tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48395039410371324392024-03-05T00:09:09.704-05:00the writing machinea literary deviceProprietorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175257967731627214noreply@blogger.comBlogger213125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839503941037132439.post-13127244588793637542021-02-10T21:54:00.000-05:002021-02-10T21:54:01.074-05:00 Method of Locii: Allusion and image in B.H Fairchild's Early Occult Memory Systems of the Lower Midwest<p><br /></p><p>B.H Fairchild sets up the tension between the mythic undercurrent and the mundane object in the</p><p>title, contrasting “Occult” and “Midwest, the two main currents which will run through the body of the</p><p>poem. It is a poem fundamentally about imagery, about how the image becomes numinous and invested</p><p>with meaning. It is an explication of a personal mythology that runs through Fairchild&#39;s work, and as</p><p>the title poem of his collection serves as a type of key, or statement of intent, a means of deciphering</p><p>the other poems in the collection and Fairchild'ss work in general.</p><p>“Early Occult Memory Systems” invokes the Method of Locii, the Mnemonic devices of Classical</p><p>literature, expanded by Giordano Bruno and the Medieval alchemists. It speaks to the idea of a hidden</p><p>knowledge, of an esoteric system in which information is encoded in a “memory palace”, a real or</p><p>artificial place which is made to hold the information one desires to memorize. It is through this lens</p><p>that Fairchild views the images he invokes in the poem, as carriers of memory, as a “memory palace”</p><p>which can be unpacked through an intuitive understanding of the objects themselves. Objects are made</p><p>to hold memories, abstractions, personalities, etc.“of the Lower Midwest” grounds these arcane and esoteric systems in the specificity of the American</p><p>experience, of the sense of place and class consciousness that is inherent in American regional writing,</p><p>an understanding of oneself as provincial, of outside the slick surfaces of much of contemporary</p><p>American writing. Fairchild here allies himself with James Wright, and a school of writing which</p><p>believes in the invocatory power of the image as a means in itself, particularly the somewhat surrealist,</p><p>visionary, hallucinatory focus on images of American rural and Midwestern life. The indexing of these</p><p>objects and places, and the numinous personal mythography which resides within them serve as the two</p><p>poles the poem moves between. The interplay between these two currents is the backbone of the poem,</p><p>and of Fairchild;ss work in general. The ordinary is revealed to be wondrous, to be numinous with</p><p>meaning, the ordinary being a very specific experience grounded in class and the kind of politicized</p><p>pastoralism of American writers of the Midwest and south,</p><p>In the first lines we find this pairing in the first line, “deep in the backseat of his father’s Ford and the</p><p>mysterium of time” The physical particular location “his father&#39;s Ford”, and all of its implied statements</p><p>of class, of materiality, with “the mysterium of time”. Mysterium does double duty here, both</p><p>referencing Rudolf Otto's <i>mysterium tremendum et fascinan</i>s, the concept of the numinous, the</p><p>holy and awful and reverent abyss of time, and the alchemical mysterium, or prima materia, the</p><p>imagined fabric of the universe itself. Fairchild situates the character/self of the poem the “son” firmly</p><p>in center of both. The first motion of this “son”, an attempt to stop the ceaseless motion of the world</p><p>“holds time in memory with words” This is as close to a manifesto as we will find from Fairchild, this</p><p>idea that time, and mortality and inevitability and death are held at bay through language and symbol,</p><p>“night, this night”, the “son” says meaning both night-as-symbol, Night as abstraction and “this night”</p><p>the specificity of the moment, of the trip with his father to a stalled rig. The night is numinous with it's;s</p><p>own later remembering, the meaning it holds is the experience itself, saved from the ravages of death</p><p>and time. “where the plains wind stacks the skeletons of weeds on barbed wire fences, and rattles the</p><p>battered DeKalb sign to to make the child think of time in it's passing, of death” the wind here has</p><p>agency, and act “to make the child think”, as though the objects that are indexed are a sort of mystery</p><p>play, or allegorical set of symbols revealed in succession, the weeds possess “skeletons”, and the world</p><p>is alive/not alive, in the liminal place of initiatory experience, where animals and the wind speak, and</p><p>have intent. The poem shuttles between this mythic world and the dross of industrial objects, the stalled</p><p>rig, the father's Ford, damaged drill pipe.</p><p>The child speaks again in the second stanza “road, this road” both “road” as the mythic place of story</p><p>and “this road” the specific, mud hollowed road of the evening described. Roustabouts in the crows</p><p>nest, oilfield workers are transfigured into the mythic, float “like Ascension angels on a ring of lights”,</p><p><br /></p><p>not just angelic, but specifically ascension angels, those that uplift the material body into the heavens.</p><p>And the world is transfigured. “Chokecherries gouge the purpled sky” and “starlight rains across the</p><p>Ford.s blue hood”, another object is fixed both as an abstraction and in the personal mythology. “Blue,</p><p>this blue” This transfiguration of the world into life, into the living image is the heart of the poem, it is</p><p>seen as the crux of the experience itself. The next stanza finds us “later”, after the experience, the men</p><p>in the crows nest of the rig floating and numinous with meaning, the revelation of starlight, of the sky,</p><p>of the specificity of the Ford's blue as significant, and eternal, released from the meditation on</p><p>mortality of the first stanza,</p><p>“later, where black flies haunt the mud tank”, where the world is again returned to time, and decay</p><p>“the boy walks along the pipe rack dragging a stick to make a kind of music” and this is the work of the</p><p>poet, to recall the experience after the fact, to make “a kind of music” from the damaged drill pipe and</p><p>mud (mysterium) of the world. This act is seen as being in concert with the song of the world itself,</p><p>“the creek throbs with frog songs, locusts, the rasp of tree limbs blown and scattered.” The world itself</p><p>is a type of song, a recollection or mirror of the eternity that is intimated only in visionary glimpses.</p><p>”The great horse people, his father, these sounds, these shapes saved from time’s dark creek” in</p><p>recollection, in the telling of the poem itself these images are preserved, and live, in the face of the</p><p>onward motion of time, here seen as “the car moving across the moving earth” and then the final</p><p>pairing/fixing of objects “world, this world” held against death, and decay and the motion of time by</p><p>the act of the poem itself, a “kind of music” made from the objects of the world itself, imbued with</p><p>meaning, and memory and personal history, the mundane machinery of working class life, drillpipes</p><p>and oil rigs made to sing, to invoke the mythic “the great horse people” and the personal “his father”,</p><p>both saved from oblivion by the act of creation, by the memory palace and song of the poem itself.</p>Proprietorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175257967731627214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839503941037132439.post-76201356226660291992020-04-21T23:41:00.001-04:002020-04-21T23:41:30.515-04:00<br />
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I was beginning my sixth grade year at Parkview Elementary. I lived
on Rural Route 3, in the outer ring of Chicago Suburbs, where the
cornfields start. My gravel street, and the knife scratched
mailboxes and biker clubs was the county line, and the barrier
between Steger , a place where they used to make Pianos and Crete, a
place where there were a lot of trucking companies. . An anarchic
wonderland of junk cars, and overgrown grass, of dilapidated houses
that the fire dept would practice burning down in the spring. What
this meant to sixth grade me, was that all the kids in my
neighborhood went to Crete Monee school district. Our ramshackle
house, our junk cars, our overgrown grass stood alone on the Steger
side of the line. I would walk the mile to school, cutting through
the woods in the fall, passing old abandoned orchards, and a swamp
with a plough that had been abandoned so long a tree had grown
through it, passing concrete marys in electric phonebooth shrines and
sheep in a fenced in yard, a million murderous dogs.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"> I would pass
through enemy territory once I passed a place called “the coffee
cup” a dirtbike jumping hill renowned for it’s almost 90 degree
angle ( hence the name), and a tangle of storm sewer drains,
undeveloped lots and loose piles of fill dirt and gravel. This
particular wildnerness was the turf of a gang of Steger-ites that I
attended school with. I don’t know that in these days of social
promotion, and extracurricular tutoring and special education classes
that any of you have any idea the kind of gangling, pre-adolescent
sizes a group of particularly dim and failed-several-times-over sixth
graders could grow to in the late eighties. Suffice to say, to my
newly sixth grade eyes they were like a pack of ravenous mutants, the
inbred cannibbalistic tribes of my own private “the hills have
eyes” or “deliverance” They called themselves the “Steger
Snakes” ( a gang name only dumb lower-middle class white kids
could come up with)and had decided that, due to my height, my
awkwardness, my poverty and my ability to answer questions in class
that I was to be the recipient of their special attention. I was a
gangly, goofy, dirty sensitive kid who cried to much. I was, in the
parlance of the day, a smart ass and a pussy.Every day, I would walk
past the Coffee Cup and it’s wilderness with a stomach churning
trepidation, and every day, out of the tall and wheat-like grass
grown all the way to seed would come one of the Snakes, to push me,
to demand tribute, to play keep away with whatever library book I was
trying to walk and read at the same time.
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<a href="https://villageofsteger.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/watertower-updated.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="342" data-original-width="800" height="136" src="https://villageofsteger.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/watertower-updated.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"> If this was a
story in a movie, this would be about how I gained the courage and
self respect and finally stood up for myself. It would be about how
the head bully was really a crying on the inside kind of clown, and
how we found our common humanity and overcame our war, or how I
redeemed myself with one pure act of 100 percent american red blooded
violence and cinematically kicked his ass up and down the graveled
and parentless road to his chagrin, and the snakes would dissolve in
contempt for his weakness, as I , magnanimously offer a hand to my
wounded opponent and help hjim to his feet and encourage him to live
a life of righteousness and honor from now on. This is not that kind
of story.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">I was cowed enough
from the very real traumas in my life to believe the snakes were
capable of truly horrible things, and broken and hopeless enough to
believe, somehow, I deserved it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"> I walked with
terror past the coffee cup every day it did not snow, and got shoved
around most of the time.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">On a saturday, a
friend of mine from across the street were attempting to convince
ourselves we were courageous BMX riders, and took our bikes to the
dreaded coffee cup. Jason was a weird sensitive kid from our
neighborhood, his dad a loud drunk who used to rip the phones out of
the wall and, who was forever working on a chopped harley trike made
out of an old volswagen. Jason grew up to be a chicago cop.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Jason and I arrived
at the coffee cup and the old familiar gnawing pain in the stomache
arrived, but there are no snakes. We walk through the storm drains
smelling of fossilized tadpoles and dead frog-water, push the bikes
up the hill and come into the track. We jumped some rickety plywood
ramps, rode the cup a few times, kicking off and coming out of the
ravines. A guy came and tried the same things on motorcycle and
promptly laid it on top of himself, the wheels still spinning crazily
in the air. He was lucky not to die. We just watched.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">When it was time to
go, we took a path I had never noticed, and found a clearing, a few
stolen lawn chairs, an old igloo cooler. On the top of the cooler was
a brand new trapper keeper.with golden retrievers on it.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">I opened it, and saw
written in green ballpoint, in a shaky hand, the (swear-to-god)
minutes of a snake meeting! THEY HAD A TREASURER, and a president,
and some fucked-up hoodlum version of roberts rules of order. The
main order of business seemed to be the construction of a clubhouse,
including sketches, but the end result had seemed to be this circle
of lawn chairs and garbage in a vacant lot, in the high and doubtless
tick-filled grass.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">The rest of the book
was clean empty paper.</span></span></div>
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</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">I took it by the
handful and threw it up in the air, all those clean white sheets
raining down on the grass and the lawn chairs, they split out in
sheaves and I threw them again, endless flocks of college-ruled,
three hole punched doves exploding from a magicians hat.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Paper carpeted the
floor pristine and white, cicadas and crickets sawing in the tall
grass.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">We left, and of
course the snakes found us, and I stood paralyzed while they blacked
jason’s eye, an act of cowardice I could never forgive myself for.
Maybe that’s why he became a cop. Years later, as a hoodlum in my
early teens I would party with some of the affiliate snakes, never
the general or treasurer, but footsoldiers, gone on to gangs with
real names, like disciples, or counts, or kings or became petty
criminals like myself, setting dumpsters on fire, drinking beer in
the cornfields, dealing in stolen pills. There was never a day of
reckoning for the years of terror, and I eventually grew into myself,
became the kind of person that could and would black someones eye,
learned how to be unafraid when walking alone. Learned how to move
through the world more like a predator than prey, but I never was
avenged, or saved, or redeemed from these particular monsters. The
arc of the story does not work like that. We learn to be courageous
because it is necessary, to protect our friends because we must, but
there is no satisfying day when the old terror is put away forever. I
grew, and the snakes grew and we found other ways to frighten each
other. There is no magic moment of victory, but those clean white
pages, falling so silently to earth, those defiant doves and the
kicked over empty chairs of my enemies, the sun through the late
summer grass and the sound of cicadeas, those things will be with me
when I die, still a smart-ass, still a pussy.</span></span></div>
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<br />Proprietorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175257967731627214noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839503941037132439.post-10313883759115102142020-04-21T23:28:00.000-04:002020-04-21T23:28:59.633-04:00<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
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<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
When the cunning engineer built the gilded cow<br />
your mother crawled inside,<br />
to fool the god's white bull,<br />
and let her have her pleasure</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
did he foresee you, your awkward crown<br />
and the palace he would build<br />
to hide you in?<br />
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
When you squatted<br />
at the center of the maze<br />
like a dull spider,<br />
among the bones<br />
and greaves, inevitable<br />
<br />
did you see your death<br />
come strolling, unwinding thread behind?</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
And when he had taken<br />
your life from you,<br />
and left you in the center of that story</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
and began to ravel back the thread<br />
<br />
did he see, tugging<br />
on theother ends</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
the woman avenged, and the<br />
children thrown, bloody and dead in a heap,<br />
the dragons teeth that sown<br />
sprouted armored men?</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
<br />
Did he see the them carving, even then<br />
his seat in hell?</div>
Proprietorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175257967731627214noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839503941037132439.post-89484740773629096722020-04-15T13:47:00.001-04:002020-04-15T13:55:34.752-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<a href="https://i2.wp.com/www.cryptopia.us/site/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Amphisbaena_med1.jpg?resize=300%2C219" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="300" src="https://i2.wp.com/www.cryptopia.us/site/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Amphisbaena_med1.jpg?resize=300%2C219" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /><b>Amphisbaena</b></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"as though it were not enough </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">For poison to be poured out of one mouth" says Pliny</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">how they loved to picture you,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Your twin heads facing each other a heraldic seal,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">A sad and venomous pushme-pullyou. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">It is clear you are born of confusion, </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">From the writhing of sex seen glancingly,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Like the two found fucking by the old blind prophet</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">That let him cast off his tits, if not the dark,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">That qualified him to judge between the gods,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Like the staff of the god</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Of thieves and florists</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Like the huddled shapes of parents seen through a door</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">How you travel,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">First one way, then another</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">"in a circular motion", built for a better version</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Of the hoop that binds the ocean,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The tail that is never swallowed, but instead</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">An endless poison kiss, a double helix</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">You are too necessary to not exist,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The neverending doubleheaded union</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">A looping clip of porn, a snapshot </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Frozen, before the heads begin to pull away, apart</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Like the notion of forever, like a wedding ring</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">For you there is no solitude, born from your gorgon mother’s blood</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">That the hero held aloft, severed, to populate a desert</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The endless Charlie Mccarthy act</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">They call you "mother of ants", and say you devour</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Those called your children, </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Say you fed on the dead </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Left in the wake of an army</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">I adopt one of your poisonous heads,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Give my lover the other,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">How we endlessly recombine,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Joined in the labyrinth of guts</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Heads that face each other and pull away</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcT-z2Yc9nlMhkvS_rJS6tjBGMbHAajbvXk7BK9yBBxDG2xqnBCl&usqp=CAU" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="270" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcT-z2Yc9nlMhkvS_rJS6tjBGMbHAajbvXk7BK9yBBxDG2xqnBCl&usqp=CAU" /></a></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-5e5b5e5b-7fff-9074-725b-8c1c03a3abf7" style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: white;"><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bernake</span></span></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">We imagined a world more mutable,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The trees growing birds, that fell on water to float</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">And live as geese, the eel’s spontaneous generation</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">From the long grass, dropping into the moving streams</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Where everything was various and multiform. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Cheese breeding maggots</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The way the angels woke to push the spheres</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Imagined men could take up skins</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Of bears and hedgehogs and wolves</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is it’s own small miracle,</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The way the egg devours, the child</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Membranous and pink as a newborn mouse</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Riding in the ocean of the body,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The strange fish of the blood to buoy it</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is the world outside the gates, </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The serpent’s teeth in our heels breed no armies</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">And the broken earth gives only grass or thorns,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">No throng of squalling birds growing out from their beaks,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">No roast birds flying head downward</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Above the peasant’s paradise </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">of a crystal mountain of rock candy,</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is you, and I, and a host of nameless beasts</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">A paradise remembered and told to children</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">John of Mandeville, the old liar</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">of all the wonders of his travels,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">(The men who used their single foot as an umbrella,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The headless men with mouths in their bellies</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">That feasted on other men, the mysteries of Jerusalem</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The milk of the virgin marbled in red stone,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"> the birth of roses,)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Of all fantastic variety he kept this tale for his homeland</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">A fantastic tale to tell the denizens of </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That archipelago of horrors, </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">and they did not believe</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.lookandlearn.com/history-images/preview/M/M422/M422040_Basilisk-or-Amphysian-Cockatrice-tail-nowed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="432" height="320" src="https://www.lookandlearn.com/history-images/preview/M/M422/M422040_Basilisk-or-Amphysian-Cockatrice-tail-nowed.jpg" width="270" /></span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cockatrice</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Born first from the clotted venom and blood</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">That rained on Libya from her severed head</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">A storm that birthed two headed serpents,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">till this origin seemed too outlandish</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Then born from a black ibis</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">fed on poisionous snakes,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Then the rooster’s leather eggs,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">left to warm on a dunghill</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Brooded over by the toad with the jewel in his head</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The corrupt quintessence of putrefying matter</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">You are the architect of the desert,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">A wake of withered ruin in your footsteps</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Crowned with a rooster’s comb, a Midas-king of destruction</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Poisoning water with your lips, your breath</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The exhalation of corruption</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The land before you swarms with serpents fleeing your gaze</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">You are hideousness and horror, a Godzilla monster on chicken legs</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">A jackalope that pisses death</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">So absurdly deadly that a man on horseback</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Could spear you, and the venom traveling up</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Kill both him, and the horse. We are alike in this</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pilgrims carried roosters and weasels and rue</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">As charms against your breath</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">When they crossed the no-man’s lands you dwelt in</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Told tales of the unimaginable color of your petrifying eyes</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">In the parlour game of the transmutation of metals</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Where nothing is as it seems</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">You are a type of fire, your egg is the vessel</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Where the elixir is cooked that heals all wounds</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The water that dissolves all metals</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The stone of transformation</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Your corpse, hung in temples served to terrify swallows</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">And you were found, unharmed, in the vault of Saint Lucia</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Your black breath spreading contagion through Rome</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Spirit of fire, of plague and of ruin</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">I thought first to conjure you, </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Name you heraldic emblem of my house</span></span></div>
<b style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">My hands carry sufficient power to destroy all they touch</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://live.mrf.io/statics/i/ps/www.medievalists.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/medievalpetnames.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="729" height="263" src="https://live.mrf.io/statics/i/ps/www.medievalists.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/medievalpetnames.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<b style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: white;"><br /><br /></span></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Dog</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">He was a good and dumb and named by a child</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">So his name was Duke, because children are</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Conservatives, They like square cars and shoe-shaped shoes</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">And house-shaped houses and dogs named Duke</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Or Fido (though they have no latin)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">grasping a certain comforting coherence to pattern</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">But our house was a house-shaped something else,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">An unfun-funhouse with slanting floors</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">And openings in the ceilings and walls</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Strange colonies in the walls</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Like those miracle shacks</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Where water flows uphill </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">And tiny men become giants</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And a broom stands in the corner untouched</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Except it also was devoid of miracles, and most mercies</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Duke dug himself an egg shaped nest </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">In the brown industrial carpeting</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">down to the water-warped plywood</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">He had a fondness for grapefruit husks</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rescued from the maggoty trash</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He slipped his rope and wandered the wooded lots</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Drawing me out of the house</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">To call his dumb-dog name</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Through acres of convergent lots and hedgerows</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">And scrub brush. He mounted the ugly green chair</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With amorous intent</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He did not seem concerned with</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The tricks I half heartedly tried to teach him</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">But like all smiling dogs he was a wolf</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Had to be restrained when the zoning man</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Came poking among the rusting cars and washing machines</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The gasoline filled ringer washer</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">his loyalty uncomplicated</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">And he signed his death warrant</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">When the fat lady stood up on her bicycle</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">To peep through the grease smeared windows</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">And finally see just what was going on in there</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">And he chased her down and smilingly bit out</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">A softball-sized chunk of her ass</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://d3vjn2zm46gms2.cloudfront.net/blogs/2018/05/01142344/00539201-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="800" height="154" src="https://d3vjn2zm46gms2.cloudfront.net/blogs/2018/05/01142344/00539201-2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<b style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Elefant</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">In the gold rush,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">"Going to see the elephant", meant to go west</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Into the strange lands past some invisible Rubicon,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The last circle of light from the settled places</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">To head into the old American dark</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">With everything you could drag into the wild </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Looking for some old story, a place where the rivers</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Ran with gold, the whiskey</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">came trickling out of the rocks.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">It meant to hang on to the bitter-fucking-end</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">And those that turned back, broke, with half a story</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Said they had seen the elephant’s tail, or his ears</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And that was enough for them</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><span style="color: white;">I told you once, a hoary old joke my father told me</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>On how to catch an elephant</i></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">We wake the kids, nursing grudges</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">And set out, into the tangled knot of subway</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">You are beautiful, and painted with sorrow</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">And we are headed uptown to central park</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To see the elephant</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /><i><br /></i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><span style="color: white;">You see, first you go out into the woods</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Where the elephants are</i></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">It’s a weekend, and the half the trains do not run</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Sleeping serpents underground,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Or awake, headed the wrong way, their bellies filled with men</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">And the baby cries, and we miss a stop</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And you say "to hell with it"</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><span style="color: white;">And you cut down a circle of trees</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Then you dig a hole,</i></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">And I want nothing more than to walk behind you</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">But it’s a weekend,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">my tongue knotted in my mouth </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Unreadable as a map</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">we storm and you head up the stairs, angry, silent</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><span style="color: white;">Throw all the trees in</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Light a match and throw it in</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">And it is worse, for a second</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Than shouting, then bluster</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Because you are silent</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">And Hannibal is coming down out of the mountains</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With the children cowering in the courtyards of Rome</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><span style="color: white;">When they are all burned down to grey ash,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You line the rim of the hole with frozen peas</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">I am carrying the baby in her howdah up the steps,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">My old knees unbending, in pursuit of your</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Backside, and I am silent and remembering</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Every imagined slight</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Then you hide in the bushes</i></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">And suddenly the right train comes and the kids</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Make you laugh and you are beautiful in your mercy</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">You are a child laughing, throwing peanuts</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">And I am strong, a man who carries tree trunks</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">And makes roads, not a crazy bull</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">driven off alone,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><span style="color: white;">The elephants will come into the clearing</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>They will be curious about the peas</i></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">They are dusty, in the dark</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The family that never got where it was going,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The mother’s trunk silently</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Trumpeting, the babes at her feet</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">And I photograph you against them</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Like the water that they never reached,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Are reaching for, forever</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the hall of African mammals</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><span style="color: white;">And when the elephant comes to take a pea</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>You kick him in the ash-hole</i></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">We stay only for a moment,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">In the conservatory, the butterflies crowd around you</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">And the baby, and everything is green </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Formi</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">"I could conquer the whole of them with 50 men, and govern them as I pleased."</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Christopher Columbus</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Arimaspi, a race of one eyed men, </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lived in the wastes outside the cities, in Scythia</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And warred with griffins that guarded gold</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As the pygmaioi warred with the cranes,</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And ate their eggs and built houses</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">From mud and eggshells</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Phrixus killed the winged ram</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And hung ithe bloody hide on an oak tree</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At the end of the world,</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Like peanut butter on a Victory mousetrap</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The lord of El Dorado dove into mountain water</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Naked and coated in gold dust,</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A glittering fish for a spanish hook</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Always somewhere over the border</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">From where we are, there is gold</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lying on the ground and waiting to be taken</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are walls of lapus lazuli</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">False gods of gold and ornaments</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the hair of women who speak no human language</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Formi dig it from the ground</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And pile the gold in heaps</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They are ants the size of foxes, or dogs</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Or leopards and they live in either</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">India, sri lanka or Africa</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They live in the wild places</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They are not men, only insects</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Their cities are mudheaps of gold</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">sweet hives awaiting plunder</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And though they fight to keep it</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They know not what they have</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They are not men</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They are horrible and quick, eaters of men</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fooled by simple tricks, </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The nearby men send</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">mares with empty boxes</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">strapped to their backs</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and the black beasts fill their boxes with money</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.greeklegendsandmyths.com/uploads/5/3/1/3/53133595/amalthea-2_orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="578" data-original-width="800" height="231" src="https://www.greeklegendsandmyths.com/uploads/5/3/1/3/53133595/amalthea-2_orig.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Goat (for Rachel)</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Amalthea took the baby godling in her cave</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">And gave suck to thunder, the metalsmith priests</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Covering the cries with dancing.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The carnival-king father ravened in his heaven</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">A piñata filled with stones, a big bad wolf daddy</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Hungry to swallow babies, a bloody sickle in his hand</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Her broken horn is a drinking cup filled with flowers</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Her hot blood dissolves diamonds</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Set in a sea of stars, she took a mermaid’s tail</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">And crowned herself queen of melancholy</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">she gives milk to exiles, she is mercy in the dark,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">she is the soft dark where the stars are set</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b5/Johann_Bayer_-_Uraniometria_-_Southern_Birds.jpg/350px-Johann_Bayer_-_Uraniometria_-_Southern_Birds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="321" data-original-width="350" height="293" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b5/Johann_Bayer_-_Uraniometria_-_Southern_Birds.jpg/350px-Johann_Bayer_-_Uraniometria_-_Southern_Birds.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><br /><br /></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hydrus</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Doubtless, some misheard tale</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Of birds picking daintily through</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The crocodile’s teeth, growing with the telling</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Till it dives, mudslick</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">into the deadly jaws and eats out through the belly</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Devouring heart and liver, head emerging through the side</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Like the pygmy elephant hunters</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Crawling through the viscera, joyful</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">we prefer our Jonahs in a tidy belly</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"> Gepetto’s home away from home</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">taken as a fable of the resurrection,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Christ gnawing his way through hell</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Teeth gnashing through wailing sinners</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The hellmouth snapping up the damned like fish</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">In the morning my son runs up the steps</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Into a brick building, named after a man hitless</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">In 9 games in 1952</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">I dive into a bus</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The fallen angels adjust their wristwatches</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">And wait for the train, jostling to stand</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">They will call to say he has pushed a larger boy into the dust</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">That the little fish devour each other in the beast’s belly</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">They do not see his head, bursting through a side door</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">His broken-toothed grin, his hard little belly</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Filled with what a man must swallow</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">To be allowed his allotment of light</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4e/Guardian_Angel_1900.jpg/170px-Guardian_Angel_1900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="252" data-original-width="170" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4e/Guardian_Angel_1900.jpg/170px-Guardian_Angel_1900.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Ichneuman</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The wonders of Nature and Providence, displayed</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Tells us that the beast was a god to the Egyptians</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">A devourer of the crocodile's egg</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Armored in mud, protected from venom by rue</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">In truth, it is a favorite theme of taxidermists,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">A bedraggled mongoose, leaking sawdust</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">A glass eyed cobra forever fixed</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In its jaws, they gather dust, sunbleach</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In antique store windows, </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">ghosts of the American dime museum</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The fox heads bite on the tail of the next , </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Chase each other over the shoulder of a dressmaker's dummy,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">A hat with plumes, the archangel Michael, pigeon wings</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Sprouting from his shoulers like an sideshow gaffe,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">a Jenny Haniver, heaven's Feejee mermaid</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The patron saint of paratroopers forever</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Dark-skinned Satan, the patron saint</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Of the Mosin-Nagant carbine,</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The Enfield rifle and the RPG-7</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">a snake and a mongoose,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Sunday-school saccharine in a crazed frame</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Apple-cheeked Dick and Jane pray</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">To a guardian angel gaudy as a parrot</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Crossing over the abyss, forever,</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Two frightened Hummel babes that don't look down</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">teeth bared, hair on end in terror</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">bellies filled with rue</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Ask the purple hearts in the glass case,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The captain's bars on the moth-eaten wool coat</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">the battlefield midden's heap of nameless parts</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Ask them how it ends.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d1/Jaculus.jpg/300px-Jaculus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="175" data-original-width="300" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d1/Jaculus.jpg/300px-Jaculus.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><br /></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jaculus</span></span></span><br />
