It's a travelogue of a weekend jaunt; a catalog of the ordinary beauty (and trouble) that surrounds us; and a poetic discourse on contemporary America. Ashbery starts off with his own peculiarly Homeric lists -- e.g. months, businesses, friends & acquaintances, flowers -- and then launches into his sublime observations of the country he loves. Hypnotic, alarming, funny, and fiery, this is perhaps my favorite book from one of my favorite poets. An absolutely exquisite collection whether you live in the Green Mountain state or not.