pokes , provokes , takes expressionistic license and hits a nerve 
(ROOT (VP (VP (VBZ pokes)) (, ,) (VP (VBZ provokes)) (, ,) (VP (VBZ takes) (NP (JJ expressionistic) (NN license))) (CC and) (VP (VBZ hits) (NP (DT a) (NN nerve)))))
(ROOT (VP (VP (VBZ )) (, ) (VP (VBZ )) (, ) (VP (VBZ ) (NP (JJ ) (NN ))) (CC ) (VP (VBZ ) (NP (DT ) (NN )))))