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">In 1691 Edward Lhwyd wrote on the origin of dragons</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">That the eggs of birds could be fertilized by snakes</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">"Fermentational Putrefaction", that chimeras were born</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">From the mingling of sperm in rivers and rain,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Libavius writes that the egg serves as a food source only</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">That the seed-snake eats it whole, still writhing</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Like a garter-snake run over by a lawn mower</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">In the rain, in the rivers, the whole world cumslick</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Crawling with monstrous life, </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Winged snakes coiled in the trees, waiting</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To drop, dripping venom</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Avoiding the obvious means of commingling tjem , </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">He keeps the eggs, white.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">virginal and soulless in the nest</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The tadpoles crawling into the dirt, </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Birthing headless animals of stone, </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Lions with human faces</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The world as imagined by men</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">In the garden, after the only male birth</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The snake still moved upright,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">With peacock-feathered wings it raised</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Its head from the dust, the font of poisons</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And said something low</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The beasts unnamed, watched curiously</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Wide eyed, fantastic, the menageries</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">We would forget, like the language</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Of the tower, like our house before i burned it down</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Now, through a locked gate, the garden is dangerous</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Unnatural, the way the lamb lies in the lion's mouth</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">the remembered image of ourselves with no navels</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">the snakes flitting between the trees we are forbidden</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the way you kissed me once,</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">your wings outstretched</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">my scales almost pretty</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">in your reflected light</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/Zakariya_ibn_Muhammad_Qazwini_-_A_Rhinoceros_-_Walters_W659112A_-_Full_Page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="519" height="320" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/Zakariya_ibn_Muhammad_Qazwini_-_A_Rhinoceros_-_Walters_W659112A_-_Full_Page.jpg" width="207" /></span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Karkadann</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">In conversations my grandfather and father </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"> allowed for various cryptozoological marvels,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"> Lake monsters, Sasquatch, hollow earth dwellers,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"> a hermetic library </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">of metal plates hidden below the sphinx,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"> sparkplugs in stone , electroplating amphoras,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"> my families catechism of our true religion, </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">of Cayce and Von Daniken, </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Hopis and Elizabeth Clare Prophet,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">lowbrow voodoo Dianetics</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Extraterrestrial revisionist Mormonism</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">prophecy and doom</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There was one miracle not admitted,</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">My hopeful lure cast out into the ocean of belief</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Greeted with a disdainful smile,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The province of children's stories</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">My earnest hope ignored the rainbows</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The gaudy flea market tapestries</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Hung over dirty walls seemed to me</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">A door. I knew the stone house on the hill, the garden</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The woman's lap the beast lay its head in</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">I practiced the lines linked to circles</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">In a second hand book on drawing horses, </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Studied the fibbonacci whorls of goat and narwhal horn</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">In out-of-date yard sale encyclopedias</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Recursive stairways to nowhere</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Collected chintzy idols of the world better than this</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Envied the lying girl at school her story</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">And doubtless assured my parents I was a faggot</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">And now you are here, more miraculous than a single horned goat</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">In a sideshow, no velvet color true</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">You herd our spindly legged colts </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">into the city to see me at midday</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">and no one sees what I see</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">the sigil of a world that trumps this cement block day</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">An apparition, rampant,.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://bestiary.ca/beastimage/img176.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" src="http://bestiary.ca/beastimage/img176.jpg" data-original-height="402" data-original-width="595" height="216" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Leucrota</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">A devourer of the dead, you speak with a human voice</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Your mouth hinged back to your ears, laughing and crying</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">You listen outside the door of the house for a name </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">To repeat, to lure the man out of the house and swallow him whole</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Change sex, your teeth a solid ridge of bone, continuous</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">You are the clown of my childhood nightmares,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The beast built of the pink aftertrail of staring at a bare bulb,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Spun like candy into a rubber-limbed mute</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The tickled and tickled the children</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Till their stomachs fell out of their bodies</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">And twitched, still laughing on the bare wood floor</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">You are the pool of water in a leaf,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The moon refracting into a thousand eyes, </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">the thump of something outside the circle of the fire's light</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">You are my fathers hands when unwatched</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">And the rats in the wall</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">You are the bare toothed grin of dead things</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">You are the crawl of worms beneath the skin,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Corpse eater, heart swallower</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">You are cloven hooved as the devil, cannot turn your head</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Your father's eyes are stones that give the gift of sight</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">You are all friends gone to dust,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Old grinning death himself, waiting past the last house</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">On the street, on the rim of the streetlight's disk</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The shutter-click of black in the eye</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The empty lung's pause</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNv-SJaVXUzPDCNDt-ig0o1oKJ3Vn7GP3s64z3bXwpi5KxyJgXOHTJiWIYNuwE9dsspBxcjRbUJT-T0b2eO5B7xOMaL4SvJMLCAI8gVEqOT9OTh9TTkCnrAv-0eIPcKPkmvUrpzWKblmI/s1600/manicore+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="289" data-original-width="456" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNv-SJaVXUzPDCNDt-ig0o1oKJ3Vn7GP3s64z3bXwpi5KxyJgXOHTJiWIYNuwE9dsspBxcjRbUJT-T0b2eO5B7xOMaL4SvJMLCAI8gVEqOT9OTh9TTkCnrAv-0eIPcKPkmvUrpzWKblmI/s320/manicore+2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Manticore</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Sweet faced fraud, three rows of needle-teeth</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">In your smile, your trumpet voice,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">honey tongueed dropping philistine psalms</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Like water, like praise of fools.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Borges chases the tiger through the labyrinth of words</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Finding only paper and library dust,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">I summon you, Geryon</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"> find the broken toothed tiger of my menagerie</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Grinning back, threadbare behind a plaster mask,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">A speaking oracular head, and behind it, truth</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">We are false.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"> Chimeras pieced together from bits of night terror, </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">from misheard tales, you are man-eater, martya xwar. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">You are tiger, grown in the telling</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Given poison spines, a serpent's tale., a pretty face.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">I am simple fraud, your emblem is mine, sinister, passant</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">There is , in the end, nothing fantastic about monsters.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">No magic, no secrets, no riddles from a human head</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">A bear will strip a man's leg to bone</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Tigers eat the children of the poor</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">What need have we of further bogey-men then ourselves?</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Our kings drape themselves in tiger skins, the nagual jaguars</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Sleep in crypts and men are as murderous as they wish</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">I renounce my fraud but still my mouth is poison</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Slaves shape mountains into lions with human heads</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To ask us who we are, to sweeten impossible lips with lies</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">And tell us it is they, not we, who are terrible</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://web.colby.edu/ovid-censorship/files/2013/11/Virgil_Solis_-_Tereus_Procne_Furies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="599" height="244" src="https://web.colby.edu/ovid-censorship/files/2013/11/Virgil_Solis_-_Tereus_Procne_Furies.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nightingale</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Your sister's husband, a king </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">A son of war himself</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">took you to Thrace</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">and took you on the way, a casual rape</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">of the sort that occupies men's minds</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">when a pretty woman makes the error</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">of going outside her house</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">and it is hot</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">and you told him, said "if</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">there is a god in heaven he will hear me'</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">and so Tereus, that eminently practical man</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">cut out your tongue and locked you in prison</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">and you, the dumb stump in your mouth</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">stitched till your fingers bled</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">in that dark house, and gave the terrible gift</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">of truth to your sister Procne</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">a practical woman herself</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">who took her son Itys into the kitchen</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">and cut his throat </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">like a suckling pig</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">and drained the blood from it</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">and hewed his joints apart</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">and tossed them in a soup pot</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">( such terrible goings on, the neighbors said after)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">and brought the brimming bowl to his father.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">And while he gnawed the knuckle bone</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Of his sweetly slaughtered boy</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You and your sister ran</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">And the man, with his boy in his belly</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Must have known and come after</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And in the sudden terrible change</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">That is common as salt in stories</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">You all grew feathers and flew</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/ca/1c/a9/ca1ca90843e6e0cda8678cacfae48abf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/ca/1c/a9/ca1ca90843e6e0cda8678cacfae48abf.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><br /></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Orphanim</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Because they were first delivered</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Mutilated, stuffed for decoration</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Europeans believed they never landed</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Endlessly aloft</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The bird of paradise,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Popular among hatmakers</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">as the peacock, as, no doubt</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">the angels would be</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">could we but find one</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">on the earth, to rip the pinions from </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">and set them , rakish, in a hatband</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Birds are peculiar beasts. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Half clockwork snake</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">half emblem of heaven</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Consider the grace of vultures and gulls</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">With what dumb envy we</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Staple wings to saints </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">And dream of flight, of falling.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Imagine the impossible, the phoenix</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Aflame in a nest of cinnamon sticks,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Born clean of memory</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">the bird of paradise,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">the human headed ka of the Egyptians,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"> the feathered soul, the pelican</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">feeding babies from its bloody breast</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">and the orphanim</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The orphan bird lives in only one source,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The peacock plumed, eagle headed swan</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">That lies its eggs on the water</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">And the good bob on the surface</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">And the bad go down in the dark</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">And feathery Jesus intends</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">That we take this as an emblem of salvation</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Like the seeds that are cast in rocky places</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">And bear no fruit, and the eggs that wake</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">On the sea bottom, are we damned</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">As though the angels and paradise birds never tired</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Of their endless circling flight</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">As though we chose this waste for our cradle</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjRfsW9XG67L6YtVs22pQM4yinvarBnRiy4m50qRjz5gF2H_RCk_1QDtotNXVBpeINTu0qFLyhjeiEq4ruwSZKSHbCwOvRfDZBrmd46qPQktoognwd19E5SM2cUdc-jAJwfJQMCrvQpTuE=" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="319" data-original-width="324" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjRfsW9XG67L6YtVs22pQM4yinvarBnRiy4m50qRjz5gF2H_RCk_1QDtotNXVBpeINTu0qFLyhjeiEq4ruwSZKSHbCwOvRfDZBrmd46qPQktoognwd19E5SM2cUdc-jAJwfJQMCrvQpTuE=" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<b style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Peridexion ( for Portsmouth, Ohio)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">the branches full of feathered fire</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">doves hang by beaks like barnacle geese,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">like crows in a gallows tree, as seraphim</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">sing in a multifoliate rose, </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">a confusion of wings and eyes, purring music</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">they are here in shadow to avoid the devil</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">the noonday dragon of the sun</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">that stalks the other side of the tree</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">here is the sweet fruit of ignorance,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">served thrice daily, all you can eat</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">the bogeyman devil standing</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">in the unrelenting light, the pigeons</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">coo and tuck their heads under their wings</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">and pretend to sleep, cluck nervous as chickens</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">there is a town, like a tree filled with birdhouses</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">discarded snail shells cling to the insides,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">empty doors hanging open</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"> birds in the shadow,a ruin or a folly</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">hear the walls shake as</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">his scaly feet tread the track through the day</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">set the bridge swaying, </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">the dogs howling after the fire engines</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">the tongues of leering faces reach out for rain</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">for trains in a dry place, in stone</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">on the cracked outer wall of an empty church</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">that daydreamed of a host of wings to shadow</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">its walls, the saccharine angels stay inside alone, </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">plaster pious </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">my ruined homeland, nestled in the dark</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">between the hills, the nervous chickens</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">clucking at the light outside, the imaginary fox</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">the chicken-coop smell of confinement</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">and feathers for wings never used</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">litter the ground, no bed for sleepin</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">pills to quiet the restless wings</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">the branches gnarl and clutch,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">bone finger cage of withered leaf</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEg4-CLa9h6NsVJxBm8hgHSgoiXCQraePhTYmzAF0zaihzmmcppxF2lrdofev7S9dEZ1iHMrxE4pi0xrr_SpzHuP2Pr6hyXmsPPCPKRTLJpwbpi0kLvoZ6Hp72ghyphenhyphenP4mUoMPVaRgP_haNyY=" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="512" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEg4-CLa9h6NsVJxBm8hgHSgoiXCQraePhTYmzAF0zaihzmmcppxF2lrdofev7S9dEZ1iHMrxE4pi0xrr_SpzHuP2Pr6hyXmsPPCPKRTLJpwbpi0kLvoZ6Hp72ghyphenhyphenP4mUoMPVaRgP_haNyY=" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Quail</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Pliny tells us that these birds throng the rigging of ships</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">and sink them, when the sailor is near home,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">coming in to harbor, the lazy things</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">toppling the masts, snapping guy-lines</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Weary with flight, mournful and exhausted,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Crying with the effort of flight</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Tells us they have bellies</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Filled with ballast stones, </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">throats filled with sand</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">heavy and ponderous</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">they fly into headwinds</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">that they eat poison seeds</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">to poison their own meat,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">that they flop with the god-curse</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">of epilepsy, and to spit against them serves as a charm</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Isidore of Seville calls them ortygas,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">After the island they were found,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Said they cross the sea at a fixed time</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The refugee horde led by the </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Ortygometra, the quail mother</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The first bird, the head of the borderless state</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">That they war with the hawks,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Attempt statecraft</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">That they recruit the tongue-bird and eared owl</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">As escorts, as shepherds, as offerings to the hawk</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Who takes the first of the crowd,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Like the devil took the hindmost</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the sorceror's school in the hollow mountain,</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">In the book of Numbers,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The israealites cry out</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">"who will give us flesh to eat"</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">And god, in anger says</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">"You will eat flesh till it comes</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Out of your nostrils and it be loathsome to you"</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt;">And then blows in this other nation of birds</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">On a sea wind, to drop dead around the camp of</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The wandering Israelites, a winged diaspora</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">And all the day and night and the next day</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They gather the quail</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The hungry nation devours the smaller kingdom of birds</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">And it says in Numbers " while the flesh was yet between</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Their teeth ere it was chewed"</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">they are sticken with plague, and die</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Here is every refugee boat built of taxis and washtubs </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Every coyote truck filled with sun stroked lettuce pickers</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Every immigrant lost in the babel-blare of our cities</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They are weary, gathered in the rigging, bellies filled with stones</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Their hollow bones sticking in our throats</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEg1R1JGumNbx4h2aDzIoBhAhTLn-B-pcuhzAumquz1LtJDU7Qb7h7iGENDKOyYi-z-cldkAdcEZWGCMafKwI2vW2-FV-dg9bLWET0XZeQ1WCgMHCtAuOYaZGX9cWY8GQ-Vfh3Q-VCj8E9A=" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="137" data-original-width="512" height="85" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEg1R1JGumNbx4h2aDzIoBhAhTLn-B-pcuhzAumquz1LtJDU7Qb7h7iGENDKOyYi-z-cldkAdcEZWGCMafKwI2vW2-FV-dg9bLWET0XZeQ1WCgMHCtAuOYaZGX9cWY8GQ-Vfh3Q-VCj8E9A=" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Remora</span></span></span><br />
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">A shark in the wave of your sleep</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">You go down, I latched to your belly</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Like a rubber tipped arrow, </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Like a piece of glass to catch the light</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Sailors said I presaged storms,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Holding to a rock</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">With my hungry mouth</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Said I could hold a ship</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Steady in a wind</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">I swim in your open mouth,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Cling to you through the cold</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Eat your leavings,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Your cast-off skin</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">You are all tooth and hunger</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">All silence in the dark places </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">You are a ship, a belly full of ballast</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">And a good tail wind</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">And I hold you steady as a stone</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61Ukl6hyycL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="534" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61Ukl6hyycL.jpg" width="213" /></span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><br /></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sirena</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">It is cold, in the downbelow</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Where the myriad mouths open,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">To sing the little fish into their jaws,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Where the manthings rust</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The strange tailed fish of sailors</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">How they bloom, so red , call the..</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Grandfathers in with</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Their hot meatsmell blood</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The steelfish manthing houses burst and drifting down</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">to the bottom, and where they rest</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">how the meatflowers open, the </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">silver storms of foodfish</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">in and out through the blast holes</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">in the belly of the steelfish</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">where the pretty bones lie</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">with useless tales</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">come come pretty come come</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">come come pretty come come</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">down in the oozy dark,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">where the singers drift in herds</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">where we sing from throats like yours</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">down</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">in the hot vents, the bloodworms cluster</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">sucking sulphur, things with legs crawl</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">we will kiss the bright sky from your mouth</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">in the downdark, in the belowdark</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">there is dim light from the eyeless</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">mouths of anglers</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">comedown pretty down</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">down </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">to pearls and garlands and rich change</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">to bloodflower blossom in the cold current</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">to coldteeth of the grandfathers</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">drifting downbelow dark</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://bible-truths.com/lake172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="330" data-original-width="440" height="240" src="https://bible-truths.com/lake172.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Tophet</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the tar of the smoke of your sacrifices gums the bellies </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">of the saints, the resinous stink of it in plaster nostrils, </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">eyes cloudy as milk, dusty, dead skin</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and crumbling paper, oiled wood and glass</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">say there are elves that drink the fresh milk, </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">helpful brownies to calm the horses </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">children chanting bloody mary </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">bloody mary bloody mary bloody mary </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">in front of a hand mirror in the dark </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">pour out your 40 for the dead </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">or a salver of wine to gladden the dust </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">recite the paternoster </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">or the charm from the tract handed to you </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">on a train, or the names of god </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">say the blood offering has been given, </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">doves and sheep and men </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">offered without number on the blackened altar </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">rum, snuff and cigars </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">at a mountaintop cross </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">oranges and florida water </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">dusty plastic flowers </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and tea lights </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">that hellmouth grins like a stone toad </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">swallows sacrifice and prayer and devotee alike </span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">U </span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEi8wLFi8P3Garjm5AIzh1cLvvIFVBs-p2QLq4Fd2MPLzuRJ__evkhpEy3HgfLdp9OkYNaYSU-u-5mR_vkJ5ktHSLAEDtp9RR-8Xb1_v-OhKmui6fPfbEcLAPxNvOBKnxflmiCZZxScyeZI=" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="354" data-original-width="350" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEi8wLFi8P3Garjm5AIzh1cLvvIFVBs-p2QLq4Fd2MPLzuRJ__evkhpEy3HgfLdp9OkYNaYSU-u-5mR_vkJ5ktHSLAEDtp9RR-8Xb1_v-OhKmui6fPfbEcLAPxNvOBKnxflmiCZZxScyeZI=" width="316" /></span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><br /></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vulture</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">on the pig farm when I was very small </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the road seemed like an afterthought </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">a pathway made only to connect the house to the world </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">a white gravel pathway that met a sidewalk </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">that met the door </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">one tractor under the power lines, a circuit from the field to the barn </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">later, the great crumbling house we lived in </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">with its hideous peeling paint </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and sagging walls </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">sat on a road of tar and gravel </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">trucks came off king's road </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">looking for a way through </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the tangled, numberless, unincorporated </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">collection of wooded lots </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">dead things caught under their wheels, </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">crawled with flies in the long grass of the ditches </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the white stones sank in the hot tar in summer </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">we would walk the power lines</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">till we came to a highway overpass </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">where we’d wave at the trucks cutting through </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to the empty heart of the country</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">my grandfather told me every concrete slab</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">was feeding station for the buzzards</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">who circled above the highway</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">like a storm</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">my house is a brick house</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">six floors above the street </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and the neighbors hang their washing on wires </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ocean ave comes to a rest outside the false marble foyer of my building </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">like a dead thing, like a snake become a leather belt in the sun </span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large-5/medieval-sailors-mistake-a-sleeping-mary-evans-picture-library.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="800" height="190" src="https://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large-5/medieval-sailors-mistake-a-sleeping-mary-evans-picture-library.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whalfisch</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">I was eleven, the December ocean</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">rising to my chest, hands and lips numb. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">I stood shaking on the grey </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">of Mission Beach unobserved, </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">a coward after.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">In slick pages, plasticene women</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">parted cunts symmetrical as fruit.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Plastic vodka bottles emptied</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">the lie of water into me, filled my head </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">with stones long enough to keep it under.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">My dreams are reefs, the writhing of soft life, </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">something rich and strange.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">You are not the rising water or birds, </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">or the dark where the horizon is not </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">or the tanker’s light. You are no land </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">to lay a claim to, the islands of glass that drift,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">the great slow creature, a living country</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">tree roots carving into your back,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">scalded once by fire,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">fantastical, in the corner of maps</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">stained continents </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">on yellow bedsheets.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></span>Proprietorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175257967731627214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839503941037132439.post-25246235913337727862020-04-14T13:02:00.000-04:002020-04-14T13:09:03.888-04:00<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The night I set the chair on fire, they sent two fire trucks, and three cop cars.</span><br />
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<a href="https://media.istockphoto.com/photos/wooden-chair-is-on-fire-incineration-of-furniture-conceptual-photo-picture-id1045539494?k=6&m=1045539494&s=612x612&w=0&h=dOH1gl3AT97_VToOFwIaZWTZVkotMv0W2hT6WFFinM8=" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="405" height="320" src="https://media.istockphoto.com/photos/wooden-chair-is-on-fire-incineration-of-furniture-conceptual-photo-picture-id1045539494?k=6&m=1045539494&s=612x612&w=0&h=dOH1gl3AT97_VToOFwIaZWTZVkotMv0W2hT6WFFinM8=" width="211" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The cops came up as I was watching it burn, and they did not even try to take my beer from me, or the gas can, which was probably a good idea. "That's a lot of cops for a barbecue" says I. "Shut up, kid" says them. The flame was a two-story high column of orange light and stinking black smoke from the burning foam rubber, and the greasy sixties floral skin of the thing was polyester, at least in part. The gasoline exploded when the flame hit it, and the boom had made my neighbors report an explosion, their weirdly sculpted bushes lit with sunset and hell-light. The chair had a name, was the throne of our underground court, beside the washing machine, the sump pump hole, the empty whiskey bottles, the Black Sabbath and Misfits records,</span><br />
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<a href="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/6f/7a/4f/6f7a4f850b6d3614e8bffd46cd40024e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="630" height="320" src="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/6f/7a/4f/6f7a4f850b6d3614e8bffd46cd40024e.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> the black indoor/outdoor carpet,the windows used as doors, covered in stolen flags, the chair of office soaked in bong water and gas station wine, in boilermakers and cheap gin. I had been crowned here with a burger king crown, lord of my subteranen demense. I had been hounded, as I was going away to school, off to seek my fortune in the wide wide world, to "get rid of that ugly piece of trash that you dragged into my house" before I let the door hit me on the ass, by my mother, through a thick slurred fog of sleep</span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">ing pills. The beers were stolen from the vegetable crisper, old Milwaukee tall boys held by a plastic ring, and the gas was meant for a battered lawn mower that was seldom used.( In our last place, we had let the grass grow till it rippled like wheat,heavy with seeds and when the law came and informed us it would have to be cut, I cu</span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">t it with a sickle and let it dry in the sun before I bagged it, and then cut it twice, That yard would have burned down the block, but this one was kept passable by contract with HUD.) The iron railings were kept painted, inside and out and the avocado-green stove and oven worked as per the fair housing act, but the fireplace was boarded over (,fire too dangerous in the hands of the poor) and we had no hatchet, so I determined it was to be a viking funeral for my youth, for my chair, and dragged it drunkenly up the stairs, while her stupor held, while my sisters slept, and in the middle of the walk, I placed it, soaked it down with five gallons of gas and led a thin thread of fuel, fuse style, up the walk and set it roaring up to the level of the second floor windows, and sang, until the sirens started.</span>Proprietorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175257967731627214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839503941037132439.post-63137661242572877982020-04-13T23:04:00.002-04:002020-04-13T23:08:12.152-04:00<span style="background-color: black; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The gascan is silver, with the odd bit of flaked red paint. Two metal screw lids, one for easy filling at the pump, the second, smaller, to fit in the tank of lawn mowers and motorcycles.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">There is a wire carrying handle, and the entire contraption bears a more than passing resemblance to a teapot,flat bottomed and semi spherical.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/93/ba/e6/93bae6efa95c10f3f10be4cdfaa17306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="340" height="254" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/93/ba/e6/93bae6efa95c10f3f10be4cdfaa17306.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"> Under the oaks, behind the house, it is unlikely you will be seen from the street, and still there is something furtive about the process, something ritualistic. The three of you sit in a rough semicircle; pass the can by the handle, both lids off. Sitting in the grass, you kneel in front of the can; place your mouth in the larger opening, both hands resting on the domed surface, a supplicant. Your own laughter is tinny, your breath quick and strained. The smell of the gas is comforting and repellant at the same time, the laughter of the others distant as you huff. Behind your eyes indistinct purple shapes swell and change, your extremities go cold. The voice of the last person at the can is thick, slow and distorted. Time seems to stretch out thin. There is a kind of effervescence bubbling in the forefront of your brain, a sensation you associate with popping brain cells. If you are lucky, there will be warm cheap beer, or whiskey to wash the taste away, to take away the coldness from your nose and fingertips, the sick unsettled feeling in your stomach. Sometimes, someone will stay too long and aspirate liquid gas and not just vapor, which they will immediately vomit in a strand ropy with saliva, while the others laugh. This is infrequent. The tree frogs in the oaks thrum, a loud, unworldly threnody.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://nature.mdc.mo.gov/sites/default/files/media/images/2010/07/spring_peeper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="521" data-original-width="800" height="208" src="https://nature.mdc.mo.gov/sites/default/files/media/images/2010/07/spring_peeper.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"> The stars above the oaks are like ice shards, the sky in between indescribably black, sparkling blades of light crackle around your peripheral vision, and the central focus of your gaze has a migraine tinged gravity to it that makes you feel top-heavy, pulled forward by what you look at as the world around focuses tightly. Your own heartbeat is audible, fast, and perhaps arrhythmic. the ground is hard, dry, the grass overlong, interspersed with snowdrops, with wild onion, clover, the paper-thin dead leaves of the oaks.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The peripheries of the yards are hedgerows of saplings, which catch plastic grocery bags in their branches. Rusted metal of engines and air conditioners, the dull leaden glint of abandoned galvanized fence posts under leaves...under the canopy of the thin growth grow stands of mayapple. the ground here is soft black humus and a wet sodden blanket of oak leaves. parasitic vines climb the trees, poison oak and poison sumac, possum grapes.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Deadfall trees crumble in spongy decay. Death angel, honey,</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgBTsqh08Yy4Z9xVNaIQ4euIvxhJULMFBRvZhyUgCXg1OpC12P0WEPkaVRIhyphenhyphenDNE_eD31moWAHGYR88A92b7g3T_x_fX1Bj0qxfSWEzZpgSL-uW3_I5txRmKizRA-Jnt_Bc9nhkBe1u_a/s1600/mush312_honey.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgBTsqh08Yy4Z9xVNaIQ4euIvxhJULMFBRvZhyUgCXg1OpC12P0WEPkaVRIhyphenhyphenDNE_eD31moWAHGYR88A92b7g3T_x_fX1Bj0qxfSWEzZpgSL-uW3_I5txRmKizRA-Jnt_Bc9nhkBe1u_a/s320/mush312_honey.JPG" width="256" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"> king's button and sheepshead mushrooms rot in the grass. A bottle of watered down Jack Daniels is passed around, Marlboro red cigarettes are lit amongst much joking of spontaneous combustion. A paper grocery bag is crumpled, placed under a knot of dead willow branches, a rough teepee of midsize oak and maple and set alight. As always, someone suggest the gas, and as always, you say no. You are a purist about fire. They are the ones who carry the cans of Heet lock deicer in the inside pockets of denim jackets, who torch dumpsters, who even now want this small fire to be built too large "we'll just have to stay here all night and watch it if we put that damn tree on" you say. later, you will indulge them, let them draw wavery lined pentagrams and set them alight on the dead ground. "not on the damn grass" you'll say.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Some inky advertising circulars, and porn are thrown on the fire and burn blue, thin black sheets with glowing edges float upwards into the trees, ghost pussies and 70's nipples curling into black. The gas can is taken out again, and there is some drunken awkwardness in the ritual approach</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Within the year, one of these people will be dead and the other half-crazy with it. You will continue as you are, mostly. “Don't sit so close to the damn fire” you say.</span></span></div>
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Proprietorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175257967731627214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839503941037132439.post-72848691153464932812020-04-10T10:19:00.003-04:002020-04-10T10:19:49.742-04:00<br />
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A Partial list of my early romantic/erotic fixations would should
have let me know you were coming:</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://i.annihil.us/u/prod/marvel/i/mg/b/f0/5a73abd9b3b70/clean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="520" height="320" src="https://i.annihil.us/u/prod/marvel/i/mg/b/f0/5a73abd9b3b70/clean.jpg" width="208" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">She
Hulk. Jo From Facts of Life, particularly when she was working on her
motorcycle or acting particularly butch. Betty Boop. The woman with
Tiger Skin in Heavy Metal Magazine. A pissed-off Refugee woman in
National Geographic. Janet from Rocky Horror Picture Show. Every
woman in the 1982 June issue of Easy Rider magazine. Wendy the good
witch. The knock-off Hot Lips Houlihan from the pornographic film
“Nurses of the 4077” on Betamax, Vampirella. A lot. Ophelia,
drowning. Elvira, mistress of the Dark in a bud light halloween ad.
EN Vogue, in that video with the silver dresses. Storm, from the X
men. The evil ancient vampire elf in elfquest, when they get to the
crashed spaceship. Sissy Spacek. The witch from The Wizard of Oz. Pia
Zadora in that incest movie. The elf that interbred with wolves in
Elfquest. The chained slave lady in the Frank Frazetta painting. The
lady with the giant lizard monster thing in that other Frank Frazetta
painting. Jane Child. Toni Braxton. Jodi Watley. Wendy and Lisa from
Purple Rain. The woman in the Creepy comic who pretended to be dead
to have sex with the Necrophile, who murdered her when she blinked.
Kitiara, the evil general in the DragonLance books. The teenager who
gets murdered early on in Silent Night, Deadly Night. Ayla from Clan
of the Cave Bear. The shiny sexy robot on the cover of Omni magazine.
The coppertone girl. A hustler centerfold in which the woman was a
confusingly scantily clad eskimo. The Elf queen Galadriel. The
headless body that controlled a spaceship in a particularly
problematic Heavy Metal comic. Sarah Bernhardt as Medea murdering her
children in a poster. Priscilla Presley. Barbara Eden as Genie. Grace
Slick from The Jefferson Airplane. Heart. Both of them. Sharon Tate in a field of
flowers with the word “why?” Squeaky Fromme. Joan Jett. The
dominatrix woman from the English Leather cologne ad. “my men wear
English Leather or they wear nothing at all” Red Sonja. A naked
woman playing a flute in a watercolor painting. The sexy robot in the
Piers Anthony book Blue Adept. The black mass scene from a Time Life
mysteries of the occult book. Goyas witches. Anne of green gables
when she gets her friend drunk on cherry cordial and they almost make
out.. The mean girl from Little House on the Prarie. Ginger when the
ape man took her and Mary Anne. Morticia Adams. Tabitha and Endora
from Bewitched. An Alphonse Mucha Beer Maiden. A Nun riding a
bicycle. Ms Jones with the devil in her.
