Loading Mercury with a Pitchfork

Loading Mercury with a Pitchfork is Richard Brautigan's ninth poetry publication. Published in 1976, the book includes 127 poems. The four line title poem discusses the effort and interest in undertaking an obviously impossible task, such as loading the liquid metal Mercury using only a pitchfork. 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)