‘1968’ describes the aftermath of a raucous Hollywood party. Seidel works into this context a broader critique of sociopolitical realities.
The setting of the poem is, of course, one where (so-called) amusement has been taking place. In addition, the poem itself, paradoxically given the subject matter, is, in its dark way, rather amusing. Indeed, for reasons not perfectly clear, the sight of excessive indulgence, intemperance, and what one might, finally, call folly can be funny. This is what makes satire possible.
A football spirals through the oyster glow
Of dawn dope and fog in L.A.’s
Bel Air, punted perfectly. The foot
That punted it is absolutely stoned.