</span></span></div>
<br />Proprietorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175257967731627214noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839503941037132439.post-77431543894423077542020-04-09T10:47:00.000-04:002020-04-09T10:56:33.923-04:00<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 13px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">When I was 12- 13 years old, and full of newly discovered angst, my long, shimmering hair framing my Dave Koresh silver glasses, my icewashed denim jacket, when I still thought happiness might exist inside the hermetic, over the clothes fumbling paradise of the all night skate or church lock in, when I still played records backwards with serious intent, I met a like minded individual named George Cookingham. We spent a lot of time in cemeteries, deserted lots, basements We rode bikes and set shit on fire. It was fucking awesome. We roamed the Illinois dusk, drank bum wine in cornfields, ate asthma pills,At George’s birthday party, we drank purloined liquor, listened to Iron maiden, and let off 22 caliber handgun rounds in his basement. We zapped each other with a stun gun. We smoked enormous leaf joints and never got high. It was fucking awesome.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">We had, funnily enough, a similar interest in the occult, in medieval demonology and heavy metal.. He was my science partner in seventh grade science, and we built a working Kirlian photography machine, which used high voltage electricity to take photographs of auras,or the soul. We flunked anyway, because George’s father died in the middle of our project, and we did not show up to the science fair. I kept the machine for years, till I didn’t. We played with ouija boards that said George would die at 16, me at 23. We smoked the flowers from his father’s funeral arrangement. We drank the baileys under the sink. Our friend Rich was hit by a train, and had his heart jump started and came back to life. We spread a pentagram of blood on a mirror and chanted into the dark ‘SHEMHAMAFORASH, AVE SATANAS’ until the mirror went liquid and</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The dark, or the mirror, or his giant whitte dog claimed the blood. It was there, until it wasn't.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">We sat under train trestles and let the trains run over us, like a rattling apocalypse. We jumped trains and rode them into town to watch metal cover bands and have circle pits in a gravel parking lot.. We huffed gas and listened to Slayer and Grim Reaper and Maiden and Black Sabbath. It was fucking awesome. We set more shit on fire. George was placed in a mental institution and escaped, and lived in a rotting trailer in my back yard. We walked the train tracks into the wheat and corn fields, and got drunk in a field of fireflies.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">We got roaring drunk on Cisco and George kicked a bunch of mailboxes until a gigantic motherfucker came out and held a pistol to my head. We stole peoples mail. We stole from cemeteries, and came once, at night, to find an unearthed casket sitting in the middle of the gravel drive. We did not open it. Another time, i got the shit kicked out of me in a graveyard by some other gigantic motherfucker. We threw shit at cars with burned out headlights and ran from them through the alleys, laughing. We set dumpsters on fire and put stolen parts on our bikes.. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">We ran around abandoned houses till the fire department burned them down. My grandfather died and we drank his whiskey. We set bonfires as big as houses that roared for entire days. We took speed. We huffed paint and white out, we got driven out to the middle of a cornfield with a dude who had two cases of beer and he took his cock out and i thought he might kill us there, but he just apologetically masturbated in the field while George was passed out and I sat in the passenger seat with a torn beer can in my hand.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">We lit fires in the wood and howled.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">One night, George stole his mothers car, and came to see me, wrapped the car around a tree. drove a stop sign post through the tree. He walked the half mile to my house, threw gravel at my window and whispered my name through blood flecked lips. His lung had collapsed. I woke my father who took him to the hospital. The car was totalled. glass cubes from the windshield melted into the tar road for years.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">We argued, fell out over a girl. I moved away. I called him once to get a phone number, in the middle of the night, and found at the age of sixteen his heart had stopped at an intersection, his truck had hit a pole and George had been dead for two months when I called.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">This is my story, the blood flecked mirror, the black and white picture of a soul, that was there, until it wasn't.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">rue prophecy of an arcade quija board, the lack of the voice in the other end of the line</span></div>
Proprietorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175257967731627214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839503941037132439.post-91251592867767959222020-04-08T13:10:00.001-04:002020-04-08T14:17:19.375-04:00<br />
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My adolescence was a monster truck rally and tractor pull of bad
decisions. I was arrested and put in mandatory drug counseling and
probation for a ludicrous amount of weed, I ate acid in wood shop, I
went with a hippie to a second location on numerous occasions, I did drugs on the gravitron
and threw up slow gin, I passed out in my work Christmas party
bathroom at the hot dog restaurant, I had my nose broken, twice and
had it coming both times, all before my 14<sup>th</sup> birthday.</div>
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The
fact that I am alive at all, is a kind of weird and impossible luck.
People who have snorted hot crystal meth through a blowtorch-warmed
metal tube in someone’s grandmas trailer at 4 in the morning do not
usually live to the ripe age that I find myself, so every day is a
little discovery, a little surprise. It’s nice, and I am thankful
for it. It is something to celebrate, survival.</div>
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<a href="https://a4-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/20/1c108aad27f71a31ccda61fcc3b8314a/full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="496" data-original-width="600" height="264" src="https://a4-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/20/1c108aad27f71a31ccda61fcc3b8314a/full.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The
story I want to tell you about, begins on a warm spring day, in which
I was 13 years old in the college town of Athens Ohio. I was walking
down the street with my best friend Keith. Keith was 23 at the time,
and had done some time. He had a scar from a knife fight that cut
diagonally across his chest and stomach, and he used to show it off
in the video arcade to girls, to piss off his girlfriend Keith would
later become kind of famous, and make Chuck Shepard’s news of the
weird, when he escaped from jail by convincing his jailers that he
believed himself to be in contact with an invisible spirit named
“OVOMBO” who lived in a jar filled with cigarette ashes, and once
he was transferred to the mental asylum for evaluation, he tied bed
sheets together and climbed out a window and went into the woods to
live in a cave. While he was in county, I used to sneak him joints
and speed, bu walking down an alley, they had broken a corner of a
window and would drop down nail clippers hooked to thread, and I
would clip it on a cellophane of drugs and they would pull it up into
the jail. We also used to do Whip Its in the jail parking lot, but
that is another story, for another day. For those who don’t know,
whip its are little silver canisters filled with laughing gas used to
whip cream that you open with a brass cracker and fill a punching bag
and then inhale. Not terribly inconspicuous. Anyway.</div>
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<a href="https://cdnimg.webstaurantstore.com/images/products/large/421876/1564778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://cdnimg.webstaurantstore.com/images/products/large/421876/1564778.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Like
I said, beautiful spring day. Pre-OVOMBO .We were walking down the
street with Randy, who was obsessed with kickboxing and used to spin
kick mailboxes. Randy is spin-kicking parking meters and we are
headed to The Silver ball Arcade, to smoke terrible shake, hook up
with people to drink Old Milwaukee with. We are passing a bottle of
RUSH brand amyl nitrate and huffing it, which makes your head have an
incredible density and rush and purple spots to appear in your
peripheral vision. I stole this particular bottle from my parents,
who keep the egg holder in the fridge filled with poppers for anal
and orgasm increasing effects I am sure, but we are just huffing the
RUSH to get high. I have never known amyl nitrate to cause the
rumored asshole dilation, but would you even know, if your asshole
dilated? Your asshole could be dilated right now. Think about it.</div>
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So
we are huffing RUSH and I notice, leaning against the window outside
Tony’s Bar, a folder, and because it is stealable, I steal it. It
is filled with Ohio University information. In one pocket is a paper
envelope. I open the envelope, and it is filled with more cash than I
have ever seen in one place up to this point. I put the envelope in
my pocket, we drop the folder, and we run up the street.
Inconspicuous, I know.</div>
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We
go a few blocks up the street, and sit on the steps of the
courthouse, and we deal out the 1500 dollars in twenties that is in
the fat little envelope. We decide we are having a party. A
celebration. For my birthday.</div>
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<a href="https://i1.wp.com/poppersnz.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Rush.png?resize=129%2C292" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="292" data-original-width="129" src="https://i1.wp.com/poppersnz.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Rush.png?resize=129%2C292" /></a></div>
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As
broke hillbilly youth I want you to understand, that we partied all
the time. We drank Old Milwaukee, and Kessler whiskey, we smoked
shake, and at that particular moment in time, my particular favorite
activity was doing Dime, as the kids call it these days. Doing dime,
or going dime a dozen, or dramatizing, is to shoplift a box of
Dramamine travel sickness medicine and then eat the whole fucking
thing. In fact, we had stolen so much Dramamine, that on one occasion
I had to steal two boxes of chewables and eat that, which is a lot of
chalky tablets to chew. 24 to be exact.</div>
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So,
little known to most of you, over the counter travel sickness
medicine Dramamine , is a nasty little concoction of<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;">Diphenhydramin
8-chlorotheophyline. Diphenhydramine is a delirient and sedative,
related chemically to atropine, the active, weird witchy ingredient
in Jimson weed, and Ayahuasca</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , "times new roman" , serif;">8-chlorotheophyline
is a stimulant related to caffeine, so, Belushi time. </span>
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<span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , "times new roman" , serif;">Wikipedia says
the following of the compound:</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.empr.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2018/12/d736b9dce47345539d7ada1a689e2939-dramamine_33493.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://www.empr.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2018/12/d736b9dce47345539d7ada1a689e2939-dramamine_33493.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="cite_ref-%3A0_5-1"></a><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif , "arial";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Many
users report a side effect profile consistent with </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropane_alkaloid"><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: #0b0080;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif , "arial";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">tropane
alkaloid</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif , "arial";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> (e.g. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atropine"><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: #0b0080;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif , "arial";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">atropine</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif , "arial";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">)
poisoning as both show antagonism of </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscarinic_acetylcholine_receptor"><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: #0b0080;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif , "arial";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">muscarinic
acetylcholine receptors</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif , "arial";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> in
both the central and autonomic nervous system, which inhibits various
signal transduction pathways.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimenhydrinate#cite_note-:0-5"><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: #0b0080;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif , "arial";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">[5]</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif , "arial";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> In
the CNS, diphenhydramine readily crosses the </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood%E2%80%93brain_barrier"><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: #0b0080;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif , "arial";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">blood–brain
barrier</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif , "arial";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
exerting effects within the visual and auditory cortex.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="cite_ref-9"></a>
<span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif , "arial";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Other
CNS effects occur within the </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limbic_system"><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: #0b0080;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif , "arial";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">limbic
system</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif , "arial";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> and </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippocampus"><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: #0b0080;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif , "arial";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">hippocampus</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif , "arial";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
causing </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confusion"><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: #0b0080;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif , "arial";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">confusion</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif , "arial";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> and
temporary </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amnesia"><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: #0b0080;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif , "arial";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">amnesia</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif , "arial";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> due
to decreased </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acetylcholine"><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: #0b0080;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif , "arial";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">acetylcholine</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif , "arial";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> signaling.
Toxicology also manifests in the autonomic nervous system, primarily
at the </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuromuscular_junction"><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: #0b0080;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif , "arial";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">neuromuscular
junction</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif , "arial";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
resulting in </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ataxia"><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: #0b0080;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif , "arial";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">ataxia</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif , "arial";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> and
extrapyramidal side effects and the feeling of heaviness in the legs,
and at sympathetic post-ganglionic junctions, causing urinary
retention, pupil dilation, </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tachycardia"><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: #0b0080;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif , "arial";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">tachycardia</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif , "arial";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
irregular urination, and dry red skin caused by decreased </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exocrine_gland"><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: #0b0080;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif , "arial";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">exocrine
gland</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif , "arial";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> secretions,
and mucous membranes. Considerable overdosage can lead to </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myocardial_infarction"><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: #0b0080;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif , "arial";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">myocardial
infarction</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif , "arial";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> (heart
attack), serious </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_arrhythmia"><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: #0b0080;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif , "arial";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">ventricular
dysrhythmias</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif , "arial";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
coma, and death.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimenhydrinate#cite_note-9"><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: #0b0080;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif , "arial";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">[9]</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif , "arial";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> Such
a side effect profile is thought to give </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethanolamine"><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: #0b0080;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif , "arial";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">ethanolamine</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif , "arial";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">-class
antihistamines a relatively low abuse liability. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , "times new roman" , serif;">Low abuse
liability, my ass. I ate that shit twice a week. It turns you into a
fucking lunatic. We watched television static for hours. I sat and
wrote with a pencil that was not there for 45 minutes. I saw giant
blue panthers slither around my coffee table. I could not speak or
remember my own name on numerous occasions. </span>
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<span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , "times new roman" , serif;">So when we knew
we were throwing a party, I sure as hell was going to get some
Dramamine with my new money. </span>
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<span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;">Keith
bought a boom box that was enormous, sounded like shit and had tons
of blinky lights, and he walked around town with it, like a demented
Pied piper, blasting guns and roses Appetite for Destruction, and
telling everyone we knew that there was going to be a party at my
house. We bought something like 24 cases of Old Mil, and put them in
a kiddie pool. Randy bought a pillowcase of Shake.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;">We
duct taped a pentagram onto a metal folding table, and had solo cups
for quarters. We got out the Kesslers.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;">Everyone
was there. Lisa and all her criminal brothers. Everyone that would
be in Athens first death metal band in a few years. My friend Ike
Tabler, who was so shy he could barely talk, Cinnamon Holley, and her
boyfriend that hit that guy in the head with a cinderblock. Adam
Weiner came, and he brought me a present, a bong made out of a grape
juice bottle, umbrella parts and sockets, filled with a little bit of
every kind of booze from his parents liquor cabinet, topped off with
cold medicine. There was the metal dude who wore the suede fringe
jacket. There were some truly scary backwoods dudes that Randy knew
who just drank and spit snuff into solo cups and did not talk. A guy
I knew who was into demonology, and shoplifting. My neighbors crawled
out of their bedroom window and came over. Someone gave me a sword.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , "times new roman" , serif;">We only had 2
tapes to play in the boombox, Appetite for Destruction and Aerosmith
Dream on, so we just played them over and over and over again. I
hardly even noticed, once the Dramamine started kicking in. At some
point, Randy spunkicked the back door down, and it was lying in the
grass. Off its hinges. People were pissing into the tall, unmown
grass, and someone shouted “what the fuck” . It was Ike, who had
passed out in the weeds, and awoken to a stream of lightly used Old
Mil, cascading over him as he slept in the dirt,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , "times new roman" , serif;">Mister
Brownstone Played like 900 times.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , "times new roman" , serif;">The room slowed
for me, and filled with giant blue Luna moths that slowly beat their
wings to Night Train, as a choir of metal heads and hillbillies sang
about gas station wine while pounding cheap beer and smoking comical,
oversize Cheech and Chong joints rolled in Bible pages. I love that
stuff. I could never get enough. We finished the RUSH. I crawled
behind the cheap, flea market powder blue sofa and passed out. Dream
On, Dream On. And when I awoke, I was 14. My head felt like it had
been used to strain sewage. I had survived. And someone had stolen my
sword. Probably fucking Randy.</span></div>
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<br />Proprietorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175257967731627214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839503941037132439.post-71693890131644132722020-04-07T11:27:00.000-04:002020-04-07T11:27:25.862-04:00<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">the invocation of fire</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> There was a fire of old tires, and driftwood, on the mud bank of the river, and someone, once upon a time had pulled some fallen trees up around the pit in a rough triangle. They’d been here forever, covered over with carved names, who was fucking who, what bands kicked ass, and what bands sucked. We were drinking Keystone, because for whatever reason, Keystone was just the right mix of palatable and cheap in those years, and we drank rivers of that shit. “The bottled beer taste in a can” every can promised, and failed to deliver. Somebody, probably Rich Moon, came and took most of the cans away, but if you wandered off into the underbrush, you’d still find the old steel ring top cans of Schlitz and Hamm's our parents had drank at the same spot, rusting away. Fuz found a glass bottle marked “medicinal whiskey” from prohibition hidden in a hollow tree down there once , and drank it, even though we all told him it was probably piss. He said he got drunk, but who could tell. Fuz was always full of shit. He swore up and down he’d seen UFOs hovering over Indian head rock in the river, but that was behind five hits of silver star acid. On one hit of silver star, I’d seen the world crack open like an egg, and heard the streetlights singing.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> The catfish jump and fall into the water, the coal barges roll past with foghorns and spotlights, down on the muddy bank on the Kentucky side, and the shitty town lit up like a poor kid's Christmas, long bars of light across the black water. Ty found the old copper axes not far from here, the sunrise sights up along roads plowed over the tops of mounds and the mud and gravel beech is littered with bone beads, the flooded fields behind you littered with pottery shards, sometimes the plows turn up skulls, or lead shot.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">You are waiting, waiting for the Russians to drop the bomb, for the war to come that will swallow the boys trying to fish, for the bottom to drop out. you are waiting for a blue fog of crushed pills and heroin and coke that will make the pin joint, the fifth of Beam, the Keystone light in cans seem innocent as milk.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">someone is always fucking somebody else's girl, someone is always hustling someone out of a few bucks on a bag of dirt weed, there is always a reason for someone to be looking for someone else, for shifting alliances, and bullshit drama, for fights over who is controlling the stereo in the car that runs, doors open, radio blaring out over the foghorns and the river, headlights in the fog.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">This is the era of spray painted pentagrams and shoplifted black candles and misformed prayers to a destroying angel who will not deign to come, it is the season of denim, of guttural screams and invocation and apocalypse, and the four horsemen arguing over speed metal and Creedence and Hank Williams and Danzig and Venom and the girls just want to dance under the big ass moon, and tonight , at least everyone is content to wait, for the world to hang on the edge of the black river, that line between never and always that feels like dying, and you never know there is a place for nostalgia for this waiting, this anteroom to your life, the fish dropping liquid in the dark, the taste of cheap beer, the sound of your friends laughing, and you are all dying, sick with smokestacks and yellow fog, sick with hopelessness and the hunger for anything outside the damned bowl of these hills that girdle round the horizon and the hollers and t and garages with poached deer hanging and going to school with pigshit on your boots, with stealing pills and smoking shake and waiting for the black curve in the road that will be the one where you finally shake the hills off for good, where you finally will shoot out onto the plain towards the city, over the rim of the world like a ship on the ocean, like a coal barge on a black river hurtling towards a light that might be a fire, you are staring into, the speedy blotter acid spinning behind your eyes like a kids toy, your pupils eerie and big and the stars all pouring in, or houses in the fields beside the road, the lights of something spinning around your head, and you wait, and a ball of fire rises in the east, and it's done</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> The river bottoms were such a good place to drink, because they were far enough away that P-town looked like a city, long lines of light reflected in the black water, the coal barges passing…and it was far enough from everything you could really raise hell, if you wanted to. I remember when Billy caught Cinnamon Holley fucking around on him, he bellowed for an hour and a half about how he was going to kill someone, and no cops even popped into make sure everything was alright. With only one pig for all for Firebrick, it wasn’t that surprising. He wound up in county that night, for hitting some dude over the head with a cement block, which was pretty fucked up considering that guy wasn’t even fucking Cinnamon, which I knew for a fact.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> Anyway, the night I’m thinking of was while Billy was in county. We were down in the Bottoms, drinking Keystone and Old Crow, and Tony had some pinners of shitty ditchweed he was trying to sell for five bucks a joint, which was highway fucking robbery, but you didn’t have to drive to go get it at least, so we were smoking that. Herb had Lucretia , his black Olds88 down there in the mud, running so the alternator would charge the battery, and Danzig’s second album, the bluesy one, was playing,over and over again, loud as fuck, on the stereo. The girls kept putting Creedence on, and once we all got drunk Bug might have slipped in some Hank Jr, but I remember it was Lucifuge playing when Josh told me about the temple.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> Say what you will about P-town, it has the most well-read rednecks I’ve ever seen. Dr Mark, at the college made sure of that. He was in charge of the Appalachian Literacy Initiative, which meant that the town was flooded in free, or yard-sale-cheap editions of “Enriching Literature”, intended to uplift our hillbilly asses to middle class-respectability. Thing is, Dr Mark had some weird ideas about what was “enriching”. Josh and Herb I had been in a dead heat reading all the grail romances, Parsifal, The Song of Roland, and all the medieval grimoires The Lesser key of Solomon, the Black Pullet, the sixth and seventh books of Moses, Cavendish’s Black Arts, Barret’s Magus, all of that witchy shit.. It may sound funny, but it’s really not that big a leap from playing D&D, and listening to Samhain, to reading Crowley and listening to wax-cylinder recordings of the Enochian keys,. I mean, it’s one thing to play a few records backwards, quite another to stuff a cat in a pillowcase, take some shoplifted Halloween tapers from Big Lots and see what you can call. Blame it on the fact that we didn't have an arcade, fuck if I know. I guess the preachers were right enough, in their way. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Me “Bug, don’t throw that fucking tree in the fire. You will burn down the whole damn riverbank, or have to sit up all night babysitting the goddamn thing. Bug’s got his shirt off, and he’s burning shit. That must mean I’m drunk.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Josh “so there is this church, in Indian Hills. Up where all the doctors and shit live, right? And all over the inside of it are carvings that are crazy..i man there’s a green man, and a black sun, and what look like Templars, the eye in the pyramid, all of it...</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Tony “ big fuckin deal. The only green Jesus I give shit about is the new blotter acid in Wayne Hills. I saw Bob Dobbs’ disembodied head reciting Mary had a little lamb on that silver star, I’m not going to Indian hills about it”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Herb “ Josh ,are you reading that holy blood holy grail shit again? I told you that was all bullshit, you gotta read Eschenbach directly. Pass me the Old Crow.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Tony “ what the fuck are you doing in church anyway, teaching vacation bible school?”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Josh “Fuck you, man. I had to go to my granny’s funeral, she was in that assisted living place up there, and they wanted her new “beau” to be able to walk to it, or someshit… and while I was there, I saw all this crazy shit behind the altar.. Including what look like maps of mound park, with Basil Valentine-style alchemical shit all over em.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Tony. “your granny was fucking some old dude. Ill bet he has wrinkly balls.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Me :” Fuck you Tony. Let’s go tomorrow and check it out. I don’t get how this is supposed to help, though. You gonna hit this?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Herb. If he’s right, it could fix everything</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Me “whatever you say, man. Nothing is gonna fix everything.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> I woke up in the Dungeon. I could smell old keystone all over me, my head felt like someone had used it to strain shit, and I could hear some godawful pounding. It was Josh, knocking on the basement window, carefully covered over in old “auto zone” bumper stickers and an upside down American flag, so as to not allow even a spot of light in. I flipped the latch, and he slid in through the trailer–size window, and was immediately standing at the foot of my bed. Even worse, he left the flag flipped over, and let all the dark out.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Josh“ Get up, man, we gotta go up the slope to that church I was telling you about,”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Me “right, Rennes le Chateu for the hee-haw millionaires. You know all that “sacred architecture” shit is bullshit, right? I mean the way to keep a secret is to keep it, not to build a fucking convocation center that hides it in weird sculpture and measurements.. I mean the pyramids are the pyramids, they are not the colonel's secret recipe”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Josh “well if we don’t figure something out soon, we’re fucked, and you know it. You’re just hung over, and don’t want to get your lazy ass up</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Me “touché, douche. Just let me get dressed”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">I pulled on my leather. It wasn’t quite cool enough for it yet, but if we were going off the slope, I sure as hell wanted to have my armor on. It was covered in Saint scapulars, and lucky charms, and had the archangel Michael painted on the back, straight off a botanica prayer candle, including the invocation. I had anointed the whole thing in holy water and oil, and It had little twists of goofer dust, rue, salt and whatnot in little bags in the pockets. It also had a razor in the sleeve, and a buck knife in the inside pocket... it was heavy as fuck. Josh’s was similar, although instead of a saint, he had some kind of Geiger/sigil on the back, and his charms weren’t catholic. We got a lot of shit at school, till we told them we were a band. At least I thought that was the reason they backed off, though Johnny Whisman told me years later it was because everyone was sure I had a gun. I had something a fuck of a lot more dangerous than a gun.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Out in the sun, everything was worse. All I wanted to do was sleep, and instead, here I was, sweating my ass off in this ridiculously heavy jacket, trying to stay upright on the pegs of his 20 inch bike, cobbled together of warm-ish parts and painted a drippy purple.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Me: why'd you paint this thing that godawful color.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Josh: why are you such a fat ass? Why don't you get your own damn bike?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">me. fuck you man, I'm just tall.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Josh..yeah, big boned,,too, I guess</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">me. fuck you, man. Pedal.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">P-town has a layout like a feudal village. Up in the hills, the gated community and the retirement homes, the doctors, the lawyers, the cheerleaders and the jocks, on the riverfront and the east end, the hillbillies, the white crack heads, the smalltime pot dealers, the serfs on the west side, the same, only also the black churches advertising their perpetual 'building fund' fund raisers, the 'ville, the crumbling projects...in between them, the slope all the rich people's shit rolled down. Don't imagine this means the slope is middle class, because it aint. The slope is HUD houses, mound park, ..the streets run right over the old mounds, and you can feel the bumps when you cross..mixed in among the houses are a few neighborhood stores, the old springs too polluted to take water from, the cemetery...The slope is ours, is all I can say about it. Josh and Tony and I lived on the slope, and that's how I knew them. Herb lived right on the edge of the bottom, on the tracks, next to a power transformer, with eight million brothers...i seriously don't know how many he had, we used to fuck with him about being cloned. They slept in bunk beds like a barracks. Can't say I blame him for coming up the slope to hang with us, just to get a little room...besides, who else was he going to argue about the black pullet with? Anyway, he was way to far out of the fucking way to go get today, with this hang-on still clouding the edges of my head, and Josh on a mission, for whatever reason. Usually he was content to stay in the dungeon, smoke some, or drop a few hits and talk physics and chaos magick all night. Whatever he saw in the storm sewers must have put a bug up his ass for sure.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> The thing about living in a third world Appalachian shithole like p-town, is that an income that would put you solidly in the upper middle class anywhere else will let you live like a fucking king here. I mean,Zsa Zsa Gabor fuck-you rich...that's where we were going today, up among the gilded palaces of the flies on top of the p-town shit heap, the mcmansions, the beverly hillbillies...my least favorite place in the whole damn town</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The invocation of earth</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">we were in the storm sewers. To get to the room you had to walk what felt like a mile into the ground, hunched over and squatting in the dark. We all had flashlights, but all you could see was the guy in front of you anyway, the water at your feet. It had that old, dead dried fish smell, like the ghosts of tadpoles and sewer rats, of catfish carcasses, and it all drained down to the river,and it was dark and ringing, and we were all crammed together, the seven fucking dwarfs off to work in the mine, Herb at the lead because he had found it, Me, Josh, Tony, Bug, I think, someone with some weed, someone with spraypaint cans clanking in the dark. Fuz had that fucking cat, mewling away in a floral pillowcase. And deeper and deeper into the ground we went. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">If you read enough folk tales and fairy tales, you eventually come across this story..it's a lot like the Robert Johnson crossroads story,or the old Faust-deal with the devil story except that it's about a school in a cave in Spain, or in the hollow hill, or a coalmine or whatever...the first time I came across it, it was as an aside in a story about wandering bishops, then I found it referenced in one of those wandering scholar-jack tale sort of stories, found out later Dracula went to high school there, The Scholomance, or Solomanari...anyway, back when metallurgy was black magic, and whatnot they said it was in Spain, in a cave, and that if you went, you could learn all the knowledge available at the time, that you could make all the 72 demons of the lesser key come to you and do your bidding, that you would have your way on all the aethyrs, that you had all the passwords, and grips and shit to all the lodges, that you basically could fart gold dust and shit rubies, when you came out, but that from each class,as they graduated, the doors closed, and the dark took the last one, the weakest or slowest or just some random dude, and that was the price for power, glory, hot and cold running chicks and the ability to shred like a motherfucker on harpsichord and whatnot. It's where 'devil take the hindmost” comes from if you've ever hear that. Serious, look it up.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Anyway. Down and down into the storm sewers we were going, and every once in a while you can hear a river rat book off down the tunnel, running from the flashlights, and the water is dripping, and it smells like an anchovy's grandmother's cunt, and my back and my knees are fucking killing me, and I hear Herb say “turn off your flashlights and stand up”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and we're in the room.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The room is really just an overflow, where three or four storm sewers meet and all drain down the river in one line, and it is tall so the water can back up without going out to the streets if it needs to. The floor is all silt, and bottom mud, but dry and powdery, like for whatever reason, the water has not overflowed in here for a long, long time.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Herb lights one of the shoplifted big lots candles, and for a second I see nothing but the phosphene burn of the match. Then I see it</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">me: Holy fuck. I didn't believe it.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Sitting in the powdery dust are desks, the old-timey Little-House-On-The-Prairie ones with the inkwells for dipping pigtails in and the wrought iron curlicues like a park bench. They have pen-knife carvings in their tops like they were used, and they are bone dry. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Tony: we crawled through a sewer for half a fuckin hour to look at antiques?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">me. "you what tony, you tell me how the fuck these got down here"</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Soon there is a ring of shoplifted candles around the cluster of desks. There is a triangle of invocation spraypainted on the wall, and the dark gathers around, liquid and black. Herb is reading a bunch of guttural shit from the big-ass book and the rest of us are sitting quietly in our seats, which is fucking hilarious to tony. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Tony, lighting a joint: I can't believe we skipped school to hang out in a study hall in a fucking sewer and listen to herb read death metal lyrics. This shit is retarded.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">He goes to get up, and jostles Fuz, who drops the bag with the cat in it. The cat takes off out of the bag like a whore out of church, and knocks over two candles. The dark rises like a tide and all the candles go out, and it is darker than dark, a palpable dark that presses against your eyes, opaque, and heavy..darkness visible.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">it stays dark for a long time.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">3 the invocation of air.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">we are headed up the slope, and we stop at the corner store, the last outpost of the slope. We get a pack of Magnas, cheap Marlboro knock-offs we all smoke. Tony and Herb are outside the store with Rich Moon. Rich is the local lunatic, and local teenage legend claims that he ate several sheets of acid, or was dosed, or made his own and spilled it all over himself, at any rate the consensus is that Rich is crazy as hell, and he is, he is prone to arguing with himself in Jim Dandy, of accosting strangers for things he imagined they said, for walking down the street with his arms crossed in a filthy jean jacket, his weird kinky hair streaming behind him, a long shaggy corona around his bald spot, as he curses at Jesus and argues with him. Josh said once it was like he had an imaginary friend but didn't like him very much. He is also a pretty safe bet to score a twelve pack of keystone from, if you cover his forty of Old E, and that is exactly what Herb and Tony appear to be up to, even though it is early as hell, and they have to have at least half the hangover I do, not to mention the dreams and lack of sleep. Josh chains his drippy purple bike to the telephone pole, and Herb motions us over. He has a brown paper bag held in front of him like chicks hold their books to hide their tits. We all walk off behind the store briskly, and towards the armory. The sooner we can get off the street with the alcohol the better.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> Herb seems weird. There is something in his nature, something in the way he walks so purposefully towards the gravel alley that winds along the hill. I know already Josh and I won't be going off the slope today, and there is relief in that, but at the same time, the underlying problem remains. There is a broken chain lock on a logging road, and we start up, the dirt road, into the woods. As soon as we are under the canopy of the trees, tony lights a joint and passes it around, Herb hands out Keystones and we start up the logging road. Large swaths of it are covered in tall grass, like a prairie, or a meadow. Powerlines snake up along side the road. At the top of the hill is a clearing, spraypainted concrete slabs that once held satellite dishes, and a disused radio tower.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">From the top of the hill you can see the trainyard, the river, the hills on the Kentucky side burning off their morning mist, the coke plant. The trees move slightly in a breeze, and you can hear the radio tower creaking, like a a ship's rigging. We don't say anything for awhile, just feeling the sun on the concrete slab, listen to the wind and the birds and get baked.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Herb goes over to the side of the platform, and heaves up some broken blocks and stone onto the platform. Soon we are all helping, joking with each other about strength, but never questioning his purpose, just content to build the cairn of stone and concrete</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Once we have worked up a good sweat, and through most of the keystone, he separates the stones out into a ring of individual standing stones and a central table with a flat concrete top. The sun passes directly overhead as it gets towards noon, and there is a feeling I have of concentric rings around the sun, of beams of light shooting through the standing stones and connecting with the old mound complex on the Kentucky side, with the park,the cemetery... for a minute, high and slightly buzzed on the keystone, I can feel it all throbbing with connection, and I feel better, feel the dark chased back a little, feel like something that was broken has been fixed, like part of a shiny clockwork watch.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Then I look up.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Tony, bored with the seemingly pointless work has gone under the chain link fence and started climbing the rungs of the radio tower. He is a distant spot, his long hair whipping in the wind, heading ever upward. He is about 2/3 of the way to the top, and I watch his hand slip, see him look down, and see the whole bowl of the valley under him. There are red tailed hawks riding thermals over the river valley under him, and us, in our stone circle, and the sun is directly over head, shining almost into our eyes as we try to see. He yells something, and then stops moving upward.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">4 the invocation of water</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">the Ohio river winds through the river valley, separating Ohio from Kentucky, carrying the detritus of flooded towns and fields towards the sea, drowning small towns, making encampments of others, huddled behind flood walls and gates. Coal barges skim along the top, low to the water. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The flood walls stand in the river bottoms, covered over in spray paint “White Zombie”, “Waster's Union Local 420” cryptic verses and unfinished sketches. The sections of the wall in the downtown are covered in authorized murals, a sanitized history, steamboats and community leaders, tromp l'oi arches, dates, a senator in a heavy masonic ring, a television cowboy, the other side with plain white stars autographed with what passes for local celebrity, a sportswriter, a maitre de from new York, a vice president renowned for his inability to spell. What a joke. A list of escapees, invited back to sign the prison walls.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">A dirt road winds along the ruined loading docks, absurd brickwork castles of the local water treatment plant, tangles of rope and bleach bottles, garbage from the river, the smell of rotting catfish. In the dry heat of summer we are walking the road, disturb a nesting pair of eagles. The fish jump in the brown water, the shade under the scrub brush of the bottoms is cool and green. The water crashes in small brown waves, stirred by a passing barge, a screech of fishing birds. The heat is an omnipresent blanket, heavy in your mouth as stale bread, and we are walking to waster's wall, the old loading platform for the defunct steel mill, that rusts beside the river.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> The local Walmart is built on top of loose fill from the old mill, and the concrete floor was poured cheaply, and not to spec, as the building settled, the old girders and glass bottles began to rise through the floor. Behind the parking lot, the rusting buildings not yet plowed under. We have explored here, and found tanks of black sludge standing open to the air, dripping into the soil and the river, hid from men in chemical suits examining these... found brick buildings with paperwork scattered across the floors, old welding tanks still under pressure, acetylene torches, rusting chains. Behind all of this is the old loading dock for the barges, now claimed by the waster's union, spray painted in blurry blue pot leaves, in a palimpsest of names upon names, the block where the crane mounted now a diving platform for the deep brown water, a shadowy staircase descending below the word “midian” in pink spray paint, into a dark room with pissed-in corners, the cavity in the wall's rotted tooth..a richer scrawl of graffiti and, our own personal addition, a portrait of Dagon, rising from the water, a papal headdress on, the barbed head of a catfish...that fucker must have took a week to finish..the shadow over Portsmouth, it says on a banner overhead.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Technically, this is not p-town proper at all, but New Boston, a shithole even worse than p-town if truth be told, being primarily a cluster of old steel mill housing, brick and uniform facing onto the highway that has incorporated itself so that Walmart will not have to pay taxes to p-town..on a map it looks like a tumor, a red splotch surrounded by the yellow bruise of Portsmouth They have their own cops, laid off mill security, and more prone to leave you with your ass kicked on the side of the road than p-town cops, but for some reason,, the wall is off limits, an anarchic place not worth the trouble of policing, mainly because who wants to chase a bunch of stoners into the ruins of the mill..better to leave them be.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">You run to the edge and jump, hoping to clear a rock, a tangle of rusted metal, then hit the brown water, ramrod straight, feet first, arms at your sides.. Herb jumped once with his arms out, crucifixion style, and both arms hit the water with an audible smack.. his arms were bruised purple and black for a week.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Everyone talks shit about seeing someone dive head first, like a cliff diver, but no one has ever seen it. I have seen a kid get carried out strapped to a stretcher, having clipped his head pretty good on a rock, and his buddies calling the ambulance from the Walmart pay phones..</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">we stick to the safe jump, swing out from a rope tied into a tree, climb up the muddy bank and do it again. It is dumb, adolescent machismo, a pissing contest. Tony climbs up in the tree and jumps from there, but we are content to give each other shit for jumping, drinking hot beer and smoking leaf. There are a few other groups come out to swim on this hot, muggy day, and we shoot the shit with them, everyone know everyone else at least provisionally, but the new Boston kids are just a little dumber, just a little broker, than us. Billy shows up with Cinnamon in a bikini, and everyone pretends not to look. He has better weed, too.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Josh and Tony end off catching a ride home in a van with some other kids from the slope, but Herb and I decide to walk back, and talk. For a while, again, the dark unclenches from my gut, and we are goofing around, Talking Huck Finn, talking river, and we take some of the tangled nylon cords, some logs, lash them all together with some detergent and bleach bottles, and build a raft that rides low in the water. We are clearly high. We are sailors, and floating in the river is a little different than jumping from the wall</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Herb: we are growing to wind up growing extra limbs and shit from being in this water this long. You are going to have flipper babies.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The raft is floating, and there are tampon applicators, pens, bottles, all sorts of plastic crap caught up in the current with us, including an honest-to-god syringe. We are laughing at the SS. Flipperbaby, at our clumsy paddling, at the joke of Dagon rising from the deep, a great Lovecraftian catfish, when the coal barge passes, and shakes the raft apart. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">I go under the water.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">5.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Celeron De Blainville had been tasked with exploring the ohio river valley, with confirming the claim of the french to the territory...he would plant a flag, bury a brass plaque which stated that the territory belonged to the king, and move on. The woods were crawling with eyes at every stop, with sounds in the silence. It was unnerving, to lay claim to the endless woods, the deer drinking at the rivers edge, unafraid, the heavy fog boiling from the hills. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The stone head </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">the sun is setting behind the Earl Thomas Conley bridge, and the sky is bloody with it's dying, the river reflects a ribbon of crimson. You are standing at Alexandria point, where the scioto and the ohio meet. Across from where the first sorry european settlers here perished in mud and water. There is a circle of pavement, where cars pull up at night, cruising boys and meth to be consumed alike in the scrubby brush on the river bottom, popcorn beach, where the scioto had their village.. you see a wave of black coming across the water, a standing wall coming across, and you hear the rain before you feel it, see the dimpled impression of the drops on the water, and it like a curtain, drawing the dark over the water, and the yellow sodium glow of the streetlights startts up, carves out circles of light along the road. Here is the clubhouse of the portsmouth motorcycle club, hallowed by age into respectibility,and an almost sanctioned violence, here the abandoned ruinous icehouse fo the brewery, overgrown with kudzu that climbs the telephone lines, the wires wrapped in green, everything waiting to crumble into dust..carved out of darkness is the shadow of the old jail, open barred windows and rooflessness, grass growing inside and out. All are eaten in the dark that falls, and the streetlights fizzle, one by one and die in the black, and the lights of the city all crackle and die, in a wave that rolls up the hills and highways, the cars headlights lasting another moment and there is only the pale skull of the moon through the thin clouds, and the grey rain and dark. And the moon burns up like film in a projector, and the stars burn bright as pinholes and then, shining in unlight softly black against the black and you hear the stone rising, something terrible and ancient, almost mechanical in the way it rises from the water, like a dredger, a like a barge rising from the bottom, like some terrible eyeless catfish from the dark below the dam and it shines with it's own dark light, the face wrapped in chains, dripping, fish falling from the carved hollows of its eyes and the mouth opens, and it is hunger and darkness against the dark , and you cannot see, but know that the river, and the bridge, and the stones of popcorn beach are all rattling into the hollow of that mouth, the singular point of it's emptiness swallowing all refraction till it is dark as the sewer, as the caves below the earth that have never seen light, and you, yourself are flowing inside that terrible mouth like water, and you open your mouth to scream and you are bound in irons in cold water,and you are swallowing the world, like some terrible plug pulled at the bottom of the world's bathtub, and everything spiraling out into the black is spinning in your guts like a firework nailed to a tree, a Catherine wheel burning in the black, the stars burning out so brief and warm in your stomach and the dark, that was before, and that will come after, the dark of dead stars, and trunks in vacant lots, of the inside of junkyard refrigerators, the dark that pools in old wells and coal mines, the undoing of everything falls across your black hole eyes like a tire iron.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Everywhere I ever lived, there was a bridge, just far enough outside of town to be a trip to get to, and the bridge was covered in graffiti, and if you parked in the middle with your lights off, you'd hear the babies screaming that were thrown over the side, or the pig faced axe murderer would come get you, or whatever. There's a headstone in the graveyard with a cherub on it, and if you kiss the cherub, the angel's eyes light up, there's a house where bloody mary lived, there's a clearing in the middle of the woods where a house appears in with all it's lights on, and if you go inside, when you come out your hair will be white,there's a church with an upside down cross, or an abandoned gas station and so on. A little local legend, a pinch of teenage slasher movies, a few car headlights, or waterfowl, and boom, you have a location for bored teenagers to go. One thing most people don't remember is just how fucking boring being a teenager is. We spent a lot of time just sitting around, or wandering the train tracks. I think part of the appeal of what we had all gotten into was that it gave us a good excuse to go somewhere, to do something. Herb had his eight million brothers all up his ass, I had my sisters beating the shit out of each other all day, my mom and my stepdad beating the shit out of each other all night, Tony had his mom with the shunt in her brain, his janitor dad..Only josh had any kind of tolerable home life at all, and his dad was a preacher who was mapping out the time left till the apocolypse in detailed charts...Still it was a little weird that he had come up with the trip to the temple as a way to alleviate our problems, for while we certainly needed some professional help, I had a feeling all we were going to find in the temple were pull offs and bingo cards, fat old white guys drinking beer.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> After Tony's stunt on the tower, he swore he had seen some big head in the clouds “ Like Bardisaatva in that Conan comic” was how he described it, and showed us the image, the sacrifice with his mouth stitched shut, the face in the sky shooting lightening from its eye sockets, metal as fuck, of course, but something rang oddly about it with him, and he seemed a little different, a little less sure. Regardless, for all of his bullshit he had decided to come along with us to the temple.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Josh had described it as a church, but from his description, I knew it had to be the old convent. The nuns had moved out, probably for financial reasons, into something bland and modern. Only the bronze michael with his foot on the throat of satan gave away the fact the new convent was not a rest home, and it might as well have been. Heading up the slope to the convent was not as deep into Indian Hills as I thought it would be, so at least we were spared that, the Mcmansions, the swimming pools..at least the old convent was in the older part. We still thought it safest to stay off the road as much as possible, and cut through the woods behind the water tower. It also gave us the opportunity to smoke.By the time we got there, the sun was setting</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> The convent had been purchased by a private owner, and the gate was locked with a heavy padlock. I thought to myself that Josh's funeral story must have been bullshit, but I did not want to draw attention to that at the time, did not want Tony and Herb doubting him. I'd ask him later how he really knew about the church..and why he had such a hard-on to get in there. We hopped the gate, and climbed up the side of the hill, through the scrub and the ivy. The building was a crumbling, faux-norman mess. A small rounded tower with barred windows rose beside a stone covered walkway, connecting a chapel to the larger, former living quarters...we looked into the tower, and saw lawn mowers and weed whackers in a small cell. The floor was still covered in straw, and there was a smell like the old billy goat my grandmother used to keep tied up behind her house, like sex-funk and sheep shit all mixed together. The chapel was locked, and missing the lintel stone over the door, something carved had been taken down. In its place, was a wood carving of something that is either an eye or a mouth.The windows were covered heavy wood shutters, chained and locked.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">“Well this was a waste of fucking time” Tony s</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">“fuck you, man. You didn't have to come,”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Herb, ignoring this, has been unscrewing the hinges of a window with the screwdriver from a swiss army knife. “be prepared, boys' he says, as he lifts the corner of the wooden shutter, chewing the other screw from the wood in the process. One by one, we crawl into the dark.</span></div>
