Kansas Vortex

An interesting Believer article from a few years ago on Wichita Vortex Sutra and American political poetry.

As a former resident of Kansas (1980-1987), I see now why my time there was so dizzy.

The poem's lovely end in which it tapers off after its flourishing, ecstatic invocation of a dozen prophets and political bodies:

in chill earthly mist
            houseless brown farmland plains rolling heavenward
                                                                        in every direction
one midwinter afternoon Sunday called the day of the Lord--
            Pure Spring Water gathered in one tower
                                  where Florence is
                                                        set on a hill,
                                  stop for tea & gas