Referential Magazine makes interesting use of hypertext linking. The different works refer to words in other works on their site. Very fun.

Thanks Referential!

The Apple Picker

You see, I was a homeless Newfoundlander in BC
climbing ladders up into trees.
I’d stretch and strain my sore, sunburnt back
all for the sake of apples.

Strange thing was many assumed
I caught fish back in Newfoundland.
But no, I’d have t’explain,
we’re not all fisherfolk,
and anyway there ain’t left
too many fruits of the sea.

No one knows, really, why they went away,
but the government was sure it had t’act quickly
to save the day, or votes anyways.
Some blamed unchecked technology;
some government policies;
some Europeans and St. Pierrais.
While others blamed the ultraviolet rays:
they killed the plankton,
undermined the food chain.
The sea is warming, maybe,
’cause of global climate change,
so the codfish boiled away. Perhaps. Maybe.
Others claim that why is impossible to say.

But with only two years of breedable stock alive
they shut down the northern cod fishery,
for two years only, they said.
Thousands ‘n thousands of fishers and
plant workers and service-industry employees
went on UIC.
Hurray! Maybe?

The feds said:
“Too many people employed in the fishery.
Some of you best retrain.”
(The socio-economic stress made the neurotic fish run away?)
On TV a fisherman replied
“And for what should we train?
Picking apples?”

I say yea.
Ya might be movin’ to BC
when you lose that two-year UIC.

Hunting Sunbird

Sunbird rises
Flies over sea
Hunter shoots
World goes black
Dog fetches star