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Proprietorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175257967731627214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839503941037132439.post-21178438785884189752020-04-06T10:50:00.001-04:002020-04-06T10:50:25.098-04:00<br />
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: black; font-style: normal;"><b>The Broken Heads of Saints</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: black; font-style: normal;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: black; font-style: normal;"><b>Jacob Rakovan</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: black; font-style: normal;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/02/ee/f3/02eef3dbe7149934f87e4460a4a51ab5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="233" src="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/02/ee/f3/02eef3dbe7149934f87e4460a4a51ab5.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: black; font-style: normal;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: black; font-style: normal;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">After Charles Perrault</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
am weary with hunting young deer so swift to kick and crowned with
barbs.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">My
ribs cut through my grey hide, the hollow pit of my belly grinds
nothing </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">like
a mortar stone roped to frothing horses. The day is hot. I lay
panting </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">in
the thick flowers. She comes skipping, a bottle of good red wine </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">in
her basket. Here is my death, hooded like a cardinal, skinny and
sweet </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
giggling at an amenable old dog. </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Let
us walk together for a while,</span></i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
she says.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></span><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
lift my grizzled head and follow. She stops , beheading flowers</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">in
the afternoon glades. We tarry together.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></span><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">She
is thin legged, innocently wicked. I run ahead, eager to learn the
final trick--</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">how
every soft young girl has a woodsman's axe at the ready, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">to
free her from the tangle of your guts, how they step out
smiling,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">soaked
in your cheerful gore. How they go off again, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">skipping.</span></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/polopoly_fs/1.4110943.1575989109!/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/ratio_1x1_w1200/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://www.irishtimes.com/polopoly_fs/1.4110943.1575989109!/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/ratio_1x1_w1200/image.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<b style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Jack</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">stole
the black man's book.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">When
his mama taught him how</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">to
ride a hayrake like a pony straight up </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
chimney to the devil’s dance party,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">fires
lit up the holler like homecoming.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Everybody
danced in rings</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">back
to back in the dark.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
black man came walkin'</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">naked
as a baby and faceless, dark as dark,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">dark
as a root cellar in a burned down house,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">dark
as a dead well with his book of names </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Jack
lifted that book just as fast as you please,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">run
down the hills, stumblin' through the bushes.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Two
days later, he come runnin' into town, </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">hair
white as a wedding dress</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">holdin'
nothin' in his hands</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">but
a headstone with his own name on it,</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">told
all the fellas down at Hap's</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">he
figgered he'd stole his death back</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
couldn't nothin' touch him no more.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">He
could drink whiskey like it was water.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">For
a silver eagle dollar he'd hold his hand </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">in
a candle flame as long as you please.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">He
went down to church an' </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">took
up snakes, drank poison</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">but
never got the spirit and laughed </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">till
he was fit to bust at them that did,</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">told
Wanda May, </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
only holy ghost </span></i></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">you
got in you,woman, is Cal </span></i></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">what
works up at the lumbermill</span></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
that's only when his wife ain't home. </span></i></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">He
called the widow Johnson </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
murderer right to her face.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">When
they hanged him for thievin' horses </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">it
was three days ‘fore they cut him down. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">He
kept the rope for luck.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">That
was when the dogs started barkin' </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">after
him in the streets, howlin' </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
yammerin' like they was </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">something
just behind him all the time </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">couldn’t
nobody see but them. </span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">We
was out fishin' at the dam one night</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">with
nothin' but beer for bait and I swear </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">he
whistled up the biggest catfish I ever seen,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
head on it big as a thresher.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></span><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">It
had barbs like fence posts</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
when it opened its mouth</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">there
was a horrible racket </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">like
folks screamin' inside.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">He
told me: </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">That's
the door </span></i></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">they
got fixed for me</span></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">but
I don't reckon to go. If a man </span></i></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">can
hide his heart well enough</span></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">ain't
nothing he cain't do.</span></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></i></span></span><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Roosters
would crow in the dead of night.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Ms.
Cowley's guernsey had a calf with two heads.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">We
got drunk on bottled in bond</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">an'
he took me up in the woods,</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">showed
me a tree that the lightening split.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></span><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">What
he had hid inside,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">there
was no light but some foxfire</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">but
I saw it well enough,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
still can't figger how it stayed wet </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
bleeding on the outside</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">like
the damnedest valentine you ever saw</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
curse me, but when the fellow </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">come
round askin,’ I sold it to him </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">for
nothing but getting my farm out of hock</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
my baby back what the fever took for the wife.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">He
must have thrown the haints in extry,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">they
bothersome most when I try to sleep </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
here lately I notice the dogs </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">barkin'
behind me wherever I go.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://c8.alamy.com/comp/C4BJ41/an-illustration-by-harry-clarke-from-edgar-allan-poes-mystery-and-C4BJ41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="550" height="320" src="https://c8.alamy.com/comp/C4BJ41/an-illustration-by-harry-clarke-from-edgar-allan-poes-mystery-and-C4BJ41.jpg" width="219" /></span></a></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<b style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The
Blessing</span></b></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">A
white paper globe, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
thin skinned root, a pale </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">promise
of flowers</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">sections
in your hand </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">like
an orange, like chocolates</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">cracks
under the flat knife blade </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">like
a beetle, juices stink </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">on
your hands and the board,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">minced,
permeates the sizzling </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">fat
in a scalding pan.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">There
is an art to this.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">The
husking of paper from the bulb,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">the
precise action of the knife,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">the
translucency of onions,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">the
spatter of oil and water.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">It
is better with fire,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">with
hot black iron </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">to
sear the blood in,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">to
cauterize the bleeding muscle</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">its
bath of fat, of boiling oil.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">Run
cold water over burnt knuckles</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">rub
red pepper, kosher salt </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">directly
into the raw,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">burn
the surface </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">but
leave it bleeding</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">do
not leave cut potatoes out</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">they
will turn blue-black,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">green
beneath the skin is poisonous.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Tomatoes
are related to nightshade, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">akin
to digitalis, raw meat houses </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">salmonella,
trichinosis, E. coli,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
host of deaths dancing. </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">A
good sharp knife is essential.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">There
is poison in the corners </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">for
the mice. Powder for the roaches,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">a
chemistry set beneath the sink.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">clear
cold water in a glass</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">thick
whole milk, pure salted butter</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">ice
and crisp vegetables</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">baptized
quick, a charm </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">against
insecticides,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">a
feast against dying.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81DZYNDCXiL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="535" data-original-width="800" height="213" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81DZYNDCXiL._SL1500_.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Ireneo
Funes Morning.</b></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Opened
my eyes again,</b></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">found
the bed as I had left it,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">drool
on the pillow </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
shape of a continent </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
have never seen. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></span><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Reaching
down, my pants lay </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">on
the floor in the same place</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">they
have fallen for thirty years</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></span><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
belt splayed, the inside-out leg,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">recalling,
within a few millimeters,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
way the pants fell the first night</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
shared this bed with you,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></span><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">when
your snore was more </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">soprano
than reedy tenor ,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
I put the pants on, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">bare
feet on the cold floor</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></span><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">remembering
each leg I have owned,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
infant's floppy puppetry,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
awkward teenage gangle</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
the sodden stumps </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
am headed towards,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></span><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">remembering
forwards</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">slid
jeans over my soft fat legs,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">walked
into the fluorescent light,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">shaved
just my cheeks,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">my
mouth still holding the shape</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">of
every word I have spoken or not,</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
brushed one third of my teeth,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
blunt brush's bristles bent</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
worn from each day's</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">half-hearted
saw and drag</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">across
the slowly dissolving </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">enamel
of each tooth,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">each
a little smaller</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">like
stones on this riverbed of days,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">tumbling
through words and sandwiches,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
a countable, finite </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">procession
of breath.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
waited for the bus</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
knew which one of the three</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">on
the route it was,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
coffee stain on the third seat</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">from
the November morning</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></span><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">when
the fat woman </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">jostled
against the child,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">now
doubtless out of high school,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></span><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
greasy linoleum flooring</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">like
the kitchen of my first apartment,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
fake wood grain like the end paper </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">in
a manual for insomniacs,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">suggesting
just a hint of a face.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Walked
across the street,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
cobblestones weary</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">from
the familiar scrape </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">of
my step, thrice daily </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">for
fifteen years</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">into
the familiar air of an office,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></span><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
wilting plant and smell </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">of
cheap coffee, the yellowing plastic </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">of
a computer monitor,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
way the hand curves to the </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">precise
shape of the phone,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
ever slightly diminished pencils.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
world is in ebb,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">retreating
from the moment </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">when
I first saw you,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
everything clings </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">to
its dull certainty.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://ctl.s6img.com/society6/img/HcZUJ2-a9-19b_n9gtM602Yua2A/w_700/prints/~artwork/s6-0070/a/28781130_4339761/~~/morella-by-harry-clarke-prints.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" height="320" src="https://ctl.s6img.com/society6/img/HcZUJ2-a9-19b_n9gtM602Yua2A/w_700/prints/~artwork/s6-0070/a/28781130_4339761/~~/morella-by-harry-clarke-prints.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<b style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The
Man Who Made the Nightingale </span></b></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">There
are white berries in the ditch,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
thick husks of burrs hold stolen </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">hair
in strands, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
a white birch </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">stands
in night soil.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">There
is a fairytale bridge, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">and
apple blossoms in spring,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a broken-down
house </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">with
blue-green shingles</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">where
a funny old man </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">makes
the children laugh and laugh. </span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">He
has an old black cat </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">and
a sad brown dog,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
mushroom ring and old books </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">in
black covers with pictures of machines.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">He
sings but the words are always wrong,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">he
has candy and new pocket-knives and string. </span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">He
has old wood and nails for building forts</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
his house is full of secret places </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">and
you can crawl right under it into the wet black dark.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">He
has the parts to a million bicycles, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">lost
kites and kittens and radios. </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">He
has big white hands that flap at the end </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">of
his long skinny arms and a round </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">hairy
belly like a barrel. </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">His
owly eyes roll around behind thick </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">greasy
spectacles. Sometimes if he hugs you </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">too
close you can see his yellow funny teeth </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">or
smell his funny old smell. </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">His
red kitchen is full of soft grey mice</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
in the firelight roasting hot dogs on sticks </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">you
can see eyes in the dark like fireflies and</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
gravel path from the door to the street </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">shines
in the dark </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
the moon seems bigger over the funny old house </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">like
it would like to tell you something</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">but
someone has cut out its tongue.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/88505/4338630/01-Clarke--Coleridge--1913--The-soulds-did-from-their-bodies-fly_900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="800" height="210" src="https://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/88505/4338630/01-Clarke--Coleridge--1913--The-soulds-did-from-their-bodies-fly_900.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: black; font-style: normal;"><b>King
David on Ocean Ave</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">A
tagged star on a freeway overpass, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">traffic
pouring into the dead heart </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">of
the country, mid-western faces </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">in
sensible sedans, the pointless </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">locomotive
hum. Beside this </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">we
lay down and wept </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
woman's soprano FM sorrow, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
drunk's songs, the whispered promise </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">of
violence between boys, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
fear and awe of tourists </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">in
the gingerbread city, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">this
baroque wedding cake </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">of
brickwork. </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Bottles
in brown paper bags, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">our
harps in the trees,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">scrawl
of names on cement, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Babel-blare
of signage </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">Arabic
and Hebrew,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">Russian
and Chinese.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
am old, stripped of the wonder </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">of
places, of the dream of mobility </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
transformation. Here at the end </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">of
roads in this final city</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">all
the perspective lines end. </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">This
is the vanishing point </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">where
train tracks meet, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
nighttime home </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">of
the sun's boat, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
mortuary city. </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Here
is the promised glow </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">over
the horizon realized,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
final square on the pasteboard </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">labyrinth
of my life,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">here
all the snakes </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">and
ladders lead, dissolving</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">into
the tail swallowing </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">arabesque
of the drawn line.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
am unused to happiness, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">to
realized desire. I am unsure </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">of
what songs to sing-- </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">there
is so much speech, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">so
many spray painted palimpsests.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">Here
it is hard to find an unused word,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">the
streets are lined with books,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">carelessly
displayed </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">on
folding tables or blankets, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">left
unread on doorstops, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">abandoned
in subway cars, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">how
then to speak?</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
left behind the boxes </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">that
held a life, letters </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">written
to a dead man, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">to
a false face, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">having
here </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">taken
away </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">all
faces and flesh.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Our
bones commingle </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">to
build new life,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">to
add our joy to this confusion. </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">It
is no small thing.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
have seen a drowned city, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
enameled sepulchers </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">of
refrigerators </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">standing
sentinel on corners, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
am from a city reborn from fire </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">know
the way, unknowing, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
living walk over the bones </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">of
the dead. I have seen the dead </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">museum
of Rome, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">the
ossuaries of Budapest,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">every
place has been a place </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">like
other places.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Outside
my house </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">the
scattered people of Jerusalem</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">in
black hats and plumage </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">like
funerary birds are content </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">with
Brooklyn if there is no temple. </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">How
shall I sing the Lord's song</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">in
a strange land? </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://i1.wp.com/www.brainpickings.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/clarke_poe4.jpg?resize=680%2C899&ssl=1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="605" height="320" src="https://i1.wp.com/www.brainpickings.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/clarke_poe4.jpg?resize=680%2C899&ssl=1" width="242" /></span></a></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<b style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Mariner</span></b></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">My<u>
s</u></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><u>hipworm</u></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> riddled heart</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">is
bound in hammered copper,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">to
keep the parasite</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">from
the rigging of my bones.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></span><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">When
I lie still to rest I hear them,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">boring
through the woody ventricles,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
blood rusting the hammered skin,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
tinny sound of the surge</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
hollow thump of softly rotting </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">timbers
against the </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><u><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrimshaw"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">#</span></span></a></u></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
copper case,</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
seashell held to my ear echoes</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">only
their wet knotting.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
cannot sleep.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">They
tangle through the dumb wood.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">My
father, the sharpener of knives,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">carved
this for me</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">from
a wharf piling,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></span><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">bound
it with rotten rope</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
gave it, like a gift,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
judas-kiss sharp with whiskers</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
the words “keep it safe.”</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
hammered the housing </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">that
holds it in shining copper </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">now
</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">from
the sea salt splatter </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
acid of my blood,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></span><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">tapped
the tattoo </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">with
a tinsmith's hammer,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">stitched
myself lungs </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">from
coral and sailcloth. </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Now
the long nights drawn on </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
compassless, </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
walk the muddy sea bottom</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">with
</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><u><a href="http://www.poetryloverspage.com/poets/shakespeare/full_fathom_five.html"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">#</span></span></a></u></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
for eyes.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">My
mouth held silent by a sailor’s knot,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">my
creaking shipwrecked heart,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
bellows in the dark,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">your
name scratched on it</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
only thing shining.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/88505/1125163/Harry-Clarke--Poe--Tales-of-Mystery-and-Imagination--2_900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="603" height="320" src="https://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/88505/1125163/Harry-Clarke--Poe--Tales-of-Mystery-and-Imagination--2_900.jpg" width="241" /></span></a></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<b style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">In
the House that Jack Built</span></b></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">He
comes in from the war </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">because
there is always a war </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">for
soldiers to wander home from, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">with
ragged boots and scars. </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">The
devil walks the fields</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">at
night, tries to bargain a soul,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">for
a sack that is always filled with food</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">because
the war has taken all the food </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
only women are at home to </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">wait
for cowards and cripples</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">hobbling
back.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
war is a fire on the horizon </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">that
never goes out. At night </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
dusty beets and turnip tops </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">drink
in a second sun. </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Where
the city burns outside </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">the
young men lie, discarded toys.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">In
the rusting engines of their </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">undoing,
the black-eyed birds</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">rest
in their yellow hair,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">fight
for the dull gems </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">of
their eyes, pulling teeth and </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">shining
buttons from gallow birds.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">Young
boys off to seek their fortune</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">in
the wide wide world walk </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">towards
the blaze, a fire </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">in
the belly of a giant puffing steam.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">In
the broken columns of the city</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">the
rivers are filled with bodies, swelling</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
the girl has watched </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">her
brothers go west</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">like
bundles of faggots fed into the fire</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">and
she cries at her milking, so the pail</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">holds
tears and blood and milk </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">because
the cow is too sick for slaughter</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">kept
lying on it side, so the dogs</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">who
have remembered they are wolves </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">come
to test her, falling on her knees</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">till
the great broken horn like a moon</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">tosses
one a limp red rag outside</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">the
ruin of the house.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">The
doors hang on hinges.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
unexploded artillery </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">shell
in the straw like an egg.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
fat and happy rats crawling </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">amongst
the dead and the unbroken china,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">un-looted
piles of fur and books</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">treasures
too heavy to carry.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">The
forgotten cats, like infants crying,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">are
afraid of the dogs circling</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
house in the moonlight. </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">The
cow dying, the city burning</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">the
men home from war and hungry</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">with
new hungers learned in the dying city .</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Unable
to face the homeowners' </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">final
eyeless repast</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">she
hides in the barn </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">where
last years crop, unused, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">feeds
rats</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
the cow who cries </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">with
her broken leg, half sick </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">lowing,
her bloody udders </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">hides
in the barn </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">and
he finds her there.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HRUkVJAlvWM/UFyADyL6JII/AAAAAAAAFVE/qAmn8QxL7Os/s1600/Harry+Clarke+The+year's+at+the+spring.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1023" data-original-width="766" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HRUkVJAlvWM/UFyADyL6JII/AAAAAAAAFVE/qAmn8QxL7Os/s320/Harry+Clarke+The+year's+at+the+spring.JPG" width="239" /></span></a></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<b style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">On
the Proposal of a Bill to Allow the Blind to Hunt in Texas</span></b></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
stars are buckshot holes </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">in
a tent roof, the sun </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
piñata filled </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">with
who-knows-what stale </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
ancient sweets.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">We
spin below it, are released,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">we
have yet to knock it loose.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">You
have never seen its yellow streamers,</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
way the woman with her hands </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">on
the rope jerks it out of reach </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">each
time you come close, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">each
morning, coming out of darkness for the first time</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">how
it bleeds, then rises on unsteady legs</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">have
never seen the party streamers of</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">contrails
draped across the sky,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
way a deer or a man opens up, </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">that
slow blossoming stain</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">will
be denied you</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></span><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">but
when your prize is hung by its ankles</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">you
can warm your hands</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">in
a rush of blood</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">you
can feel your prize stiffen</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
grow cold.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
way the warmth of the sun</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">comes
leaking out </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">of
every living thing</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">is
something even </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">the
blind can see</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://ih0.redbubble.net/image.745051842.7547/ap,550x550,12x16,1,transparent,t.u6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="413" height="320" src="https://ih0.redbubble.net/image.745051842.7547/ap,550x550,12x16,1,transparent,t.u6.png" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: black; font-style: normal;"><b>Pietro
della Vigna</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">
“<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">'tis
not just to have what one casts off.”</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> --Inferno
canto XIII</span></i></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
hill is crowned with the accusatory spike</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">of
a dead radio tower enclosed in razor-wire, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">concrete
slabs criss-crossed with logging roads, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
oaks covered in carved names grown into chancres.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Littered
with beer cans crumpled in one-handed bravado,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">abandoned
amid paper bags, old lumber,</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">half-burned
pornography like memory</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">is
the foundation of a house unlived in.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
have seen this burn. A stolen picnic table parasol</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">surviving
the blaze, absurdly domestic amid</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
trees glowing with charred embers, </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">undergrowth
turned to fine white ash,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
cans blackening in the heat.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Here
my brothers and I buried our youth</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">in
a shallow pit scratched out of the clay,</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">rough-covered
with leaves.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Here
we drank, stood vigil over the housing project</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">waiting
for dealers to come home, brought girls</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">to
ply with cheap wine and beer. Here we drank</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
wept and shouted, smoked bad weed</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">stale
cigarettes and waited and drank.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Here
built a church of stones and bottles,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">here
candlelit processions snaked down to a holy elm</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">here
we stood in the storm,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
clearing in the clouds like a perfect O,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">pried
open a space between the stars to fall into, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">erased
a city of empty houses</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">here
howled at a fat yellow moon above a lean grey town</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
train yard, a highway, a river of poison in concentric rings,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">here
leapt through fire and bled </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">here
lived, and left for years, here rubber banded home </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
stake for a dog’s chain.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
returned, climbed the road in an ice storm</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">dead-fall
trees blocked the way, glass clattered in branches</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">snapping
power lines sang in sleet and rain</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">stood
alone in the silence of the snow's shrouding, </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
was there to hear the heavy final fall of a tree </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">covered
in names.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://uploads4.wikiart.org/images/harry-clarke/the-year-s-at-the-spring-1920.jpg!Large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="486" height="320" src="https://uploads4.wikiart.org/images/harry-clarke/the-year-s-at-the-spring-1920.jpg!Large.jpg" width="259" /></span></a></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: black; font-style: normal;"><b>After
the Shelling</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
past is a city in flames,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">we
refugees on the road</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">drag
the inexplicable flotsam</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">that
people carry out of catastrophes.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">When
the city fell, the animals </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">left
the comfort of laps and grew thin, </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">crying
on the knives' edges of rooftops, </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">then
fattened on the rats that fattened on the dead,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">now
empty streets crawl with them</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">bright
eyed and sleek.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://media.gettyimages.com/photos/homer-the-odyssey-ulysses-weeps-at-the-song-of-demodocus-alcinous-of-picture-id588182062?s=594x594" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="342" data-original-width="594" height="184" src="https://media.gettyimages.com/photos/homer-the-odyssey-ulysses-weeps-at-the-song-of-demodocus-alcinous-of-picture-id588182062?s=594x594" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<b style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Demodocus
to the Phaecians</span></b></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
thin thread of days extends onward, </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">unraveling
back to some forgotten anchor point</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">where
we tied our hearts a hundred years ago, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">it
unravels as we walk. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></span><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
devil trades us for the bright </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">red
rubies of our terror.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">We
bleed stones, weep ice,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">stand
listless in the grey morning.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
would wash my eyes bone-white,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
would make them opaque pearls</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">where
there is no entrance or exit</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
ocean at night, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">limestone
caves and the sound </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">of
dripping water</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">locked
boxes </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">buried
</span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">in
chains.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://the-public-domain-review.imgix.net/essays/harry-clarkes-looking-glass/clarke-firstimage.jpg?fit=max&w=1200&h=850" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="685" data-original-width="607" height="320" src="https://the-public-domain-review.imgix.net/essays/harry-clarkes-looking-glass/clarke-firstimage.jpg?fit=max&w=1200&h=850" width="283" /></span></a></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<b style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">I
am Half-wedded to the Death in Things</span></b></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>
</b></span></span></span><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
January crocus, the false spring,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
thawed black mud, the ringing steps of couriers,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
black edged letter and a widow's face.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
am slow poison in a bone china cup,</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
numbering of breaths, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">the
fool's dawn of a filling station's lights,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
coal tattoo, the black ice,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
siren-singing lumber mill saw blade,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
nail-pulling edge of a hammer.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
am water on a daily ferry commute</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">briefcase
in hand, the cold light of offices</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">waiting
in the pre-dawn murk.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Bleach
and ammonia side-by-side beneath the sink</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">like
a promise. Three boxes of sleep, </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">perfect
cold of a closed window's surface.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Who
else if not you to love me,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">my
valentine knife, my Saint Sebastian heart,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">my
lady of sorrows, my lover's fist?</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Here
is a hothouse orchid that grew </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">behind
glass, beneath the snow.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Here
is an unanswerable question,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
bed you cannot get comfortable in,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">here
one can neither stand nor lie nor sit,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">here
I embrace you, a potbellied Moloch,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">pass
through the fire in my guts.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Here
is a life, my grasping hands, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">my
liar's tongue, my love. </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Here
is the needle </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">in
the candy apple,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
barbed hook </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">of
an answered prayer.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></span><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQr97qmYgPFhvrBXzSq9-xro0T4pghjTF9itNywcJ1O5i1iiE5AMgDHUTItsi4ho3y69g93VvMQmtqnAokAczbADk0K5w90dDoqDAwll2Pgo7bDRW0edv7ROBarivSJAfLv5W-bMFcE0Nm/s1600/2018-09-21_18-03-13+THE+DEVIL+IN+THE+MEDIEVAL+MIND.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="523" data-original-width="806" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQr97qmYgPFhvrBXzSq9-xro0T4pghjTF9itNywcJ1O5i1iiE5AMgDHUTItsi4ho3y69g93VvMQmtqnAokAczbADk0K5w90dDoqDAwll2Pgo7bDRW0edv7ROBarivSJAfLv5W-bMFcE0Nm/s320/2018-09-21_18-03-13+THE+DEVIL+IN+THE+MEDIEVAL+MIND.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
<br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<b style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Black
Donald Goes Walking</span></b></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>wandering
up and down the earth, </b></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">bartering
bridges for the souls </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">of
cats and turnip tops.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></span><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">He
is ever mobile, the traveling salesman </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">from
every farmer's daughter joke</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
