They dive and breed and snort and play

And the sun struck feed them every day

Boatloads of citrons, quinces, cherries,

Of bloody strawberries, plums and beets,

Hogsheads of pomegranates, vats of sweets,

And the he-whales’ chant like a cyclone blares,

Proclaiming the California noons

So gloriously hot some days

The snake is fried in the desert

And the flea no longer plays.