 poetry books Works by Richard Brautigan American poetry collections