cuckold's horns on his head--</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">who
could love him truly?</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">It
is hard to say where he dwells, </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">in
what well-furnished ventricle</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">he
makes his home, what shattered country</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">where
trees grow through ringer washers</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
houses are filled with what is left </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">after
everything is gone</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">what
box of poisonous letters</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">he
curls himself around,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">what
flashing eyes or smile are his embrace, </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">which
is the precise bottle he sleeps in like a djinn?</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Whose
wings overshadow the earth</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">whose
vainglory and whispered promises</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">are
songs for dancing, our new red shoes</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">what
is clear is that where he is</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">is
ruin and where we are, he is</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
that of all the angels, he is mine.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b4/3d/6a/b43d6ab2c4da663c27f89aec349ad65f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="708" data-original-width="800" height="283" src="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b4/3d/6a/b43d6ab2c4da663c27f89aec349ad65f.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<b style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The
First Time I Tried Dying</span></b></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">I
was eleven, the December ocean</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">rising
to my chest, hands and lips numb. </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
stood shaking on the grey </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">of
Mission Beach unobserved, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">a
coward after.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">In
slick pages, plasticene women</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">parted
cunts symmetrical as fruit.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">Plastic
vodka bottles emptied</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
lie of water into me, filled my head </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">with
stones long enough to keep it under.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">My
dreams are reefs, the writhing of soft life, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">something
rich and strange.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">You
are not the rising water or birds, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">or
the dark where the horizon is not </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">or
the tanker’s light. You are no land </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">to
lay a claim to, the islands of glass that drift,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">the
great slow creature, a living country</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">tree
roots carving into your back,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">scalded
once by fire,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">stained
continents </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">on
yellow bedsheets.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/f4/85/7d/f4857d346613d7be944f819f6563689e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="213" src="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/f4/85/7d/f4857d346613d7be944f819f6563689e.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<b style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">1L
Southbound</span></b></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">There
is a security guard,</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">her
hair in a tight bun, homebound on the bus,</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">a
backwards flag on her arm, a tattooed tear.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">I
love her a little, for that blue tear on her cheek </span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">that
makes me think of you,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">how
she wears it every place that faces go</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
wonder if she ever forgets it is there, </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">startled
at her reflection's costume jewelry,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">that
of all faces to wear she chose this face,</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">it
doubtless has a cipher</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">stands
for murder, or prison</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">or
every year he's away</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">or
for her warm brown eyes filled</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">with
real, not painted sorrow</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">her
just-a-little red nose</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">that
with the tear make</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">her
a harlequin in black,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
woman masking as a policewoman</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">who
has lost her lover in Carnival,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
painted effigy of suffering,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">sad
as a hobo clown.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Her
fingernails are painted like small pearls,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">tears
made solid. They rest uneasily on her lap</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">against
the black polyester slacks,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">something
strangely delicate </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">about
them at the end of her arms</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">makes
me think that they will fly away.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
want to put them in my mouth,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">taste
each pearl for the salt of the ocean</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">where
you are, that final repository of tears</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
look for a trace of you.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">There
is a red bow around her finger</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">where
a wedding ring would be,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">something
she is trying to remember, </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">there
is something I am trying to forget.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">She
is gone.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">In
her place sits down a young mother, </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">her
baby on her lap, the child in white, crying.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">with
heavy gold earrings in her ears</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
a bright green ponytail holder in her hair.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
word </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Angel
</span></i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">in
bold letters on her chest</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">as
if she comes from a generic heaven, </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">where
everything is precisely its name.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></span><br />
</span></div>
<div align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Her
mother soothes her in Spanish</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">too
fast for me to follow. The child </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">looks
at me curiously as I write this and stops</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">mid-wail,
tears pooled in her eyes</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">like
water in your mouth.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">She
laughs a the absurdity of this poem,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">of
me and you,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">that
I would make a song</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">of
the way we wear our painted sorrows proudly.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></span><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">She
laughs as all the angels do at us,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">she
is covered, somehow in improbable glitter </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
probable dirt streaked from crying</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">smiles
with no trace of pain more tears won't wash away.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">She
holds blue dice in her fist--</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">snake
eyes and double sixes</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">that
she shakes and shakes and shakes. </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://media.istockphoto.com/illustrations/british-london-satire-caricatures-comics-cartoon-illustrations-bear-illustration-id1055910668" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="620" data-original-width="800" height="247" src="https://media.istockphoto.com/illustrations/british-london-satire-caricatures-comics-cartoon-illustrations-bear-illustration-id1055910668" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<b style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">A
Girl, a Bear, a Box of Chocolates</span></b></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Your
private winter </b></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">is
a home of ice </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">behind
your eyes, a room </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">six
floors </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">above
the street.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">My
prison is a heart-shaped box,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
casket with plastic roses </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
ribbons, a blood-stained </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">mattress,
ticking.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
am the bitten half-moon </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">chocolate
awaiting the return </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">of
your mouth. Your hand </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">passes
over, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">your
eyes elsewhere.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">It
is too sophisticated, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">this
dance. For your hands </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
would do anything,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
am an amiable bear, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">treading
time to the music </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">clumsy
but eager. </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Your
earliest memory-- </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">sharp
toothed, held by the throat,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">stolen
candy in your panties, </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">gnawed
lace and finery.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">We
waltz, the sad eyed circus child,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
half-trained bear </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">chained
to the radiator</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">in
a comical hat.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Your
kiss is forgiveness </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
paper cuts. You bite </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">rusty
typewriter keys into my neck.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">They
spell your name.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></span><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
am learning the slow shuffle of this.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
make you laugh. Taste you, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">like
the first kiss outside the gates, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">when
the beasts became dumb, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">&
forgot their names</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></span><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">when
the angel with the flaming sword </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">took
his weary turnkey's post, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">when
bears first learned </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">to
dance like men.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://barnimages.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/20190429-barnimages-003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="213" src="https://barnimages.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/20190429-barnimages-003.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: black; font-style: normal;"><b>For
G.C.</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">It
is not enough you are dead,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">ride
a gleaming stolen bicycle,</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">leave
burning dumpsters,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">stolen
cigarettes, perfect cubes of safety glass</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
spray of copper bbs in your wake.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
canvas on the pop- up trailer, rotted.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
house burned down.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
oaks were scored with lightning.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">we
ran between cheap headstones.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Once,
with our shared girl</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">between
us, naked while the fog </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">rolled
out of the lake </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">from
the gun that held guard over</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
flag post to the lake filled with </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">duckweed
and mosquito larvae.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
have a photo somewhere of the two of you</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">with
absurd mohawks, entangled in a kiss</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">on
a gravestone sprayed with swastikas.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">You
do not have a stone.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Like
your father, you are dissolved </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">into
everything. Like mine, </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
am alive and unwell.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></span><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
train tracks smell recalls you,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">hot
sun on tar and the whir of cranks,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Liquor
in tiny bottles. Do you remember </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">smoking
your fathers funeral arrangement,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
seventh grade science project </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">for
photographing souls?</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Do
you remember anything?</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></span><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">You
came to my window once,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">drunk,
your lung was punctured,</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">there
was blood on your lips.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">You
threw gravel at my window</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
called like a dove.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
answered, but could not go</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
stolen car was shattered, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">you
did not have your bicycle</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Being
gone into where I always knew </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">you
would go, the vanishing point </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">where
the tracks meet,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">a
kirlian negative in black and white.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcT3-cFsQ9wPj9OVxWXauEM6mCWkMwowUqM_-54m5DrpiiCGbmLZ&usqp=CAU" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="183" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcT3-cFsQ9wPj9OVxWXauEM6mCWkMwowUqM_-54m5DrpiiCGbmLZ&usqp=CAU" /></span></a></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: black; font-style: normal;"><b>The
Uncorrupted Body</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">White
plaster crowned with plastic flowers</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">queen
of the may</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">misses
Mary Margaret's dusting hand</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
murmured
</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">hailmaryfullofgrace</span></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">thelordiswiththee</span></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">blessedartthouamongstwomen</span></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">andblessedisthefruitofthywombjesus</span></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></span><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">She
misses the smell of Pledge</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Mary
Margaret's smell</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">of
rosewater, spearmint gum</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
undertone of milk.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></span><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Her
dainty toe listlessly</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">taps
on the lace doily,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">her
blind eyes staring</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">at
immaculate carpet,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">at
the turned down guest beds</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">for
grandchildren who do not come</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">at
the radium dial </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">of
the alarm clock </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">that
is never set.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">She
hears outside the door</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
soap opera drone, envies</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
plaster cats, their loved position</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">atop
the television, even the decoy duck </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">his
affectionate weekly dust off </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">with
the Reader's Digest condensed books</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Her
arms are held out, endlessly patient</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Mary
Margaret breathes bottled air</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">stays
downstairs most days</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
stairs ascend up to</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
gold tone light fixture</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">There
is a framed picture of Jim,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">gone
ahead when his heart gave out</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">he
waits for her like</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
never driven Oldsmobile</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">in
the garage, the seat upholstery </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">still
smelling of the factory.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
zinnias bloom like fireworks</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">carefully
dusted against Japanese beetles</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
chemical lawn is dandelion free</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
the nice boy from next door </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">mows
it once a week.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Little
Mary clambers up the sill and sits</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">running
white fingers through her white hair</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">turning
white eyes on the perfect green grass,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
shirtless neighbor boy.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Mary
Margaret dusts the unused ashtrays,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">arranges
Newsweek and the paper</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">next
to his unused chair out of habit.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">She
never sleeps on his side of the bed.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91OwEGgSJpL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91OwEGgSJpL._SL1500_.jpg" width="213" /></span></a></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<b style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Brooklyn
is the World</span></b></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">The
Atlantic Ave Prophet </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">screams
at Borough Hall </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">drawn
from the tunnels </span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">by
the warmth of day </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></span><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">sandwiched
between </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
street meat vendor </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">advertising
Halal hot dogs </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
a table of trashy romance </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
dream interpretation books, </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
dream of fish means money </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">will
come your way.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Five-dollar
watches. One dollar jewelry </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">direct
from China, displayed on Kente cloth </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
half dollar, a half dollar, a penny, and two bits. </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Rich
white mothers push their </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Chinese
babies up the street. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
Prophet is screaming </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">something
about Roman emperors </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
circumcision. </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
think of roadways, patterns of migration </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">circulatory
systems and subway maps </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">of
livers and the flight </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">of
Coney Island seagulls </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">There
is a placard around her neck, </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
crayon drawing of </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
dream of Nebuchadnezzar </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
idol with the feet of clay, </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">it
is a map of the body </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">as
empire. </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/f4/54/a4/f454a445586f18b6ed4e4528f21867cc--st-sebastian-crazy-art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="236" height="320" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/f4/54/a4/f454a445586f18b6ed4e4528f21867cc--st-sebastian-crazy-art.jpg" width="184" /></span></a></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<b style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">A
Name Scratched</span></b></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">on
a mailbox with a knife</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">leaning
fence posts and a line </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">of
maples, a sickly pine, a tangle </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">of
overgrown roses</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">grass
and dandelions and clover, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">onions,
snowdrops, death angels, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">brownie
caps and chicken-of-the-woods, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">king
size beds of untended daffodils </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
tiger lilies, mullberries </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
the rich purple stains of bird shit, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">possum
grapes, elderberries, thistles,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">blackberry
brambles and lilacs </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">redbud
trees and a hive of yellow </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">jackets
in an air conditioner,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">a
wringer washer filled with gasoline,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">half
of a Volkswagen, a pile of bicycle parts,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">bent
rims and frames rusting together </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">under
a willow tree, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">a
yellow and black garden spider</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
garter snakes, catfish in the ditch </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">when
it rained enough to make</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
neighbor's pond flood, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">tree
frogs and toads and bullfrogs, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
washing machine full of tadpoles, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">old
rotting plywood with carpenter ants </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
centipedes, sow bugs and slugs </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">robins,
cardinals, blue jays, sparrows</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
black crow sitting next to me </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">in
a tree branch,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
black cat that came back </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">across
three states that taught</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">my
father how to breathe </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
leave his body. </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Foxfire.
</span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Ruined
houses, old wells </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
foundations, animal bones </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">in
the dead leaves, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
up the road, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
culvert where the drowned boy </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">was
found, the grown over </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">headstone
cutting operation </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">with
tombstones never delivered </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
a great fallen handless angel </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">lying
in the mud, moss on her blank eyes,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
buck deer, the broken heads of saints </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
fir trees, the abandoned school </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
acres of swamp </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">overgrown
orchards,fields of dead corn, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
tree with a plow in the middle of it </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">and
duckweed covered water,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">this
has been my country.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.elsaelsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/broken-statue-in-a-cemetery-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="205" data-original-width="300" src="https://www.elsaelsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/broken-statue-in-a-cemetery-1.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<b style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">She
Has a Golden Throat</span></b></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">
“<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">...metaphor
is a myth in brief" </span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">--Giambattista
Vico</span></i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Think
treacle, golden syrup, still</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">you
see a wedding ring, </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">heavy,
her head resting atop it</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
pink entree on a gleaming tray.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Gold
is soft as lead</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">malleable,
see her hammered </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">throat,
its marks from careless </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">handling,
her scuffed, dented throat</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
predictable story of origin--</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
father's strangling grasp.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Mercury,
winged sandals </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">fluttering
trampled pigeons</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">bandy-legged
Vulcan hammering it out.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">See
her splashed with a cup of water</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">from
hell's river, Achilles in reverse</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">impervious
to blows</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">this
hard fragility</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">this
permanent jewelry</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">this
flesh become an ornate collar</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">touch
it, find it cold</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">inhuman,
a saxophone, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
trombone slide,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
Victrola's amplifying bell.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81S8C2YL5rL._AC_SY606_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="606" data-original-width="412" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81S8C2YL5rL._AC_SY606_.jpg" width="217" /></span></a></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<b style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Allegory
in Three Parts </span></b></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>I.
</b></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Rain
fell and fell </b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>drowned
the fields </b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>he
came walking </b></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">with
the storm at his back </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
had heard tales of him </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">striding
the hilltops like a giant,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
bag of houses spilling out </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">old
stone farms like seed,</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">how
he built the city's bridge </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
the walls of Rome, </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">had
to content himself with </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
lone black cat in payment </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
yet he seemed </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">somehow
smaller </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
incapable of wonders </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">when
he condescended to call </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></span><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
did not, in truth, recognize him. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I,
the very genius of famine </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">with
horse and scales </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">crying
prices </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">in
the marketplace </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
plague corpse, a skeleton </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">behind
my starving oxen. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">A
fine pair we made. </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">W</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">e
shall make a deal, </span></i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">he
said, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
crops above the earth </span></i></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">are
to be mine </span></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
those below it yours. </span></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></i></span></span><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">He
promised me </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
gem of great price. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
signed in blood </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
sowed the seeds he gave me. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">How
dead mens' bones </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">should
bear fruit seemed </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">mystery
to me, yet </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
trenches were dug </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
I waited. </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
briars grew thick, </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">entangled
with martyred men </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
trenches filled </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">with
water and blood </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">with
cholera and dying boys </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">with
rats and gallow-birds and fire </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">with
all the things nations are built of </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
gem of great price</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></span><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>II.
</b></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Winter
came upon my fields </b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>a
great blotting whiteness </b></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">of
forgetting and he </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">walked
up, taller seeming, </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">breath
steaming in the brittle air, </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">buttons
gleaming on a fine coat, </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">my
bones showed through </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">my
tattered cloak </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
will build for you a fire </span></i></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">that
will never go out, </span></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">he
said. How quickly,</span></i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">how
foolishly I pledged </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">to
him my allegiance. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">He
pulled from his pocket </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
bag of human hearts-- </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">S</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">ee
how they smolder</span></i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
he said, </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">breathing
promises upon them. </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
could not hear </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">they
leapt to flame. </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
embers are lit, </span></i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">he
said, </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">now
quickly feed them</span></i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
ran and carried as fast as I could </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
mountain of the dead and dying, </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">so
quickly did they burn to ash, </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">babes
were laid upon the fire </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">which
grew and grew. </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">In
the light, I saw his fine coat </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">was
made of hair and teeth, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">there
was a flash in the end, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">that
eclipsed the sun, </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
strange snow fell. </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
split the fire </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">between
my neighbors. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">It
burns on all our hearths. </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>III.</b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
sun so burnt the earth </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">no
green shoot could rise </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
again I saw him walking </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">he
seemed a giant in the wavering heat </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
will make you no promises, </span></i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
said </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
he laughed, saying </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">We
are old friends, you and I </span></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">what
need have we of promises.</span></i></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">There
is a spring </span></i></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">on
your neighbor's farm, </span></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">its
roots in my domain. </span></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
come only to offer you a taste. </span></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></i></span></span><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">He
pulled a great flask </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">held
for me to drink. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
drank all he had. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">He
smiled and left, </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">we
said no more that day. </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">First
I offered all I had </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">to
buy my neighbor's wells </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">but
he refused me, found reasons </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">to
tarry in his fields. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></span><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">To
help you bring the harvest in, I said, </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">to
protect your fine wells </span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">from
thieves and robbers. </span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Your
coat is made of hair </span></i></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
teeth, he said, </span></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">you
seem a giant </span></i></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">in
the wavering heat </span></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">my
fields are mine to tend, </span></i></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">now
off with you. </span></i></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
took the devil's fire</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">from
my hearth, </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">kindled
it </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">as
he had taught me. </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Earth
so dry, </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">thirsty
as I, </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
world is burning still.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/2a/b2/e3/2ab2e3ae1b757e7e49918fc8802aeff1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="437" data-original-width="313" height="320" src="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/2a/b2/e3/2ab2e3ae1b757e7e49918fc8802aeff1.jpg" width="229" /></span></a></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<b style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Saint
Anthony’s Chapel, Pittsburgh, PA</span></b></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Gold-rimmed
bones, a crowned skull</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
walls a mass of cabinetry,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">gilt
monstrances with fragments</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">of
the cross, bones and fingernails </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
hair on velvet</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">pinned
butterfly saints' names on </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">handwritten
labels, glass boxed Mary,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Anthony,
Joseph, stations of the cross.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
am writing my request on an envelope</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">dropping
it down a brass tube, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">like
a bank deposit</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">with
$2.50, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
coin-operated prayer,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">candles
like hearts in jars. </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
pray to be restored.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
pray for my children,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">for
mercy and not justice.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">There
is an eye in a triangle</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">on
the ceiling, a host, a hovering cup</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
names of monastic saints,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Francis,
Benedict, Anthony</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
mouth the creed, awkwardly</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
say my hail marys like a bribe to god</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">like
a magic formula</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">lord,
I am not worthy to receive you</span></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">but
only say the word</span></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
I shall be healed</span></i></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
think of my father, </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">his
hair still wet, brushed down </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">strange,
his button-up shirts,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">his
blinking eyes, weak chin</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">his
relish at this phrase</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">how
he sat through every Eucharist</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
think of the mysteries, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Marlichen
under juniper,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
scourging at the pillar, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
crowning with thorns</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">of
lambs and incense </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">and
mummery.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></span><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
add my request to the others</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
say my paternoster </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">as
my grandmother taught me</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
kneel and cross myself </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">with
water and oil. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
confessional is empty</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
could not rid myself </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">of
this millstone</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">if
I wished.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Soon
comes the feast </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">of
the Pentecost,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
descent of the tongues </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">of
flame. The priests are praying </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">for
vocations</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
ask us to pray </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">that
others receive them</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
am not called. I wait for fire</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
leave the bread untasted,</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">the
cup untouched.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images.fineartamerica.com/images/artworkimages/mediumlarge/2/boris-karloff-as-frankenstein-by-the-lake-with-little-girl-doc-braham.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="800" height="251" src="https://images.fineartamerica.com/images/artworkimages/mediumlarge/2/boris-karloff-as-frankenstein-by-the-lake-with-little-girl-doc-braham.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<b style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">If
Everything is Black and White</span></b></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>
</b></span></span></span><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">then
I am a monster. </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">These
hardware store bolts </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">barely
hold my head on anymore,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">dead
parts held together </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">by
a road map of stitches</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">wear
and burst at the seams, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
discarded stuffed animal. </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">My
insides show.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Still
I do it, lurch to life </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">when
the electricity </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">climbs
Jacob's ladder. </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
lightning strikes, the doctor laughs. </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
jump up in my bed, predictable </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
safe as houses,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">popping
my head out </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">of
the grave like a prairie dog.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
first time, I know I scared them.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">You
should have seen the villagers</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">so
excited, like a carnival, </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">something
transgressive </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
festive like Easter </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">or
a magic trick.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">In
the end, it is never enough.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">You
lose your top billing, wind up </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">shilling
cereal, chasing Abbot and </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Costello
around a theme park,</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
rubber mask with no </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">face
behind it,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
lifelike diorama, sold </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">with
the joy buzzers</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
the x-ray specs </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">in
the back of the magazine.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">They
built me a bride </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">but
she was never mine.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
arms-out-zombie walk</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">is
just like sleepwalking after a while.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></span><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Sometimes
I think I’ve forgotten </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">what
I was grasping for.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">It
is hard to keep pretending,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></span><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">to
keep putting one heavy boot </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">in
front of the other,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">to
flee the fire when you </span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">know
it burns you clean,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span></span><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">means
the movie is over</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
you can rest</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">until
they dig you up,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">jump
you like a dead battery</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">send
you shambling off again, a joke.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">A
pretty girl is throwing flowers in the river...</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
<br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="left" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Proprietorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175257967731627214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839503941037132439.post-29427258610384337172020-04-05T16:26:00.003-04:002020-04-05T16:31:59.332-04:00<br />
<div class="western" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: x-large;">The Book Of Ghosts</span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Jacob Rakovan</span></div>
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<a href="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b8/3a/87/b83a87170151b88ee41edfcf54225ca1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b8/3a/87/b83a87170151b88ee41edfcf54225ca1.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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Glendower:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">
I can call spirits from the vasty deep.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">
Hotspur:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">
Why, so can I, or so can any man;</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">
But will they come when you do call for them?</span></div>
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</span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">
Henry The Fourth, Part I Act 3, scene 1</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogs.loc.gov/picturethis/files/2011/10/spirit-photo--664x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="519" height="320" src="https://blogs.loc.gov/picturethis/files/2011/10/spirit-photo--664x1024.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
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</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Ben
Sztuba</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Your
house, the horror house</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">the
doberman vicious</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">one
eyed, blind and tumorous</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">clawing
inside the door.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">shouting,
and barking.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The
phones torn from the walls</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">kept
locked in the trunk of your car</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">your
heavy hands</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">blurry
blue tattoos on the knuckles</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">"love"
and "wine",</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">motor
oil in the cracked skin.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Your
belt worn sideways,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">a
motorhead, a mechanic</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">drinker
of cheap Polish brandy.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Your
family learned</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">to
live around your edges
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
I learned to move</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">in
that undercurrent of fear</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">to
leave when you came home.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Your
youngest son a policeman now,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">he
answers the calls</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">for
men like you, impotent and angry</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">full
of stupid spite.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">What
misery it must have taken have taken</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">to
make our house a refuge</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">our
house of hoarded metal,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">of
shuttered windows</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">our
dirt and danger seem safer than home.
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">His
brother always your greasy mirror</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">a
thief of bicycles, a bully</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">a
sadist with a clothespin
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">your
wife, bending spoons</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
reading tarot</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">speaking
to the dead</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
the dead only.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">When
I learned of your death</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">of
the loss of my father's only friend</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">I
let out the breath I did not know I held</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">I
let my steps fall louder on the stairs.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://i.etsystatic.com/10768373/r/il/2a1f64/1041647968/il_570xN.1041647968_6ggo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="647" data-original-width="570" height="320" src="https://i.etsystatic.com/10768373/r/il/2a1f64/1041647968/il_570xN.1041647968_6ggo.jpg" width="281" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Steve
Gurney</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Our
yards divided by a concord grapes</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">on
rusted fences, a strawberry patch</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">you,
71 then, teller of lies</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">gifting
me with arrowheads</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">chipped
from broken coffee mugs</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">pulled
from the trash burning in oil drums</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">"ancient
artifacts" you said</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">the
mug handle still attached.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Your
pond, stocked with catfish</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">with
overgrown goldfish</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">bullfrogs
and water walkers.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Your
boys hunting squirrels on our acre.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The
smell of squirrel brains frying with eggs</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">hominy
grits and black coffee.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Your
house, all meager screen</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
cookpots catching the rain</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
you, hillbilly gristle</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">scarecrow,
a possum, a haint.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Your
wife a white ghost.
