Loading Mercury with a Pitchfork
 First edition | |
| Author | Richard Brautigan |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Erik Weber |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Poetry |
| Publisher | Simon & Schuster |
Publication date | 1976 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover) |
| Pages | 127 |
| ISBN | 0-671-22263-5 |
| OCLC | 2006053 |
| 811/.5/4 | |
| LC Class | PS3503.R2736 L6 |
Loading Mercury with a Pitchfork is Richard Brautigan's ninth poetry publication. Published in 1976, the book includes 127 poems.[1] 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)[1]