In Richard Brautigan's work "Loading Mercury With a Pitchfork," the imagery of "punitive ghosts" evokes a sense of nostalgia and loss, suggesting that the past is haunted by regrets and memories of forgotten joys. The mention of "steam-driven tennis courts" symbolizes the mechanical and oppressive aspects of modern life that contrast starkly with the simplicity and beauty of nature. The reference to dancing worms in moonlit apple cores suggests a connection to a more innocent, carefree time when nature thrived without human interference. This dichotomy highlights the tension between past and present, emphasizing the bittersweet nature of memory and the longing for the simplicity of earlier days.