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Your
lies about angels with books</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">at
the foot of your bed.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Your
heart stopping on an operating table</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">light
that pulled you out of yourself</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
spat you back like a fish bone</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">a
plug of Red Man spit in a radiator.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">You
transplants, on that wild road</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">where
they scratched the addresses</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">on
the mailbox with pocket knives</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">gravel
line between two counties.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Your
old hound chasing turtles</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">howling
at the moon.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The
white scar over your heart</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">You
showed me, solemn.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">When
you died, I wept.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Your
sons filled the pond</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">with
rusting washing machines</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
scrap.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Mosquitoes
in the stagnant water,
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">the
grass grown tall</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">that
summer the birds had all the grapes</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/85/Williamhopehoax4.jpg/150px-Williamhopehoax4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="150" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/85/Williamhopehoax4.jpg/150px-Williamhopehoax4.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Tom
King</span></b></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Your
junkie girlfriend in tow,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">you
came to my place, asking for a future</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">for
a spread of cards that said something other than they said</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">other
than the slaves chained at the foot of the devil,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">other
than death's pale rose</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">We
played half-assed Slayer riffs
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">farther
into the night than we should have,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">the
double bass steady as a doomsday clock
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">shared
coke reeking of ether on a bar toilet tank</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
I told you, even then</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">in
the midst of my own dying</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">to
stop.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">You
could not stop.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">When
you were climbing,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">building
cell phone and radio towers</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">dangling
on safety lines above the birds,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">the
distant earth.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Did
not stop in Africa,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">shooting
still with dirty needles,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">the
company refusing to fly you home</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">the
poison spreading through your blood and your fever</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
home, they amputated your hands,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">leaving
you two tattooed drumsticks</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">to
hold, and fingerless, you could not tie off</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">could
not press the plunger, and stopped</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">until
you begged your friends, and they</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">tied
off your severed arms, shot you full</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">of
stopping, of white flowers,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">of
the end of the story.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/6153/6142057857_b702ba9a4f_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="638" height="320" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/6153/6142057857_b702ba9a4f_b.jpg" width="255" /></span></a></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The
World is a Burning House</span></b></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">You
will not die, though the ash of the burnt piano</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">grow
briars, though the pipes clot with dirt</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">the
well fill with toads
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">your
cement blocks rot like teeth.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Holes
in the bathroom walls</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">the
wet black mud beneath the floors</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">a
king of rats, indissolvable knot
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">I
drag you behind me.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Still
they post mail at your address.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">You
habitation of devils, you vulture's cage,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">sunken
city and carrion</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Your
grass still grows green as a graveyard.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Black
tar lung</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">you
are the soft spot at my core,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">you
worm in the wood
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">you
frost-blighted plum tree.
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">I am
a broken house, my siding falling off</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">my
sodden carpet and rotten couch</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">my
rats, my wasps.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">My
tongue is a hangman's knot</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
my father hangs at the end of it</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">the
clapper for my hollow bell</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">You
sink full of maggot.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">You
attic of fucking raccoons.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">My
guts rattle with your grease.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Your
stink comes through my skin,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">black
socks and zest soap</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">coke
ovens and anger.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">I am
burned and rotten</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">past
wrath and sorrow
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">I am
dead wood and foxfire</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">the
collapsing septic tank, this rusting shed</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
you, specter of all my specters:</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">You
sit alone at the funeral
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">You
buyer of caskets</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">You
borrowed polyester suit
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">What
black thing did you bargain with?</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">What
squats on your bloodline?</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">What
spider, what owl, what engine?
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">You
fixer of broken machinery,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">you
yellow-toothed smile.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">They
seat you at their table.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">They
pour you milk.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://static.messynessychic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/missfrench.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="513" height="320" src="https://static.messynessychic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/missfrench.png" width="205" /></span></a></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">George
R. Cookingham</span></b></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">You
first, to ride ahead on the lampless road</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">the
bikes, half-stolen, kicking mailboxes in the pistol-whipped dark</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">the
dodged bullets, climbing barbed wire fences</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">the
night we came across an open grave,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">the
casket sitting in the middle of the street,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">the
black tar of the road.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">You
stole a car, and wrapped it around a tree</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">walked
a half mile on a broken leg,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">your
punctured lung flecking your lips with blood</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">threw
gravel at my window.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Our
science fair project</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">to
take a picture of the soul,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
your father's death in the middle of it,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">the
voltage running through the copper plate,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">over
Ectochrome film
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">calling
devils in the dark of the wheatfields.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">That
moon grinning down,
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">your
dead father hanging over us</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">as
we smoked his funeral flowers</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">over
the bloody mirror,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">huffing
gasoline from cans.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Everclear
in a gallon jug
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">My
father's stolen .22 Ruger</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Every
broken window in the church</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">a
tooth to catch your absent god.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">His
relics in your backpack</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">as
you climbed from windows,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">escaped
asylums.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">When
your heart stopped,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">your
truck kept going</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">through
the intersection and into a telephone pole</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The
camper where I hid you rotted into the ground</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">my
house burned to the foundation</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">your
girl's head filled with ghosts.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/Katie_King2.jpg/250px-Katie_King2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="331" data-original-width="250" height="320" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/Katie_King2.jpg/250px-Katie_King2.jpg" width="241" /></span></a></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Gary
Lynn Coffey</span></b></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">There
is a house for men</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">when
they are shaking,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">when
they are thirsty,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">when
they have no other house.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">There
is a song for the loveless</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">for
the rusted truck and the shotgun</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">a
song for dry places</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">a
song for the scar.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">In
the long and godless Sunday</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">of
waiting to die,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">the
interminable afternoons</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">the
loneliness of an empty bottle:</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">a
jukebox hymnal and border-town heaven</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">honky
tonk on the edge of hell
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">this
chapel, these ministers of grace.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Come
into this cool dark place
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">steady
your hand with a drink.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Play
us a song.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.panicd.com/encimages/869-ghost.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="321" data-original-width="289" height="320" src="https://www.panicd.com/encimages/869-ghost.jpg" width="288" /></span></a></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Tim
Cantrell</span></b></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">He
was a horse thief and a drunk and my friend.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">I
found him sleeping in tall grass,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">outside
the bar, met him when he lived</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">in
the woods,
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">hiding
from the law.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">With
a needle wrapped in string,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">a
bottle of India ink, I scrawled</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">a
blurry cross on his arm, the alcohol bled out</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">In
prison, he read Blavatsky.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">In
prison, he read Blavatsky.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
did his time.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">He
carried in his head, a murdered father,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">a
tangle of useless language,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Blavatsky
with her roses,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">her
cigars, her Secret Doctrine</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
her Pyramids.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">We
used to play Pyramid,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">with
a pinochle deck,
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
endless blue cases of beer.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Played
Circle of Death,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">the
bicycle cards face-down on a stained carpet.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The
burned down houses,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">the
bartered cigarettes</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Blavatsky
and a blurry cross</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Sunken
pyramids</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">coke
and hotel rooms.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">When
you slept,
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">they'd
shoot you up again
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">to
wake you.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Now
your sons are fatherless,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">you
haunt their heads</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">the
table where you died</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">some
shrine, the pill-dust</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">in
the cracks of the wood.
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">You
died, your secret safe</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">the
head full of Blavatsky,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">dead
fathers gone into dark</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">a
blurry cross on your arm.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.thoughtography.net/assets/images/526px-fukuraibyhope-510x582.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="582" data-original-width="510" height="320" src="https://www.thoughtography.net/assets/images/526px-fukuraibyhope-510x582.jpg" width="280" /></span></a></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><b>The
City </b>
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">tumulus
and cenotaph,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">grows
meadow-bright in the char of housefires,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">the
rank and rotten fabric of a child's dress.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The
engines are rusting, silent room after room</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">the
last word rings, the phone, unanswered</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">petroleum
plastic fetish.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">A
mill willed to the devil and his fire.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The
books swell with rain, with silverfish</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">with
a swollen tongue of affluence we do not speak:</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">let
them burn.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Let
strange gods return to the stones,
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Let
the hollow galleries ring with vandals,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">flowers
grow from the midden.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">We
will drag our plows through the bones of the dead</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">We
will prepare a ruined house for our caller,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">the
dwarf with blazing eyes and rotten teeth</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">A
flowering tree in the skull of a car</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">a
circle drawn in the dust.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1221/2992/products/3199-12_1024x1024.jpg?v=1519260226" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="800" height="232" src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1221/2992/products/3199-12_1024x1024.jpg?v=1519260226" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Theda
Bara in chrome</span></b></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">In
the retro-futurism of the aluminum diner,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">chrome
and saltshakers, the Formica and mirrors</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">everything
gleams like</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">new
teeth, like rocket ships</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
Chevy bumpers</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
she walks in,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">a
cloud of sand, a palpable darkness</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">hovering
over bones</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><i>To
be good is to be forgotten. </i>
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">soundless,
on her black lips</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">her
eyes still burning, like they can peel back</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">the
plastic counter top, to unbeing</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">she
is the devourer of boys</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">she
lounges across the vinyl seat,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">all
languor and shadow,
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">black
wings and jewels.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">“Bride
of the sphinx,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">
weaned on serpents blood”...</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The
waitress comes,
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">all
messy blond and soft south</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">a
red red mouth,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
Theda rolls her eyes.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The
coffee is black and starless, a shew-stone.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">There's
a dead Cincinnati girl in a grave</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
Theda sits over her bones,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">crowned
in snakes, white gold and skin</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">an
exhalation of steam</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">witch
of burning celluloid,
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">the
magic lantern show.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Always
silent, a pantomime of desire</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">of
hunger, of Arab<i> death</i> and starless desert</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">of
the hunger of empty places</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The
well lit dining room,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">the
gleaming meringues spinning in a chrome case</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">the
weary wives over eggs, the husbands and babies</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
grease</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
Theda, dark spot against the light</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">in
the corner of your eye</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">other
lover, wife of the dark</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">always
hungry at the feast</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">always
childless,
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">the
envious one, with the owl's feet</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">haunter
of lonely places, robber of cradles,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">pale
Madonna, upside-down saint</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">torturer
of monks, lover of stagnant water.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The
dark is not a mask
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">you
take off at the end of the day</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">not
a face you pretend to wear,
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">an
outfit to hang in the closet</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">a
poster, a reel of film</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">It
swallows you in the end, hungry ghost</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">lost
in the idol raised in your name</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">they
hang thick in the air,
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">supplication
and sacrifice of</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">American
gods
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">nameless
and unforgotten.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/de/Arnold_B%C3%B6cklin_-_Die_Toteninsel_I_(Basel%2C_Kunstmuseum).jpg/1024px-Arnold_B%C3%B6cklin_-_Die_Toteninsel_I_(Basel%2C_Kunstmuseum).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="571" data-original-width="800" height="228" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/de/Arnold_B%C3%B6cklin_-_Die_Toteninsel_I_(Basel%2C_Kunstmuseum).jpg/1024px-Arnold_B%C3%B6cklin_-_Die_Toteninsel_I_(Basel%2C_Kunstmuseum).jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><b>After
Bocklin's </b><i><b>Die Toteninsel</b></i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Again
and again, you painted it,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">the
island, the boatman with the draped casket,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">the
trees growing towards black,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">the
doorway harsher, oblong.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">An
island like a broken tooth,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">dim
windows in the rock face,
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">a
glass sea, Avalon and Ys</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">How
they almost claw the sky,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">that
black and frozen fire</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">of
cypress, the hole in the world,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Where
you lost eight of your fourteen children</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">"a
dream image" you called it, but she knew</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">that
not-yet countess with the name of your child,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
asked you to paint in the casket,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">her
husband, dead of diphtheria</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">the
woman in white that will not face us.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">And
once they were there,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">you
went back to the first version</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
painted them in, and every one after</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">like
photographs of the same endless day.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">He
knew it too, that charnel house builder,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">that
gravedigger with the Chaplin moustache,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">knowing
something of the kingdom behind that door
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">He
bought it and hung it in the Berghof,
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">then
the Reich Chancellery in Berlin</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">where
it hung through the war.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">One
image lost in a bombing raid,
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">a
burning bank in the skeleton of a city,
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">a
sacrifice, holocaust, library of Aexandria</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">adornment
for Dis, for Xibalba</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Still
they row towards black,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">towards
the stone house</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">the
tiny coffin, the faceless psychopomp</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">the
rower, in the still and ceaseless day.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.history.com/.image/t_share/MTU3ODc4NjAzMjQ5NTU5MjYz/hith-saint-brendan-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="800" height="180" src="https://www.history.com/.image/t_share/MTU3ODc4NjAzMjQ5NTU5MjYz/hith-saint-brendan-2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">We
took to the sea in search of Paradise</span></b></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
the storm drove us on for fifteen days</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">till
we came to the island of silence</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">where
we followed a dog</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">to
an empty city,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">the
beds turned down, the lamps bright</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">the
larders stocked, but not a soul astir.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Long
shadows fell in the quiet houses</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">clocks
kept the hours till the world falls</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">we
would not be satisfied, and</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">cast
off again,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
came to an island of sheep</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">the
streams thick with trout</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
another thronged with wheeling birds</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
one lit on his shoulder and laughed</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">“seven
years you will wander,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
still not find what you seek”</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
ever west, we came to land</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">on a
great stone resting in the sea</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
going ashore, found nothing</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
lit a great signal fire,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
stood round in a ring</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
the ground trembled</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
we were sore afraid</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
returning to the boat,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">saw
the beast whose back we had stood upon</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">sink
beneath the waves,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">one
black eye like the moon below the water</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
rested, after,
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">on
an island of men whose tongues had died in their mouths</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
their silent abbot, only, his voice cracking from disuse</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">said
“eighty years”, and his voice was as a library of dust.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Leaving
them, we skirted those shores</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">where
the head of Judas rests</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">one
side frozen, the other burning</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">speaking
in a strange tongue</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
weeping stones,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
men with the heads of pigs</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">scream
among the flames</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">rivers
of golden fire pour from the black mount of hell</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
one of our company was swept overboard, and lost</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
worms devoured the outer skin of the boat</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
the sea was still and white as milk</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
still we chased the sun over the world's rim.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">A
beast rose up, horrible mouth</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">open,
the fish fleeing before him</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">till
swallowing his tail, he encircled the boat</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
closed round like a hangman's knot</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">till
the ribs of the currach creaked</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
he sank like a stone, and the storm came after</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
our captain sang, and the fish circled round to listen</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
calmed the sea.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">We
came to a column of ice, or glass</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">that
rose up from the sea farther than we could see</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">smooth
and windowless</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">surrounded
all around by golden nets</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">so
vast we sailed between their meshes,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
called out, but none answered</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
three days we sailed round that watchtower</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
into fog so thick we could not see.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">We
were met in that grey land by a youth</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">so
curious I could not describe him</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">who
took half of our company ashore</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">to a
land so green one could not believe it</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
for fifteen days we wandered in that blessed place</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">where
the sun never sets</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">till
we came to a river so wide we could not cross</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
the sound of far of singing, and a grey light</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">as a
city casts its own false dawn on the horizon</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">or
the glint of metal seen from afar.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Our
guide would speak no human tongue</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">but
would take us no farther</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
there was sound of thunder.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Returning
to our companions,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">we
were met with much alarm,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">for
they had waited in the harbor for a year and a day</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">living
only on such fish as they could lure with lines,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
rain was their wine</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">the
wind lifted, and we sailed back</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">the
way we had come, and now I am old</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
still I do not know what we saw there</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">here
we keep the hours</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
after Compline,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">we
enter the great silence.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/90/0f/95/900f95c1433ccda968a9ed9f56814d38--spirit-photography-ghost-pictures.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="314" data-original-width="236" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/90/0f/95/900f95c1433ccda968a9ed9f56814d38--spirit-photography-ghost-pictures.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><b>Little
Ghost,</b>
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">You
have kept your vigil</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">patient
in the dark</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">now,
the days go on.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Here,
it is Winter.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The
streets are full of snow.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">There
are small lights on all the houses.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">We
expect to be surprised.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">When
the bright noise of a house is made,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">When
the year ends,
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">and
goes down to where you are</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">We
will not hear you.
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">They
are listening for bells,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">as
you wait for trumpets</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">that
I cannot promise will come.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Your
mother misses you,
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">the
way one misses a tooth that will not grow back</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">the
way a burned down house still accepts mail.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Your
cousin saw a magic trick</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">from
the other side yesterday, and wept,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">for
the loss of that mystery,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">for
the thing that is taken
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">when
we know, with finality.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">We
do not know if we will see you again,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">but
we hope it is comfortable where you are,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">that
there is a kind of weather,
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">a
kind of postcard,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">from
that foreign country
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">from
which you cannot return.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Is
it crowded, or lonely there?</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">We
hope it is bright, and filled with music.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">We
hope, in the face of everything.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.slrlounge.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/2780177093_a3115ca72b_b1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://www.slrlounge.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/2780177093_a3115ca72b_b1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><b>Ode
</b>
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">O
trash heap of forgetting</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">you
reel of tape, dusty 78 record</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">with
