john giorno; an unemployed machinist

The repetition seems random and yet intentional at the same time. The first two stanzas are repeated as a whole after they were broken at first; as are the last two. This seems to be the main motif from which he varies a bit. It's almost as if he wants you to hear the words within the words. There is emphasis, but not just repetition, there is something else. More than one meaning to a line; a line can be understood two ways. Depending on how it breaks, the emphasis is on a different word. When he reads in person, in a way it seems lie the lines repeated are the same, repeated for effect. but he stresses not on the same word exactly each time.