Summary

In “Lighthead’s Guide to Addiction” the character of Lighthead returns as the speaker. The poem itself is a form of list poem that employs a series of free associations to comment on addiction, often in very absurd or humorous ways. “If you are addicted to shoes, move to a provincial village in Japan,” Hayes writes. “If you are addicted to Japan, try eating with no teeth” he continues (49). As the poem winds its way down the page, it eventually begins to harp on some more serious subjects, such as war and poverty, before culminating in the line, “If you are addicted to money, you’ll need money,” which is punctuated by a simple declarative “Try that” (50).

“Liner Notes for an Imaginary Playlist” is a seven-part poem, with the first line of each stanza consisting of a made up song title performed by...