your tinny warble and dead piano player:</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Mouthless,
mouse-nest library</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">of
well chewed books</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">nest
of garter snakes</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">O my
attic trunk</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">my
boarded dormer, stuffed</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">with
inherited mementos</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">moth-eaten
doll clothes of the dead</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">stale
communion wafers.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">You
yard-sale encyclopedia,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">You
junk-drawer of unsent letters.
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">How
you sit atop this housefire,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">this
tree of charred birds</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">in
constant alarm.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">This
bloom of red flowers and rust</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">of
old knives and bloodstained mattresses</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">molasses
and whiskey
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">sump
pump-basement of my body</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">this
timpani-opera of my terror</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">this
six-ambulance carcrash of panic.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Telegraph
wire ties you together,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">this
postal-system of nerves and knotted string.
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">these
dictionary teeth and sand-dune tongue</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">this
rusted clot of silence.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Sing
of her.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b7/Jakob_Jordaens_006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="720" height="237" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b7/Jakob_Jordaens_006.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Goat
(for Rachel)</span></b></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Amalthea
took the baby godling in her cave</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">And
gave suck to thunder.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The
metalsmith priests covered the cries with dancing.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The
carnival-king father ravened in his heaven</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">A
piñata filled with stones, a big bad wolf daddy</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Hungry
to swallow babies, a bloody sickle in his hand.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Her
broken horn is a drinking cup filled with flowers</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Her
hot blood dissolves diamonds.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Set
in a sea of stars, she took a mermaid’s tail</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">And
crowned herself.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Melancholy
Queen</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">she
gives milk to exiles,
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">she
is mercy in flesh.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">She
is the soft dark where the stars are set</span></div>
<br />Proprietorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175257967731627214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839503941037132439.post-40643719343888714632020-04-04T02:13:00.005-04:002020-04-04T02:15:37.942-04:00<span style="font-size: x-large;">Of Blood & The River </span><br />
<br />
Jacob Rakovan<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Acknowledgments<br />
Excerpts from this long-form poem have appeared in The Chicago Review<br />
and Drunk in a Midnight Choir<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHs5oWexpnZG-5nzJ6r-Jetmc-pdfj-zsepH1FOmDMnrGkk4Q5VtGD7NZEvMPCoc9y2kvrd_ZY954PFkTvAofcd549kQSY4T6WbCzMX7HU5kI8Bcye7XJwfESVKLUsnxMWTAltpab6WXY/s1600/483745_10152715227030556_1918181390_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="672" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHs5oWexpnZG-5nzJ6r-Jetmc-pdfj-zsepH1FOmDMnrGkk4Q5VtGD7NZEvMPCoc9y2kvrd_ZY954PFkTvAofcd549kQSY4T6WbCzMX7HU5kI8Bcye7XJwfESVKLUsnxMWTAltpab6WXY/s320/483745_10152715227030556_1918181390_n.jpg" width="224" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>“But when I had besought the tribes of the dead </i><br />
<i>with vows and prayers, </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>I took the sheep and cut their throats over the trench, </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>and the dark blood flowed forth, and lo, </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>the spirits of the dead that be departed </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>gathered them from out of Erebus.“ </i><br />
<br />
Odyssey Book XI<br />
<br />
Sing.<br />
<br />
Outside the girdled ring of firelight,<br />
the city's floodwalls,<br />
the shakily chalked circle and<br />
the thousand names of god.<br />
Call the dark up to speak.<br />
<br />
Hang the deer from the rusted swingset<br />
Let the throat open.<br />
Let blood be a song.<br />
Be a river.<br />
Let the black song splash against<br />
the galvanized washtub.<br />
<br />
Pour blood in the ditch<br />
and sing a litany of names.<br />
Put questions to the woods,<br />
to the mine<br />
to the ridges<br />
to the grave<br />
to the cold stars of our forgotten home.<br />
<br />
Let gun and stolen hoard speak.<br />
Let the door of the house hang open.<br />
Let the earth disgorge what it holds<br />
Let the catfish-barbed mouth of hell gape.<br />
<br />
Sing.<br />
<br />
Warnie Risener, hillbilly conman,<br />
entrusted with keeping of store and post office<br />
has engineered a plan<br />
with Harland Roark.<br />
They have stolen a safe filled with banknotes<br />
the mortgage payments<br />
the back taxes<br />
the book of credit accounts<br />
and the Sears & Roebuck checks.<br />
<br />
<br />
Warnie has run, been caught, gone to prison.<br />
The safe and money have not been recovered.<br />
Warnie has done his time in silence,<br />
grimly waiting within the walls for the jailhouse key.<br />
Warnie has kept his mouth shut,<br />
tight as a gunsafe lock<br />
knowing how to keep a secret<br />
and the metal doors swing wide.<br />
<br />
Harland Roark, an educated man, a schoolteacher<br />
with two daughters<br />
and a criminal inclination<br />
is thankful for this.<br />
<br />
Warnie's Colt Police Positive .38 Special<br />
has been used to put a bullet<br />
in the workings of another man<br />
to burst all his intricate plumbing<br />
and let his death come leaking out<br />
in a mine-dark stream<br />
the unsung steaming song<br />
that clots in the washtub<br />
that the ditch-clay drinks.<br />
<br />
Warnie has piled the safe<br />
and money in his wagon.<br />
He flees. It is winter<br />
the mud is frozen,<br />
the cows huddle in the cold<br />
the houses are closed<br />
and turned in on themselves<br />
dreaming of spring.<br />
Kentucky is frost and black wire<br />
dead grass and river-ice and blood.<br />
<br />
Warnie flees the pooled death of the man<br />
the brittle light of the broken store<br />
the certainty of more jail<br />
a hangman's hempen pearls<br />
and he goads the recalcitrant horse<br />
onto the frozen road of the Ohio river.<br />
<br />
(All rose soil<br />
and wormfood below.)<br />
<br />
Protest and lamentation of heavy white ice<br />
catfish slow beneath it in cold mud<br />
carved stones in muddy water<br />
<br />
<br />
compressed snow on top, creaks and cracks<br />
under the axles of the wagon.<br />
Black birds in the bare trees.<br />
The melancholy shore.<br />
<br />
The safe, heavy as guilt and God<br />
the hot gun in his hand<br />
fleeing what he had wrought<br />
branded with blood<br />
and bloody doings<br />
across a frozen river<br />
came my family<br />
into the land of my inheritance.<br />
<br />
Nolda Roark, Warnie's woman<br />
daughter of his accomplice<br />
dowry of silence<br />
with her bloody bride-price<br />
rides in the wagon<br />
a blanket pulled around her against the cold.<br />
<br />
These progenitors bring forth all my line<br />
carrying with them blood from Ireland, and Scotland<br />
from Africa and the hills they flee.<br />
Filled already with an unknowable past.<br />
Marked with money and with murder<br />
secret history of the hollers:<br />
coal tattoo of blood, Abel bleeding in the store-light<br />
midway between one riverbank and the next.<br />
<br />
(Like leaves they gather on the shore<br />
and wait for the boatman<br />
the dead in throngs, to speak<br />
with bloodstained mouths and hands<br />
weary seed of Adam<br />
gathered at the river.)<br />
<br />
Nolda in her decline is frail<br />
indecipherable, a gaunt white ghost<br />
that haunts my childhood, and beyond her<br />
through a glass, darkly, those dim angels<br />
those giant's bones holding up the sky<br />
Gog and Magog, progenitors and ghosts<br />
river of blood, and music.<br />
<br />
Like the hills themselves<br />
there is no answer,<br />
no locked garden gate<br />
<br />
<br />
no sword of fire<br />
no story of origin or emergence<br />
for the people who chase coal into the earth<br />
who sing songs of murder and the workhouse:<br />
even now sing.<br />
Though the mines and factories shutter<br />
though the water fills with poison<br />
though there in no there, there anymore.<br />
<br />
Between one shore and another<br />
death watching like black birds in the trees<br />
Arsenic and chromium, mercury and benzene<br />
the black eyes of river rats, cats in the unlight<br />
Poison water, poison air, and all things burning.<br />
<br />
When the Cherokee came to these hills<br />
and valleys where the Scioto lived<br />
the mounds sat ancient and ownerless<br />
throbbing with empty power<br />
a vacant church with kicked-in windows.<br />
<br />
They told a story of a people whose skin burned in the day<br />
who went forth to war by moonlight<br />
and lived in the earth, pale as milk<br />
and fearful of the sun.<br />
Blue bottle fly maggots in the rotten soil.<br />
We inheritors of the ancient earth<br />
riddled with strange bones and stranger ruins<br />
these nameless dead.<br />
<br />
In Magoffin county<br />
the blue Fugates bear a taint in their blood.<br />
Blue in the skin when cold<br />
the robin's egg I put my thumb through<br />
India ink and a jailhouse needle<br />
cornflower, chicory under a deer stand<br />
the swallowers of silver.<br />
<br />
Interbred until the other shines through<br />
the star's blue light a cold blush, a coal tattoo, colloidal.<br />
They are the children of the sky, and await<br />
the road that will open their holler<br />
their twining bloodline<br />
to the larger world.<br />
<br />
That the sons of God saw the daughters of men<br />
that they were fair;<br />
and they took them wives of all which they chose.<br />
And the Lord said,<br />
<br />
<br />
My spirit shall not always strive with man,<br />
for that he also is flesh:<br />
yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.<br />
<br />
There were giants in the earth in those days;<br />
and also after that, when the sons of God<br />
came in unto the daughters of men,<br />
and they bare children to them,<br />
the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.<br />
<br />
Even as Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the Lord<br />
and the beginning of his kingdom was Babel<br />
<br />
They will find skeletons of ancient men in the mounds<br />
of giants who built the hills<br />
whose bones are the hills<br />
whose skull is the dome of the sky.<br />
They will carve dead giants from soapstone<br />
charge a nickel a peek.<br />
These sideshow gods<br />
these midway wonders<br />
The wild men of the woods<br />
cyclops skulls with mammoth tusks<br />
mothmen and skunk apes<br />
all my kin.<br />
<br />
Men plow rocks with runes<br />
from Midwestern fields or scratch them themselves.<br />
Dry seasons bring from the river a stone<br />
carved with an expressionless face, forgotten names<br />
neither Kentucky nor Ohio can claim<br />
this lost kingdom, this broken tower.<br />
Every place, no place, our place.<br />
The history of every family is a history of the world.<br />
<br />
In Magoffin county, the Roarks<br />
are counted among the numbers<br />
of Melungeon, the “Portuguese” and “Spanish”<br />
bloodline mixed and uncertain<br />
claim Cherokee grandmothers<br />
forget freedmen and slaves<br />
recount olive skin<br />
remark upon Keloid scarring and curling hair.<br />
<br />
Black blood, slave blood<br />
exile-blood of outlaw and outcaste<br />
white trash, Scots-irish balladeers<br />
mine and mountains<br />
secrets the blood keeps.<br />
<br />
<br />
Nolda Roark Risener<br />
pale as a sheet on a line<br />
white as a frozen river<br />
white as river ice<br />
when she is carried to her grave<br />
her casket opened to the sky<br />
her stitched mouth to sing<br />
<br />
and the Old Regular Baptist Choir<br />
(that coven of the Cherokee Princess's grandchildren)<br />
without instrument sings<br />
in liver-spotted hymnody<br />
<br />
ten thousand years<br />
shall we gather by the river?<br />
<br />
That river<br />
wider than the Mississippi<br />
at Thebes<br />
At Cairo<br />
most-polluted river in the United States.<br />
<br />
Infected vein on the heart of the country.<br />
In the Seneca language ohi:yo', good river.<br />
Woe in the language of the angels.<br />
Claimed for France by LaSalle<br />
and his Italian cartographer.<br />
Conduit of the west,<br />
swollen with barges,<br />
swollen with black coal<br />
swollen with Selenium, Benzene, Arsenic<br />
swollen with Tetrachloroethylene,<br />
swollen with Chlorodibromomethane<br />
swollen with Hexachlorocyclopentadiene<br />
swollen with Nitrosodimethylamine<br />
swollen with 4-methylcyclohexane methanol<br />
swollen with death<br />
in all its polysyllabic and proprietary names.<br />
<br />
Weariest river that winds to the sea<br />
we have gathered on your banks<br />
to await the judgment.<br />
<br />
What do the dead sing?<br />
They sing:<br />
<br />
a litany of names.<br />
<br />
They sing:<br />
<br />
Down beside, where the waters flow<br />
<br />
<br />
Down on the banks of the Ohio.<br />
<br />
They sing:<br />
<br />
We are rubber teeth in a vending machine<br />
patched overalls, corncob pipe, felt hat<br />
toothless criminals, illiterate murderers<br />
incestuous cannibals, idiot children.<br />
Sniffers of glue. Huffers of gasoline.<br />
Moonbeam McSwine, Sadie Hawkins<br />
moonshine stills and banjo melody.<br />
<br />
We are wild men, our beards tangled with hawthorn<br />
our ragged furs hanging in Morris-dance tatters<br />
our antlered heads scraping the sky.<br />
Digging ginseng on another man's land.<br />
<br />
Deer Poachers. Horse Thieves.<br />
Union troublemakers and Scab-Shooters.<br />
Bootleggers and Meth-makers<br />
Dope Farmers and Pill-Sellers<br />
<br />
We are the gunshot on the next ridge,<br />
the smoke of a stranger's fire.<br />
We are that thing that squats in the dark<br />
outside the fire's ring,<br />
those who tear asunder,<br />
those who glisten horribly,<br />
the flesh inclothed<br />
the evil questioners<br />
the destroyers<br />
the devourers<br />
those born from the monstrous mother of the world.<br />
Drinkers of strychnine.<br />
Handlers of serpents.<br />
Cannibals and killers<br />
<br />
We are the dead, and the end of all things is in us.<br />
<br />
There is no end to beginnings.<br />
Nolda Roark crosses the frozen river, forever<br />
expressionless stone without a state<br />
young and not yet deaf<br />
she brings forth<br />
Norma, who will die of childbed fever<br />
begetting Joyce<br />
who begets Neva<br />
bringing all my line into the world<br />
that new shore she cannot see.<br />
<br />
<br />
How many deaths<br />
do we carry within us, even now?<br />
What mercy of blindness have we been given?<br />
What dim shape below the ice?<br />
What chemical cloud in the river?<br />
What slumbering lump of cancerous growth?<br />
What urge for the bottle, or the needle<br />
or the pills crushed on the dinnerplate?<br />
What secret name does our angel know?<br />
<br />
Warnie, with his gun and killer's hands<br />
heads towards a future he imagines is free<br />
imagines himself outside of jailhouse walls<br />
his neck free of the rope<br />
but He and Nolda are trapped in the moment<br />
fish in the ice of time<br />
dead and speaking<br />
their smiles frozen light<br />
silver on paper.<br />
<br />
Their voices wax cylinders<br />
scratched film waiting for a spark<br />
to send them creaking<br />
to motion again, these marionettes<br />
Pontius and Judas<br />
smiling and smiling<br />
cheery as wax fruit.<br />
<br />
In 1925, on Virginia Beach<br />
after ices, a walk on the boardwalk<br />
after Vernon Dalhart singing on a crackling Victrola.<br />
<br />
Warnie and Nolda see the sleeping prophet<br />
The dreamer of Atlantis and Egypt<br />
The Miracle Man, Edgar Cayce<br />
Reader of past lives, faith healer and mystic.<br />
<br />
He, oracular, somnabulant, in a stentorian voice<br />
tells Warnie that his heart is bad.<br />
That his blood is slow, is cold ( is black)(is bile)<br />
Warnie is a dead man<br />
made to walk upright and smile.<br />
A limberjack whittled from spare kindling wood<br />
dancing in time<br />
to a song he cannot hear.<br />
<br />
whether there be prophecies, they shall fail;<br />
whether there be tongues, they shall cease;<br />
whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.<br />
<br />
<br />
Warnie's bad heart will go whoring.<br />
Nolda will shine his shoes<br />
and block his hat<br />
before he goes, each night.<br />
He will not work, citing his bad heart<br />
his slow, cold blood.<br />
He will trust this sleeping doctor<br />
and never ask why.<br />
<br />
I'll be carried to the new jail tomorrow<br />
Leavin' my poor darlin' alone<br />
With the cold prison bars all around me<br />
And my head on a pillow of stone.<br />
<br />
Saturnine Warnie fathers Bee-Bee Roark<br />
on Nolda's sister Oggie<br />
Nolda delivers Bee Bee<br />
her husband and her sister's child<br />
without complaint<br />
and brings from her own body<br />
Norma.<br />
Norma, pig-pink<br />
squalling for milk<br />
an infant mouse<br />
a blind worm.<br />
<br />
Born in the house<br />
bought with takings from the post office job.<br />
The house that stands, today, open<br />
with broken windows<br />
and food on the table<br />
a ruined house of silverfish<br />
and wet-black decay<br />
crumbling paper and rot<br />
mice nesting in the chewed books<br />
the wallpaper mouldering from the walls in ragged strips.<br />
<br />
Not even the worst or most haunted<br />
of the houses that I dream in.<br />
<br />
This house.<br />
Resting place for the safe<br />
empty iron crypt of history<br />
dragged across the frozen river<br />
housing only paper now<br />
housing the gun<br />
the bloodguilt of a nameless man<br />
and his ghost<br />
<br />
<br />
birth certificates with floral blue borders.<br />
TheseLares et Penates<br />
these prayerless iron godsof my house<br />
indifferent to petition.<br />
<br />
Norma Risener grows<br />
at the foot of the hill<br />
in the house built with stolen money<br />
in Scioto Furnace.<br />
Before the city water comes,<br />
the houses all unplumbed<br />
in her fathers store<br />
Roark Risener Dry Goods and Grocery<br />
on Dogwood Ridge<br />
that knot of flowers<br />
till she is Sixteen<br />
and the road comes through the holler.<br />
<br />
In Appalachia, they say the dogwood<br />
was the tree used to crucify Christ<br />
cursed to never again grow large enough<br />
to build a cross, or a gibbet.<br />
.<br />
They say it flowers in Easter<br />
when Christ comes out of the earth.<br />
(That winter sun thawing the hollows,<br />
that groundhog, that black bear)<br />
That the robins are still splashed with blood<br />
from when they lifted the crown<br />
of thornwood, the knots of whose brush<br />
tangle on the ridges like razor-wire.<br />
<br />
Everything is holy.<br />
Every ridge is the place of sacrifice.<br />
Every hilltop the place of the skull.<br />
Everywhere is the center of the world.<br />
<br />
I have stood atop the hills<br />
and called to the frozen stars<br />
and they have answered<br />
in a still small voice.<br />
<br />
The road that comes<br />
is what will be state route 140<br />
a winding track through the hills<br />
a road I have seen witchlights hover over<br />
in thick fog<br />
like a red blood bell on the road<br />
an intelligible sphere<br />
<br />
<br />
a car for the black sun<br />
like Jack with his lantern<br />
unwelcome in heaven and hell.<br />
<br />
A ghost-thick path<br />
that creeps through wheel-less rusting cars<br />
past road side pigpens<br />
past dogwood and thornwood,<br />
past black birds and brambles<br />
and boarded-up gas stations<br />
toward Jackson<br />
north into the flat heart of Ohio.<br />
<br />
Woe, woe, woe,<br />
to the inhabitants of the earth<br />
<br />
Edward Walker (called Pete) from Wapokoneta<br />
a town which will birth<br />
the first man to set foot on the moon<br />
comes with the Civilian Conservation Corps,<br />
building the road,<br />
all slick brown hair and slicker talk.<br />
<br />
In the furnace it is summer<br />
and Norma is in her parent's store,<br />
selling DRY GOODS and COLD ICE CREAM<br />
as the sign says,<br />
selling COLD BEER and HOT COFFEE<br />
in her sixteenth summer.<br />
<br />
Edward is thirty, and thirsty with the dry years<br />
when first they meet.<br />
The girl from the Furnace<br />
and the moon-man from Wapokoneta.<br />
(Pale as a bluebottle worm)<br />
<br />
Death hangs over the ice cream and the dry goods<br />
the cold beer and hot coffee<br />
death is thick in the kisses of Edward Walker.<br />
Like thornwood and flowers.<br />
<br />
Evadna Jean Walker<br />
their first child<br />
lives eight brief days.<br />
<br />
Her kidneys failing,<br />
the uric acid and toxins<br />
burning holes through her body<br />
and ever after, among my family<br />
there is nervous checking of diapers<br />
<br />
<br />
after every birth<br />
the memory of the burned child<br />
eaten from within.<br />
<br />
Blame poison water, or bad blood's welling<br />
blame the cracked-snake helix of our ancestry<br />
blame the sulpher fog, the coal-ash water<br />
the sleeping dark of the mine<br />
blame lead pipes and paint<br />
Or the coal scrubbers,<br />
The absentee landlords,<br />
the buyers of mineral rights<br />
the devourers of the under and the black<br />
blame luck, or fortune, or the blindness of the angels<br />
blame the hobbled god<br />
the limping devil<br />
the cold, indifferent sun<br />
or liver-spotted hands of the saints<br />
<br />
In a photograph, Edward Walker and Norma<br />
stand in front of the grocery<br />
his face is crueler, older<br />
hardened already by drink and loss<br />
Norma is wrapped in fur<br />
her face frozen in the moment<br />
looking forward towards the doom that comes,<br />
sure as a filmed locomotive.<br />
Sure as winter.<br />
Sure as woe.<br />
<br />
At nineteen, in her bed,<br />
burning with fever<br />
Norma's mind dissolves to a single hot coal.<br />
The midwives and witch-women confer<br />
place a blade under her birthing bed.<br />
To cut the pain, to cut the flow of blood<br />
<br />
In blood.<br />
Above a knife's edge.<br />
Through the ruin of her mother's body<br />
comes Joyce Ann Walker.<br />
<br />
Take boneset for cold.<br />
Take Poke for rheumatism.<br />
Jimsonweed for Asthma (not too much.)<br />
Sassafras for cleaning blood.<br />
Wild Cherry for coughs.<br />
<br />
To cure a child of Asthma<br />
<br />
<br />
measure him with a stick of sourwood<br />
hide it in the chimney<br />
when he outgrows the stick, he outgrows the sickness<br />
<br />
To stop the flow of blood, a bloodstopper can<br />
recite Ezekiel 16:6 and pass hands over the wound<br />
<br />
but there are no stoppers of blood<br />
of that flood of history for Norma<br />
and death comes like fire in dry brush<br />
like a hole burnt in film,<br />
like the mine falling in,<br />
like the silver bridge falling<br />
like the burning of a meth-lab house<br />
like a cloudbloom of poison in the river<br />
like coal-ash in a creek<br />
comes the blood.<br />
<br />
To heal a burn, say:<br />
“There came an angel from the East<br />
bringing fire and frost.<br />
In frost, Out fire.<br />
In the name of the Father,<br />
Son and the Holy Ghost.”<br />
<br />
Edward Walker, drunk on Rittenhouse Rye and sorrow<br />
self pity mixed with whiskey and water<br />
blackly drunk on the nothing that he has<br />
this burn that cannot be healed,<br />
this fire,<br />
this frost<br />
that burns the world to cinders.<br />
<br />
Lies down on the train tracks<br />
the rain coming down like a cow<br />
pissing on a flat rock.<br />
A train coming.<br />
Sure as winter.<br />
Sure as woe.<br />
The Norfolk and Southern<br />
splits his head open like a melon.<br />
<br />
Warnie and Nolda leave the child in the hospital<br />
for the first, endless July of her life.<br />
She is fed, and changed, a screaming orphan<br />
She is nursed by cold ghosts<br />
in a loud, white sound.<br />
In 1934<br />
John Dillinger meets with three bullets<br />
his father says<br />
<br />
<br />
That's not my boy<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
That August, comes Lil Abner<br />
the outhouse-crescent-cutter<br />
come Dogpatch,<br />
come Daisy Mae Scraggs<br />
come Pansy Hunks<br />
come Lucifer Ornamental Yokum<br />
come Nightmare Alice<br />
come Moonbeam McSwine<br />
come Jubilation T. Cornpone<br />
all my kin.<br />
<br />
Nolda and Warnie hang a picture in The House<br />
(where the gun sleeps in its metal crypt)<br />
of Norma<br />
pretty in her casket<br />
among the lilies<br />
They hang one more picture beside it.<br />
High on nails<br />
Joyce, fat in Sunday clothes,<br />
perched awkwardly on her mother's grave.<br />
<br />
They take Joyce, adopt her for her inheritance<br />
her father's head<br />
a pinata full of money<br />
a bone-safe<br />
A conjer-ball<br />
buy Risener's Cafe, on Front street<br />
in Portsmouth, Ohio.<br />
<br />
(A bar for the riverfront<br />
for the poor who roll downhill<br />
till they come to the water's edge<br />
for the rats that come up from the river<br />
their eyes shining<br />
their coats glossy<br />
and sleek as beaver<br />
big as rabbits)<br />
<br />
Here is whiskey<br />
and the soft song of it.<br />
The shine of threadbare bar stools<br />
of afternoon light<br />
through hand-smeared windows.<br />
<br />
Here are men<br />
too rudely shaped for war<br />
and laughing women<br />
<br />
<br />
with powder-red cheeks<br />
and stockings with black seams.<br />
<br />
Here is beer, cold in a brown bottle<br />
and river-ice hoarded in straw<br />
and Texas swing on the wireless.<br />
<br />
A world built against the day outside<br />
the dead on the French hills<br />
in the mountains of Italy<br />
in northern Africa, and the Pacific<br />
over the hills and far away.<br />
<br />
Here is the lie of safety, and the brown bottles<br />
and the men fighting in the gravel at night<br />
and the women drunk, and the dead<br />
outside the window looking in<br />
the music, the left-behind<br />
the lame and the nearsighted<br />
dancing in a whirl of light.<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
Warnie calls Joyce “Pee Wee”,<br />
in mockery of her thick and ungainly body<br />
One hundred and fifty pounds in first grade<br />
takes her with him<br />
to whorehouses and honky tonks<br />
to brown bottles and river ice<br />
a drinking buddy, a son, a lover.<br />
<br />
Warnie teaches Pee wee<br />
How to hold and point the family gun, that devil's fiddle<br />
How to charm a whore, how to cheat at cards<br />
How to cuss and fight like a boy<br />
How to keep a secret.<br />
<br />
Norma still blocks his hat<br />
and shines his shoes<br />
when the bad heart<br />
and slow blood rises in him.<br />
<br />
Now that bad heart has a companion<br />
and instead of her sister<br />
it is her grandchild<br />
born in her daughter's death<br />
that takes her husband away in the night.<br />
Off to the whores of the hotel Hurth<br />
to whiskey and black water.<br />
<br />
Does her dead girl keep her company<br />
<br />
<br />
in her long and lonely vigils?<br />
Does she burn, still, on the knife edge<br />
between one world and another?<br />
<br />
In another home, a birth remains nameless for three years<br />
another hungry mouth in an overburdened house<br />
in a crush of brothers and sisters<br />
child of Beatrice and Howard Russell<br />
Brother of Garland<br />
of Buford<br />
of Winford<br />
of Jim<br />
of Joe<br />
and of Falkie Deem (called Deemie).<br />
<br />
He calls himself “Mirror”<br />
the only word he has for self<br />
and this will, in time<br />
through the alchemy of speech<br />
and the familial shape of names<br />
become Milford.<br />
<br />
Pee Wee paints houses<br />
buys herself a second-hand 1949 Triumph Thunderbird<br />
She fights with men<br />
drinks whiskey<br />
rides her motorcycle into the lake<br />
while standing on her head.<br />
<br />
She is barroom bravado and swagger:<br />
She wears a studded leather belt<br />
that spells out “Joyce”<br />
handsome, if never pretty.<br />
<br />
She sells ice cream and dry goods<br />
cold beer and hot coffee,<br />
frys hamburgers in a corner of<br />
Roark & Risener Dry Goods and grocery.<br />
<br />
Milford is too poor for Brylcreem<br />
melts Morrell brand Snow Cap Lard on the stove,<br />
to style himself a perfect duck's ass haircut.<br />
On cold days the fat recongeals<br />
white and opaque as candle wax.<br />
<br />
Pee-Wee tells Clorene, her best friend<br />
that this is the man she will marry.<br />
Milford is pretty and useless<br />
but he struts, a bantam cock<br />
<br />
<br />
into the smell of sizzling meat<br />
ICE CREAM and COFFEE.<br />
<br />
Joyce wants him<br />
the way poor girls want tinsel<br />
want something shiny, cheap<br />
a carnival mirror<br />
shoplifted drug store lipstick.<br />
The way a catfish follows the oil<br />
through the lightless river<br />
the smell of congealed blood-bait<br />
of breadballs and WD40.<br />
<br />
Moonbeam Mcswine & Sadie Hawkins<br />
<br />
Warnie's bad heart offers Pee-Wee a car<br />
if she will not marry Milford<br />
If she will remain his only<br />
bride of the slow blood<br />
but she is adamant<br />
and they elope<br />
with only the Triumph.<br />
Milford rides on the back<br />
an ornament, a mirror for Joyce<br />
his larded hair glistening in the heat.<br />
<br />
Bloodbait<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
They have only daughters.<br />
Each dutifully checked<br />
for the poison that eats from within.<br />
Each with it's own bad heart growing in her center<br />
like a thornwood tree<br />
like a coiled copperhead<br />
each a lure for something hungry in the dark.<br />
<br />
I was so hungry my belly thought my throat was cut<br />
<br />
Pee Wee takes pills to keep her weight down<br />
Amphetamine and Dextro-amphetamine,<br />
called Biphetamine<br />
called Black Beauty<br />
called Black Bombers<br />
called Black Birds<br />
though her pregnancies.<br />
The black capsules, those magic beans<br />
transform in amphetamine psychosis<br />
to clowders of invisible cats<br />
and Joyce, in fitful night terrors<br />
<br />
<br />
calls out, over and over again<br />
<br />
Put the cat out. Put the cat out.<br />
<br />
When there is not, has never been a cat.<br />
<br />
A story told in Kentucky tells how Jack<br />
who had never been afraid<br />
(that killer of giants, that climber of beanstalks<br />
that headstand-trick rider, that handsome boy)<br />
left in search of work, and came to a town<br />
with a haunted mill.<br />
If a man could stay three nights<br />
and live, the curse would be lifted<br />
the miller and his wife would fill a flour-sack<br />
with gold.<br />
<br />
On the first night, the dead boys came<br />
and bowled with skulls<br />
and Jack whittled them down<br />
so they would roll<br />
gambled and drank whiskey with the dead boys.<br />
Blue as a coal tattoo, cold as river-ice<br />
<br />
On the second night, the drowned girls came up from the pond<br />
trailing minnows and rotting catfish, with weeds in their hair<br />
and bluebottle flies and Jack fiddled all night,<br />
and the dead girls danced, white as dogwood flowers<br />
till the sun rose.<br />
<br />
On the third, while Jack cooked his dinner<br />
came the cats, all long and rangy,<br />
black as a tar road.<br />
<br />
put the cat out<br />
<br />
Gathered round, hissing, said sop doll<br />
tried to dip their paws in his soup-beans<br />
till Jack took his buck knife<br />
and cut off one of the cat's paws<br />
and threw it in the corner.<br />
<br />
In the morning, the miller come round<br />
and said his wife was feeling poorly<br />
and Jack pulled the blanket off her<br />
and her hand was gone, the bed soaked in gore.<br />
<br />
These bloody beds. Where stories start and stop.<br />
<br />
<br />
Pee-Wee's cats climb on the ridge of the roof<br />
on the headboard. They are eyes in the dark<br />
come to steal the babies' breath.<br />
They are the pills, endless succession,<br />
gleaming black, preventing sleep<br />
the lead-gas addled rumble of the Triumph<br />
scream of the Thunderbird<br />
dream-trance voice of the Sleeping Prophet.<br />
<br />
When the first girl comes<br />
she comes in blood<br />
above a knife's edge<br />
(to cut the pain)<br />
the blood soaks through<br />
the mattress, and falls on the blade<br />
the bed as bloody as the miller's wife<br />
as her mother's ruin.<br />
<br />
The girl is named Norma Jean, after her<br />
still wrapped in lilies on the wall<br />
black and white as a tree in winter.<br />
Unknowable mother<br />
her dead eyes under glass.<br />
<br />
That giant, that god<br />
that soapstone wonder<br />
that stone face in a river.<br />
<br />
Then comes Neva Dean, my mother<br />
the four still ride only the Triumph<br />
the groceries hanging in the saddlebags<br />
the babies between them,<br />
sticky with sweets<br />
the bike heavy and slow<br />
on the road her father built<br />
through the thornwood,<br />
the cross-trees thick with ghosts.<br />
<br />
Joyce will say of Milford<br />
<br />
I had to teach him how to spell his name<br />
but at least he was a handsome man<br />
<br />
He will work in the store<br />
propping bare feet up on the counter<br />
trimming his nails with the bologna knife<br />
<br />
Snuffy Smith and Lil' Abner<br />
Dogpatch and Graceland<br />
<br />
<br />
He fathers two more children on Joyce<br />
Nina Lene and Naomi Lynne.<br />
<br />
Those black cats<br />
clustered around the birthing bed.<br />
Their bodies black and starless<br />
Their eyes wide as dinner-plates<br />
The bad hearts spinning in their chests<br />
like dynamos in the dam.<br />
<br />
Milford feeds milk to his blue-tick hounds<br />
(bought on credit in the grocery)<br />
and lets his children go hungry.<br />
When Joyce runs off with another man for a week<br />
bowling with skulls, dancing with drowned girls<br />
he does not feed his daughters for five days.<br />
<br />
Naomi hugs a litter of hound pups to death<br />
so lonesome for something soft.<br />
<br />
The house is untended and shuttered.<br />
Warnie keeps cows in the barn<br />
and the ghosts of the dead man, of Norma<br />
come from the safe<br />
the bed<br />
press their dogwood-blossom faces<br />
against the windows.<br />
Maggot white.<br />
<br />
Neva is left at the house at the morning milking<br />
and picked up at evening milking<br />
she goes to school in the furnace,<br />
<br />
Hananiah, Misha'el, Azaria<br />
<br />
(Her hands beaten bloody with a yardstick,<br />
a stick of sourwood she never outgrows)<br />
though she lives above the bar,<br />
in town.<br />
<br />
Each day she sits, her back to the window<br />
so as not to see the dead man's face<br />
she stands with the cows for warmth<br />
in the steaming barn<br />
and her grandmother's ghost stands with her.<br />
The grave is cold.<br />
<br />
Joyce and Milford leave the girls<br />
in the care of Milford's sister Eveline, thirteen.<br />
<br />
<br />
Norma cuts herself digging in the creek<br />
and runs to the neighbor<br />
with blood pooled in her hands.<br />
Neva severs Nina's finger with a shovel<br />
digging holes.<br />
<br />
They feed the furnace till it glows<br />
red as a poker, and are stayed<br />
from throwing water on it<br />
and blowing the house apart<br />
by Milford's brother Joe<br />
who has dreamed of them, alone.<br />
<br />
Whether there be prophecies, they shall fail<br />
<br />
Joe comes in time to grab Eveline's arm<br />
Joe waits with the girls<br />
until Milford returns<br />
and beats him through the house,<br />
breaking tables.<br />
<br />
for he has rescued us from Hades<br />
and saved us from the hand of death,<br />
and delivered us<br />
from the midst of the burning fiery furnace;<br />
from the midst of the fire<br />
he has delivered us.<br />
<br />
Joyce tires of Milford's empty handsomeness<br />
carnival mirror image of a man,<br />
dusty tinsel and greasy cherry lipstick.<br />
She leaves<br />
and abandons the girls with Nolda<br />
already ancient<br />
they call her Granny<br />
the witch in the woods in the candy house<br />
Nightmare Alice and Scary Lou<br />
the not-mother, not mother to their own.<br />
<br />
She teaches them:<br />
<br />
I don't hate you, honey<br />
I just hate your ways<br />
<br />
teaches them:<br />
<br />
if you want to be purty<br />
wash yore face with a baby diaper<br />
<br />
(ammonia in linen)<br />
teaches them:<br />
<br />
Shall we gather by the river?<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
Joyce claims Warnie's gun<br />
waking it from the iron box,<br />
and dreams of murder<br />
and shoots her first man, Duffy Rollins<br />
outside the 440 Bar on Market and Second<br />
Duffy survives.<br />
<br />
A carnival trick-rider<br />
with a bullet in his teeth.<br />
<br />
The girls cluster together, motherless<br />
a whispering conclave of cats.<br />
They crawl through the hole in the wall<br />
into the bar after closing<br />
steal popsicles and treats,<br />
and eat until they are sick.<br />
Gather shoes into bed at night<br />
to throw at the rats.<br />
Grow wild and untended.<br />
Sleep four in a bed, crosswise.<br />
Catch chiggers in tall grass<br />
and are slathered in salt and Crisco.<br />
<br />
Like she was going to fry us.<br />
<br />
Neva says.<br />
<br />
One night, Joyce appears at the window<br />
with Duffy Rollins<br />
the sideshow wonder<br />
the man was pierced and did not die<br />
and the girls gather in their nightgowns.<br />
<br />
She is at the helm of a truck<br />
filled with a hoard<br />
stolen from a school.<br />
She throws them a globe,<br />
a gift of the world,<br />
and vanishes into the dark.<br />
