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