<br />
Warnie's bad heart rises<br />
a cancer of the groin<br />
a whore's blossoms<br />
a killer's killer.<br />
<br />
A catfish big as a Volkswagen<br />
breaks through the frozen river<br />
of the slow, cold blood<br />
and swallows him down to hell.<br />
Bloodbait and oil<br />
<br />
<br />
The door in the fishes mouth.<br />
The fountain of cats.<br />
Barbed mouth of the dark hollow.<br />
black water<br />
<br />
Joyce is arrested for whoring at the Hotel Hurth.<br />
Nolda hides the morning paper from the girls.<br />
The neighbors shove the paper through the mail slot<br />
letters that need no addresses.<br />
<br />
There is Joyce, famous and unknowable<br />
A newspaper cipher, a bubblegum riddle.<br />
A dream in the night with the world in her hand.<br />
Filled with criminal glamour and bad ideas.<br />
<br />
Milford remarries, a woman with daughters<br />
brags to his brother Joe about hishouseful of whores<br />
and how he is availing himself of them.<br />
<br />
Joe beats him senseless, again.<br />
A cure that will not take.<br />
There is no stopping the flow of bad blood,<br />
no exorcism by ass-whipping.<br />
And Joe is off to Vietnam.<br />
<br />
I meet Milford once, we go gathering hay bales<br />
in a battered blue Chevy pick-up.<br />
He offers me a Hamm's beer from a six-pack ring.<br />
He offers me a plug of Red Man chewing tobacco from his pouch<br />
At the age of six, my arms trembling<br />
I strain to lift the hay bale into the truck,<br />
see the dry and dead fields from a rainless summer.<br />
Listen to Hank Williams on the radio.<br />
<br />
<i>In the great book of John </i><br />
<i>We're warned of the day </i><br />
<i>when we'll be laid </i><br />
<i>beneath the cold clay. </i><br />
<br />
We fish once and only once,<br />
for bluegills in a shallow creek.<br />
The minnows hooked through their eyes for bait<br />
lure no channel-cats or hellmouth.<br />
He shows me a raccoon in a cage,<br />
savage and miserable<br />
more prisoner than pet.<br />
<br />
When he is dying,<br />
I go with his daughters<br />
<br />
<br />
to gather his cattle for slaughter,<br />
to pay his hospital bills.<br />
The sisters stand, frightened in the mud<br />
and in the end, I drive the cows up the plank alone.<br />
His new children do not thank me<br />
<br />
At his funeral,<br />
his flawless steel grey duck's ass haircut<br />
a sharp black suit, and lilies.<br />
Photographic flash in the viewing room.<br />
Lights him like a crooner,<br />
like a criminal, famous<br />
The Hillbilly Cat.<br />
<br />
Dead houses on his land<br />
fill with dent corn and rats,<br />
with broken windows.<br />
His cows hang from hooks,<br />
their black blood draining.<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Weep no more, my lady </i><br />
<i>Oh, weep no more, today </i><br />
<br />
He leaves me this:<br />
<br />
For 'shine, take sweet hog feed and white loaf sugar<br />
and Red Star bread yeast, let it brew. Don't drink the low wine<br />
or the doubles, and throw away the heads and tails.<br />
A cinnamon stick and some apple juice<br />
will make it so's a lady can drink it.<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
Even this a lie, words I place in his mouth.<br />
A scrawl of ink from some distant relative<br />
the family recipes<br />
Beans and cornbread<br />
with a ham hock<br />
sausage gravy<br />
red-eye gravy<br />
drop biscuits<br />
7-up cake<br />
Pineapple upside-down cake<br />
Jelly from Possum grapes,<br />
Dandelion wine<br />
and sugar-washed shine.<br />
<br />
All learned second or third-hand<br />
as an alien, an outsider, an onlooker.<br />
Too late to Christmas,<br />
we eat cold leftovers<br />
from the foil pans.<br />
<br />
<br />
I have learned my hymns and union-songs<br />
from the borrowed hiss of vinyl<br />
My banjo-roll from a yard-sale book.<br />
<br />
Hank Williams and The Louvin Brothers<br />
Loretta Lynn and Woody Guthrie<br />
Webb Pierce and Jimmie Rodgers the yodeling brakeman<br />
Jean Ritchie and Maybelle Carter and The Hillbilly Cat<br />
Merle Travis and Hazel Dickens<br />
Florence Reese, forever asking<br />
<br />
Which side are you on?<br />
<br />
all my kin.<br />
<br />
Joyce marries Arthur “Bud” Kitchen<br />
who she plucks<br />
from a bar on Second Street.<br />
A man with more courage than sense.<br />
He takes a mistress named Anna May<br />
and JoyceBusts all the winderlights out of the house.<br />
<br />
Bink, (husband of Falkie Deem) is bartending<br />
and Anna May sits at the bar.<br />
Joyce comes in, a black hat<br />
a fighting man at high noon<br />
saysI'm a goin to go home and fetch my gun<br />
<br />
returns with the fiddle in hand<br />
and plays a tune for dancing<br />
shooting the woman through the vagina, and bar stool.<br />
The bloodstain remains on the ceiling<br />
my family's mark in Portsmouth, Ohio.<br />
<br />
Anna May is rushed to a hospital<br />
and loses so much blood, they suction it<br />
from the operating table, and shoot it back in<br />
like the Miller's wife<br />
like Norma, before the lilies<br />
She bleeds and bleeds.<br />
<br />
<i>And when I passed by thee, </i><br />
<i>and saw thee wallowing in thy blood, </i><br />
<i>I said unto thee: In thy blood, live; yea, </i><br />
<i>I said unto thee: In thy blood, live; </i><br />
<br />
The doctor has to change in the yard<br />
when he comes home<br />
looking like a slaughterhouse<br />
like an abattoir<br />
<br />
<br />
in butcher's red and white.<br />
Anna May lives, to piss herself<br />
for the rest of her life.<br />
<br />
Joyce goes to Marysville<br />
to the Ohio Reformatory for Women<br />
Because she aimed for the offending part<br />
and not for the heart or head of Anna May.<br />
She spends a brief soujourn there<br />
learns to knit<br />
learns to measure her time in cigarettes<br />
learns to try to love Jesus.<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
When she comes from prison<br />
she towers in her heels and yellow pants.<br />
A Kool dangling from the painted wound of her mouth.<br />
The neighbors say “A Giant is here for you”.<br />
They are always Giants,<br />
who build the roads, the hills<br />
Who rend the world apart<br />
whose borrowed bones<br />
shield us from the stars' destroying light<br />
from whom Jack steals<br />
the golden eggs of the sun, and fire.<br />
<br />
Joyce the Giant, who vanishes, is shot<br />
on December 15, 1967<br />
the day the Silver Bridge collapses.<br />
46 people fall to their deaths in the black water.<br />
A man with membranous wings is seen in the wood<br />
and the world comes apart<br />
but the giant does not die.<br />
<br />
Pee Wee, the Giant, the devourer, the undying<br />
everything but mother<br />
(her heart a hospital, a loud white sound<br />
the roar of a gun, a ruined house)<br />
takes the girls<br />
takes the safe<br />
takes Warnie's gun<br />
that killed a man in Kentucky<br />
that shot Duffy Rollins<br />
That shot Anna May<br />
Take's Warnie's ghosts in her mouth<br />
to Hobart Eugene Mcginnis<br />
called Red.<br />
<br />
Red as a house-fire, as a coal grate<br />
as a playing-card devil.<br />
<br />
<br />
Hot as a two-peckered billygoat.<br />
<br />
Hot as a fresh-fucked fox in a forest fire.<br />
<br />
She will die married to this man,<br />
an illiterate, a dealer in second-hand cars.<br />
A trucker, with a short temper and a heavy hand.<br />
I will first taste whiskey in his house, at six.<br />
From a plastic dispenser marked<br />
<br />
<i>break glass in case of emergency </i><br />
<br />
Red, in his folly, will take a mistress.<br />
Pee-Wee hears them on the phone,<br />
her bad heart rising<br />
Is Joyce-Ann still your little poodle dog? asks the woman<br />
and Red laughs, and assents.<br />
<br />
<i>break glass in case of emergency </i><br />
<br />
The fiddle comes out, and plays its only tune.<br />
Red is shot in the mouth.<br />
He flops on the linoleum,<br />
Joyce Anne lights a Kool 100<br />
and sits at the kitchen table<br />
flipping ashes in a tiny cast-iron pan.<br />
Red pounds himself against the floor<br />
a catfish in the bottom of an aluminum boat<br />
hooked through the lip<br />
the dial-tone coming through the phone.<br />
<br />
Joyce calls her daughter Naomi,<br />
says "Come over, I've kilt Red "<br />
but when Naomi comes<br />
Red is floundering on the ground<br />
and once the blood is cleaned from the floor<br />
and the gun hidden well away in the safe<br />
It is eventually clear that he will not die.<br />
An ambulance is called.<br />
<br />
He can write nothing but his name.<br />
Cannot speak, his mouth swaddled in bandages.<br />
he was a-cleaning his gun says Joyce<br />
says Pee Wee,<br />
says Warnie's ghost in Pee-Wee's mouth<br />
say the black cats in harmony<br />
say the dead boys blue and cold<br />
and Red is stitched together, a quilt.<br />
<br />
<br />
The doctors will say<br />
That Red was doomed to die,<br />
a clot in his brain had given him violent headaches<br />
made him short tempered, volatile.<br />
Say he was cured by the bullet.<br />
That bled out the devil, the clot, the bad humour<br />
the black birds that roosted in his head.<br />
<br />
Red's heart monitors go wild<br />
every time Joyce comes into the room,<br />
his mouth bandaged shut<br />
his letterless hands mute<br />
The doctors think him excited.<br />
Glad to see his loving wife.<br />
<br />
He returns home, and Joyce and Red fill<br />
their childless house with dolls.<br />
Apple-heads and Mammies<br />
Porcelain and velvet<br />
and rag doll daughters<br />
who never cry.<br />
<br />
Go to a double-wide church<br />
with a paint on velvet Jesus<br />
with plaster praying hands.<br />
<br />
Naomi takes the gun<br />
and fires it at her husband, wildly<br />
when he is caught with another woman<br />
breaks her arm in the struggle.<br />
she takes the safe, and The House<br />
grows weed in the roofless smokehouse.<br />
<br />
Their daughter is run over by a car<br />
and stitched together, a quilt<br />
her bones all broken<br />
held together by a shining cage<br />
and she the frantic raccoon within.<br />
In her adulthood she will favor speedballs<br />
will make crystal meth in her garage<br />
will arrive at the funeral of my sister's child, babbling nonsense<br />
her husband nodding out in the bathroom<br />
the whiskey priest kicks the door in.<br />
<br />
She calls me, when her child is pregnant<br />
to ask how to procure an abortifacient<br />
to slip in the child's drink unaware.<br />
I do not help<br />
do not say Pennyroyal.<br />
<br />
<br />
Yarrow, Saffron, Rue, Tansy<br />
<br />
I spit them out, slow<br />
all the bird-bones of your secrets<br />
that time has made smooth as stone<br />
minnows hooked through the eyes.<br />
<br />
Joyce and Red run McGinnis Trucking<br />
a fleet of Mack Trucks, a used car lot<br />
keep a billy goat tied to a tree stump<br />
porcelain turtles with pink human genitals<br />
keep books with leather covers<br />
INCREASE YOUR PSYCHIC POWER!<br />
UNIVERSAL MAGNETISM<br />
THE SLEEPING PROPHET<br />
in a dusty attic<br />
and grow old.<br />
<br />
Neva Dean Russell has grown,<br />
from the wild and feral child greased for her chiggers<br />
from the girl with the ghosts at her back<br />
from the child with her knuckles beaten bloody<br />
because she could not let the others answer<br />
to a homely valedictorian and has gone off to college.<br />
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<br />
<br />
In Athens Ohio, a town nestled in the hills.<br />
Atop the bones of the Adena and the Hopewell<br />
the giants, the builders of mounds,<br />
the carvers of obsidian hands<br />
home to Ohio University<br />
the Athens Lunatic Asylum<br />
demon-haunted Simm's Cemetery and it's hangman tree.<br />
The brakeman ghost of Moonville tunnel.<br />
<br />
She meets my father, a man so ugly<br />
that he must bring a pizza when he comes to see her<br />
so no one will know she is sleeping with him.<br />
<br />
They have a shotgun wedding<br />
beneath the implacable stare of plaster saints.<br />
The troll in Bakelite glasses, the homely bride<br />
pose smiling in a green field<br />
in front of a willow, far from the river<br />
the sisters all bridesmaids<br />
Red and Joyce not in attendance<br />
Bill and Naomi, high, in checked polyester.<br />
<br />
Down in the willow garden<br />
where me and my lover did meet<br />
<br />
<br />
She does not know when he was a boy he wired his radio<br />
to pick up 1170 AM WWVA, Wheeling West Virginia<br />
those thin hillbilly voices crackling<br />
a promise of some other life<br />
something not built of Polka and Slovak<br />
muttered under the breath.<br />
<br />
She does not know the willow tree<br />
is a transplant from the south<br />
carefully sprouted in a Coke bottle<br />
and grown along with the boy<br />
a sourwood stick in a northern chimney.<br />
<br />
She does not know he wants to inhabit<br />
the snakeskin she hopes to leave<br />
dry and empty<br />
hanging in the dogwood trees,<br />
they haunt each other<br />
each a mask the other hopes to wear.<br />
<br />
And in Portsmouth Ohio<br />
(that dying city atop the mounds<br />
that graveyard of shoe factories and steel mills<br />
that cursed and holy place) in 1975<br />
I enter the story.<br />
<br />
Neva and Allen leave school with no degrees<br />
and Al takes a job in the Jones and Laughlin Steel Mill<br />
in Indiana. He builds bridges and cranes,<br />
then works in the coke plant<br />
keeps ancient machinery running.<br />
He is coated always in red dust and grease,<br />
in rust, and oil, and coke<br />
wears heavy steel boots,<br />
his clothes covered in pinhole burns.<br />
<br />
We go to live in a rented farmhouse,<br />
on a pig and cattle farm<br />
my first memories are here.<br />
<br />
The cattle towering over me<br />
grazing amidst cars on blocks<br />
dead tractors and a useless crane<br />
the cars rotting on their axles<br />
pink mice in the upholstery and<br />
glove compartments<br />
the engines parted out.<br />
The mirrors glinting in the tall grass.<br />
<br />
<br />
The smell of sun-cracked vinyl.<br />
<br />
Brown-eyed susans coarse and nodding<br />
chicory between the corn<br />
poison ivy coiling through collapsing outbuildings.<br />
The smell of pigshit.<br />
The squealing pink pigs<br />
getting loose from the pen<br />
looking through the windows in winter.<br />
A swarm of black ants with their babies<br />
in their teeth.<br />
<br />
And Sara Ann, called Jane is born<br />
From ruin to ruin we move.<br />
<br />
We buy a house<br />
on Rural Route Three, box 1368<br />
with tarpaper patched roof and settling floor,<br />
with a black rotary phone wired into the wall<br />
a dirt floored extension<br />
we fill with engines<br />
and truck tires,<br />
with chickens and mouldering paper.<br />
<br />
My father ties the chickens to the fence<br />
when he cuts off their heads<br />
We pluck the feathers in bright handfulls,<br />
soft down from the belly,<br />
stiff quills from the wings<br />
Pull the tendon in the severed feet<br />
till they close, terrorize the neighbor kids<br />
<br />
raise a terrible, one-legged goose,<br />
a dog that bites<br />
<br />
fill the yard with cars,<br />
two convertibles with rotting ragtops<br />
two International Travel-Alls<br />
two International Scouts,<br />
one a mail truck with wrong-handed steering<br />
a primer-red 1938 International harvester truck<br />
with a winch and snowplow<br />
A 4-door Chrysler sedan, 3 motorcycles,<br />
and half a Volkswagen<br />
and the zoning man comes around,<br />
gingerly stepping through the tall grass<br />
in his penny-loafers.<br />
<br />
And Elizabeth Mary comes, and after her Rachel Danielle,<br />
<br />
<br />
by another man but bearing our name.<br />
<br />
And this seems far from the hills,<br />
though our neighbors are from West Virginia<br />
hunt squirrels on our acre in the summertime,<br />
though their house is more shack than ours<br />
and it is here I hear the word Hillbilly for the first time.<br />
<br />
Always in reference to the former owners, the Heighleys<br />
who roofed with carpet tacks<br />
and put carpet tacks in the rug.<br />
Who let the beams rot<br />
and the floor sag<br />
whose fault it was the ceilings burst<br />
and the insulation hung in tatters<br />
that the raccoons fucked in the attics<br />
that the mice ran<br />
along the tops of the cabinets.<br />
Those mythical architects of our squalor<br />
the hillbillies<br />
who lived there before us.<br />
<br />
Because we are not hillbillies.<br />
Though the yard fills<br />
with rusting cars,<br />
with wringer-washers filled with gasoline<br />
and air conditioners<br />
with hives of yellow jacket wasps<br />
garter-snakes and toads in the tall grass.<br />
<br />
My youngest sister Rachel<br />
drinks Coca-cola as an infant,<br />
knocks over the bottles<br />
to suck the sweetness from the filthy carpet<br />
her teeth rot black before she is four<br />
and are capped in gleaming silver.<br />
<br />
Q. What separates a hillbilly from an asshole?<br />
A. The Ohio River.<br />
Though the house fills with mice, with televisions<br />
with radios and disassembled engines<br />
with boxes of tubes, an oscilloscope.<br />
The raccoons grow tame enough to feed by hand.<br />
Though my dog, off his rope, eats the baby ducks.<br />
Though the rabbits freeze in the winter.<br />
The chickens stand outside the warped door<br />
then bleed out lashed to the rusted iron fence.<br />
Though the carpet grows bare and bald<br />
<br />
<br />
and the wood shines through.<br />
Though the apples and pears<br />
rot on the ground<br />
and the wasps crawl over them.<br />
Though the record player warbles with Loretta Lynn<br />
and Red Sovine,<br />
the recorded language of a far off country.<br />
Though the sink crawls with blue bottle-fly maggots.<br />
<br />
Though my father's incest and ramshackle house<br />
makes us the punchline of every hillbilly joke.<br />
We are not hillbillies.<br />
<br />
Q. How do you circumcise a hillbilly?<br />
A. Kick his daughter in the jaw<br />
We are northern, and Catholic, and Slovak<br />
and the Heighleys, like the Adena,<br />
or the Scioto who had gone before<br />
are the Hillbillies,<br />
and the Gurneys, who burn crosses<br />
and stew squirrels, fry their brains in scrambled eggs<br />
who fish for catfish in a hand-dug pond<br />
eat possum and raccoon and woodchuck<br />
are Hillbillies<br />
and the Dugards, the coon-asses<br />
who have almost as many junk cars as us are hillbillies<br />
but we are far from the hills, and are not.<br />
<br />
Q. Why can't you convict a hillbilly of a crime?<br />
A. They all have the same DNA, and no dental records.<br />
We have broken the ties of history<br />
the black birds and bad hearts<br />
have no power over us,<br />
the gun is in its safe in The House.<br />
<br />
When the tree falls on the house, it is just bad fortune<br />
we live with the roof split open<br />
the ceiling sagging down to touch the floor<br />
eyes shining in the dark<br />
scratch and scramble in the walls.<br />
<br />
Oil-rich smell of blood and terror<br />
my fathers hands<br />
his confessionless mouth<br />
blessed by a good Italian priest.<br />
<br />
Only say the word and I shall be healed<br />
<br />
<br />
The dead mouse stuck in the vacuum tube<br />
and it's tail slid under the door<br />
I sit with my back to keep him out.<br />
The dead thing flicking against my back.<br />
Again and again.<br />
My father's high pitched laugh.<br />
<br />
We are free, whatever free can mean<br />
in that ruin, that wild place<br />
with the numbers scratched on the mailboxes with a pocket knife<br />
that road's loose suggestions of gravel<br />
that led nowhere but back<br />
to the haunted house, the chapel perilous.<br />
<br />
In the room of ruin,<br />
a picture of Warnie and Nolda, framed in gold<br />
those terrifying ancestors, looking over the rotting couch,<br />
the cobwebbed glass lamp<br />
the roof open to the rain, and the stars.<br />
<br />
I dream it still, the aquariums filled with dead leaves<br />
and Warnie' implacable, proprietary stare.<br />
That room where I hid with the bleeding whelp<br />
behind my knee from my father's belt.<br />
That room where the dead bowled with skulls<br />
and the drowned girls danced<br />
where the black cats held their congregation<br />
till the fire took it all.<br />
<br />
Q. What do a hillbilly divorce and a tornado have in common?<br />
A. Someone's losing a trailer<br />
When Neva leaves, with Rachel and her father<br />
the boy across the street, sixteen and useless<br />
and bound for the Marines<br />
We believe the ruin is all we have inherited.<br />
While she marries on a beach, her silver-toothed<br />
babe in arms, we, left with a photograph<br />
a shipwreck of a house<br />
the eyes of the mice gleaming in the dark.<br />
<br />
When the boy is in the Philippines<br />
she returns, and takes up whoring<br />
at the Al-Khazar Topless Bar.<br />
There is no mention of bad hearts<br />
or newspapers stuffed through mail slots<br />
or the Hotel Hurth.<br />
<br />
<br />
When she feeds her daughters to her husbands<br />
like minnows hooked through the eyes, bloodbait<br />
like cattle forced up the plank and onto the truck<br />
when she teaches them how to charm a whore<br />
to cheat at cards, to keep a secret<br />
there is nothing but silence.<br />
And God is mute and deaf as a principal.<br />
<br />
Mother, how you passed them through the fire<br />
under cover of flute and drum<br />
so much coal shoveled into the Moloch<br />
of his bed, the stink of steel mill and unwashed flesh<br />
stained yellow in the sheets<br />
How you left us in the ruin<br />
Your favorite perched on your arm<br />
a pet with silver teeth<br />
the rain coming through the roof<br />
into chipped yellow enamelled pots<br />
mushrooms growing from the carpets<br />
<br />
This chosen child calls the police<br />
in her twenties<br />
because of the secret messages her boyfriend<br />
has painted in the shadows of the wall<br />
because of the hidden microphones<br />
that record her thoughts<br />
the secret language of dogs<br />
the spinning eyes of cats in the dark<br />
meth and biphetamine and ether and cocaine<br />
they commit her to hospital for cocaine-induced psychosis.<br />
<br />
Now she eats her own young<br />
your special child, runs to her own final beach<br />
her children so many packed bags<br />
left on the dock, a learned art<br />
she thinks she will take one<br />
will preserve one chosen pet, and leave the other<br />
her mother's monster in every respect.<br />
<br />
Asks me to write a love poem<br />
to commemorate the act.<br />
To sing to cover the screams<br />
as they are passed through the fire<br />
<br />
When my stepfather teaches me how to steal<br />
<br />
how to lie, the easy patter of con-charm.<br />
<br />
Always flirt, even if you don't mean it<br />
<br />
it keeps your hand in<br />
<br />
There is no invocation of the blood,<br />
<br />
<br />
no mention of the ghosts that clot the air<br />
thick as milk, as smoke from a burning house.<br />
<br />
I will not tell the lie of my sister's love<br />
<br />
How to charm a whore.<br />
<br />
When he gives me my first knife<br />
I like the fit of it in my hand<br />
know it for an artist's tool<br />
<br />
I will not carve a monument to this repeated crime<br />
<br />
How to cheat at cards.<br />
<br />
How I glory that knife, alone in the dark<br />
a silver tongue of prayer, a Hosannah<br />
It is 1984, and I stand over my sleeping parents<br />
think to avenge the blows my mother demanded<br />
think to hang all our failings on that goat and offer him up<br />
and slake that ancient thirsty thing<br />
that hangs over me while I sleep, and whispers<br />
think to choose one face for the devil, to kill the giant.<br />
(To cut the pain, to cut the flow of blood.)<br />
Every knife is the threshold of a door<br />
a bright bridge between one world and the next<br />
How to keep a secret.<br />
<br />
When he borrows back the knife<br />
and loses it to security in a Tijuana dance-hall<br />
I feat I have lost my ticket<br />
for the gopher-snake, the copperhead of highway<br />
back to the ruins we had left, the bag I keep packed<br />
after he splits my mothers lip with his keys<br />
after the screaming and the tears, the stitches<br />
the broken windows and the broken tables<br />
the Military police throwing him in the shower<br />
the less than honorable discharge.<br />
<br />
In my twenties I hitchhike the road west from Ohio<br />
with a straight razor in my back pocket<br />
a bag on my back<br />
a cook-pot hobo-jangling with every step<br />
retracing my steps.<br />
<br />
Flat land and endless crucifixion of telephone wires<br />
Wheeling crows and red-tail hawks<br />
flat ribbon of highway<br />
<br />
though the hills and mines.<br />
The mill towns and river bottoms<br />
are there, though the faces carved on the stones<br />
<br />
<br />
in the river are ours<br />
we cannot return.<br />
<br />
We are a homeless people<br />
and nothing has been promised us.<br />
<br />
In High school, after the fire<br />
takes the house the Heighleys built<br />
takes Warnie and Nolda's portrait down to hell.<br />
After the cars are hauled away<br />
the pond filled with scrap<br />
the frogs shout atop the old washers<br />
the pears lay rotten on the ground<br />
the wasps sing over them.<br />
Old Mister Gurney is dead from heart failure<br />
and his grapes wither on the iron fence.<br />
<br />
After the Ocean at night<br />
and the death I do not find there<br />
after a time in Athens<br />
that haunted house<br />
the perilous chapel<br />
where I did not ask the right question:<br />
I come again to the cursed city, the doleful city.<br />
<br />
Portsmouth, Ohio<br />
you doomed clot of river mud<br />
inverted bowl of foundry smoke.<br />
You habitation of vultures.<br />
You ruin.<br />
You unholy cauldron.<br />
You stolen junkie's dream.<br />
You crumbling stone on a chain.<br />
<br />
O Babel, O Carthage, O Babylon, O Dis<br />
of electric light and color television<br />
of empty houses silent<br />
and the poison ghosts of cold factories.<br />
You pill-mill. You meth lab.<br />
You whiskey-bottle basement.<br />
Portsmouth, you devourer of your children.<br />
You Leviathan of drug stores and doctors.<br />
Behemoth of bad ideas.<br />
Frankenstein tavern<br />
of Cocaine, Methamphetamine<br />
Dilaudid, Oxycodone, Oxycontin<br />
Morphine dermal packs.<br />
<br />
City of toilet tank lids<br />
<br />
<br />
and dinner plates<br />
of metal tubes and rolled dollars<br />
Keystone and Old Milwaukee.<br />
You shipworm-rotten plank I am carved from.<br />
You funeral barge of black coal.<br />
You cold smokestack.<br />
<br />
I came to you innocent of blood and wonder<br />
sure that Chicago and the libraries and schools of Athens<br />
had prepared me to be a criminal, a conman<br />
a sideshow talker<br />
a bally man<br />
a snake oil vender<br />
a faith healer<br />
a tongue like a knife.<br />
<br />
“Do you smoke?” they asked me.<br />
I proffered a crumpled pack of Camels<br />
but soon I had learned<br />
my apothecary's abecedarium:<br />
Shake-weed and leaf<br />
Gnarled and grotesque buds<br />
Menagerie of fantastic roots,<br />
Closet-grown fungus<br />
Vials of acid, dripped on candy<br />
Terrible powders<br />
offered in a smear<br />
of blue dust on a dinner plate.<br />
Pills purloined from a mother's purse<br />
Sleeplessness from the diet doctors<br />
from Columbia and Mexico<br />
cut with infant laxative and ether.<br />
Flowers for pain,<br />
and for sleep.<br />
All rounded with bottles<br />
of whiskey, and beer.<br />
Prescriptions for pain<br />
a little poison for a pleasant sleep.<br />
<br />
From that shipwreck I emerged<br />
by luck by chance and the turn of fortune<br />
Unpaid borrowed dollars in my pocket.<br />
but I say them here that they remain deathless.<br />
<br />
All the lost adventurers my peers<br />
<br />
My mouthful of moths<br />
clattering against the light.<br />
<br />
<br />
Eric Deer and Tim Cantrell<br />
Chuck Broughton and Tom King<br />
Anson Edwards and Jay Ferguson<br />
and Danny Bailey and Matt Stepp<br />
that parade gone down to dust.<br />
<br />
Ingrid, innocent and brighter<br />
than all the other shades<br />
nail through my tongue<br />
brighter than fire to burn away the cancerous dust<br />
the tired bricks, the sprung bridges<br />
radio towers blinking their dull red light<br />
over the bowl of the hills<br />
like sentry towers in a prison<br />
like blinded cyclops.<br />
<br />
You alight like the sun on the hilltops<br />
burn away the polluted river<br />
stand, in your beam of perfect light, deathless<br />
outside of history, you littlest of giants<br />
<br />
and Angela, who died singing, and all the rest.<br />
All, all, all my kin<br />
<br />
Portsmouth you were never a city for children<br />
who starved within your walls<br />
the muddy water filled with corpses.<br />
<br />
O mother holding her baby above the flood.<br />
Poverty-house, burning ground where I was branded.<br />
You Mountain Dew mouth.<br />
You cancer.<br />
You mournful saurian whine of train brake.<br />
You yellow fog of coke plant.<br />
You empty mill.<br />
<br />
O my city, o ruin, o hilltop conflagration<br />
where I called the seventy two devils<br />
and found they all have one face<br />
the rotten face of my father<br />
of Warnie and his bad blood<br />
generation upon generation.<br />
O circle against the flood.<br />
O Cyclopean ruin, O Pandemonium<br />
piled by giants high in the mud<br />
beside the poison river.<br />
<br />
It is on your muddy bank I falter, Ohio.<br />
<br />
<br />
Phlegethon, where the damned in torments fry<br />
<br />
It is there, on the bottoms<br />
amidst the bottles, the boiling blood<br />
the moon-grin of desiccated catfish<br />
the trash and groundhogs<br />
the rope and detergent bottles<br />
the wood of suicides<br />
I am undone.<br />
<br />
A dreamless body in the brown water.<br />
A diver near the dam, a bridge-jumper.<br />
A drunken swimmer against a swollen current.<br />
A blind fish, a three legged frog.<br />
A tumor-ridden rabbit the dogs won't eat.<br />
<br />
I write this history for my children<br />
who live far from the tint of your mud<br />
and mourn their cousin forever tangled in it<br />
among those roots<br />
in the dark water.<br />
<br />
For the drinkers of poison.<br />
For the uplifters of serpents.<br />
For teetotals and drunks.<br />
For the distillers of shine, and crystal.<br />
For the pill mills and the mound dwellers.<br />
For the Union men, and the scabs shot on the train.<br />
For the drowned, for the fishers of drowned men.<br />
For the miners, the coal barge captains<br />
the train-hoppers, the trestle-swimmers<br />
the butchers, the bridge-jumpers, the blue Fugates<br />
the property-lawyers, the king of the cowboys.<br />
For the moon-men and ice cream women.<br />
For the dead, and for the living.<br />
<br />
For my sister, who wakes each day<br />
with an empty cradle.<br />
Who lives<br />
in spite<br />
of all of this, who lives.<br />
<br />
Who leaves the dust on the plate<br />
the bottle still sealed in bond<br />
leaves the namelessness of sleep<br />
each day, again and lives.<br />
<br />
For my other sisters, who live as they must<br />
in the fog of pills, the rattle of their own voices.<br />
<br />
<br />
For myself, and my children.<br />
What gods for us?<br />
<br />
Carved expressionless faces on stones in the river?<br />
Iron gods of gun and safe?<br />
Petro-plastic Christ of my Slovak grandmother<br />
with broken hands? Merciless gods?<br />
Terrible gods, who regardeth not persons?<br />
River-gods, green-toothed and insatiable?<br />
Devourers of children, catfish-headed<br />
mine-dark, house-fire-bright gods<br />
of kicked-in windows and shouted prayer?<br />
Gods of lightning and mud<br />
and burst levies, the cleansing torrent<br />
swollen with chicken coops and bleach bottles<br />
with bodies and lumber?<br />
Gods of the carried-along?<br />
Gods of detritus, gods of flotsam?<br />
<br />
What can I give of joy, and wonder, what music<br />
against your inexorable flow, Ohio?<br />
That is death, and death and death.<br />
These sepia ancestors in their burned portrait.<br />
These ruined houses, these bloody beds.<br />
What stories are mine to tell?<br />
What secrets must I keep?<br />
What have we shored against the flood?<br />
<br />
A banjo roll and shape note harmony<br />
lined out hymnody from a broken throat.<br />
<br />
We went once, to The House, armed with<br />
candles and the Lesser Key of Solomon<br />
with broken crystals and holy water<br />
to trap old wily Warnie's ghost<br />
that grinning blue devil<br />
who swims in my blood like a fish.<br />
<br />
We rattled our empty threats,<br />
<br />
Ialdo saboath, Elohim, El, El Shadai<br />
Abdya Hallya Hellizah Bellator, Bellony Soluzen<br />
<br />
barbarous tongues of invocation.<br />
Cocksure in jean jackets<br />
and heavy metal tee shirts.<br />
Shook God like a boogyman at the dead.<br />
Shoplifted dinner tapers,<br />
coil of incense smoke.<br />
Hellhotter than a fresh-fucked fox in a forest fire<br />
Sweating like a whore in church<br />
<br />
<br />
in the fly-swarm of that endless summer.<br />
<br />
We jumped in stone quarries, and swam in the river.<br />
Climbed radio towers to howl<br />
at thrones, orders, powers, dominions.<br />
Spray-painted pentacles on concrete platforms.<br />
Drank beer on stone ridges of the hills.<br />
When the man who got our booze<br />
sold his washing machine for beer money<br />
and ripped the porch off his house<br />
and slashed his wrists with bottle-glass.<br />
When Moon walked the streets,<br />
arguing with angels.<br />
Man, that Purple.<br />
<br />
When we drank in graveyards<br />
and the woods behind the armory.<br />
The unmowed fields thick with fireflies.<br />
A summer of conjuration.<br />
<br />
Papé Satàn, papé Satàn aleppe<br />
<br />
Clusters of black cats and birds,<br />
bullets and Benzedrine<br />
Crows and Catfish<br />
gatekeepers of history<br />
burst from the floor, the attic, the safe.<br />
Clouds of starlings like plague<br />
thorn-bearing robins<br />
turkey buzzards and red-tailed hawks<br />
in the flooded fields, they wheel<br />
indignant smoke of cold fire<br />
72 names and sigils never enough<br />
bats in the streetlights.<br />
<br />
The old bones and tools<br />
are plowed to the surface<br />
chipped flints<br />
beads and potsherds.<br />
The swimmers all go into the dark, one by one.<br />
The paths to the hilltops grow over.<br />
The houses of my dying city grow silent.<br />
The thick grass is mown and dark.<br />
The names carved and painted on the stones weather away<br />
<br />
These are secrets that are not mine to tell:<br />
<br />
Eric Deer shot morphine from dermal packs<br />
with his father, a junkie lawyer, and his wife.<br />
<br />
<br />
They left him to die on the floor.<br />
<br />
Tim Cantrell died alone.<br />
<br />
Chuck Broughton died on the toilet<br />
of the SuperAmerica Gas Station<br />
in the flickering light.<br />
<br />
Tom King shot poison in his blood in Africa<br />
building cell phone towers<br />
and had his hands amputated<br />
and his friends shot heroin into his stumps<br />
and he died.<br />
<br />
Anson Edwards died<br />
and they wrote his name<br />
on the end of the bar, and did lines off it.<br />
<br />
Jaybird Ferguson closed the bar<br />
for the last time<br />
played boogie-woogie piano records<br />
for death when he came for him.<br />
<br />
Late at night,<br />
while you're sleeping<br />
you will hear my lonesome call<br />
<br />
Danny Bailey drank himself to death<br />
with unpainted canvases<br />
and plaster falling to dust.<br />
<br />
Matt Stepp died castled in pain.<br />
<br />
And I have drank with these dead men<br />
on the river bottoms<br />
in the red light of the burning city<br />
I carry their history in my mouth<br />
<br />
They crowd the trench, and speak<br />
while my family waits<br />
in the grey asphodel<br />
the dust thick in their eyes<br />
like white velvet<br />
wing-scale of West Virginia Whites<br />
asbestos falling from a burst pipe<br />
ice and river water.<br />
<br />
These my kin, and also:<br />
Great-Uncle Rainy P. Adams<br />
<br />
<br />
his mules posed in black and white<br />
on his Christmas cards<br />
his children unmentioned.<br />
<br />
Nolda, offered up to an accomplice<br />
like a prime pig in trade for silence.<br />
Her dead daughter.<br />
Her granddaughter off to the whorehouses and<br />
stuffed fat full of Warnie's secrets.<br />
Neva left on the steps of a house full of unsleeping dead<br />
her children in the rotten ruin of my father's bed.<br />
<br />
My mother offers to her newest man<br />
to sleep in bed with her granddaughters<br />
my sisters children.<br />
So much kindling for the furnace<br />
that cannot be cooled.<br />
Little fish to catch the larger.<br />
Spends a corpse's money on a plastic face.<br />
<br />
A face to meet the faces that you meet<br />
<br />
the ugly child hides inside the steaming barn<br />
the ghosts crowd behind her<br />
thick as cream in the bucket.<br />
<br />
My own inventory of apologies and amends<br />
because I, too, am kin to the bad heart<br />
the slow blood.<br />
Have enacted all my lessons<br />
brightest of students<br />
and only now, unlearn, undo<br />
unmake, unbreak.<br />
<br />
Panderers and seducers<br />
Malebolge, burning sand and tortured wood<br />
Habitation of unclean birds<br />
I will keep no secrets here.<br />
Beyond the end of naming<br />
I am sick with secret language,ohio ohio<br />
swollen like a snake-bitten dog<br />
with my parents crimes.<br />
<br />
Ye are of your father the devil,<br />
and the lusts of your father ye will do<br />
<br />
Better to pray to the iron god.<br />
Better to claim the hangman's pearls.<br />
Like the trees of that final grove<br />
this burning sand.<br />
<br />
<br />
Break my branch, and words and blood<br />
come burbling out. Come hissing.<br />
Better that.<br />
<br />
Harpies and furies nest in my branches.<br />
I the habitation of woe<br />
The tree growing from the burial mound<br />
my roots entangled in the bones<br />
and the unclean earth.<br />
<br />
My broken, toothless mouth.<br />
<br />
I am unclean, uneducated<br />
poor white trailer trash<br />
child of murderous blood<br />
smeared over all<br />
with the lusts of my father, the devil<br />
<br />
so hungry my belly thinks my throat is cut<br />
<br />
What then to praise?<br />
<br />
Hang a kilt snake in a tree to make it rain<br />
<br />
Raise the brazen serpent<br />
Raise up that which is broken,<br />
that which is cracked, and flawed<br />
let light shine through the blue-chipped glass<br />
of a broken pot, iridescent with long burial<br />
let the house burn bright, a holocaust of offering<br />
the piano-keys curling in poisonous smoke<br />
the photographs<br />
the stained and bloody beds<br />
burned down to black iron<br />
the rotten floorboards<br />
the mice<br />
the cattle<br />
the pigs and cars and crane<br />
let them all be transfigured utterly<br />
into something incandescent, something holy<br />
<br />
<i>Shall we gather at the river? </i><br />
<br />
Let the rain come and swell the Ohio<br />
like a snake with a mouse in it's stomach<br />
let the glutted mouth of hell sink and sleep in the mud<br />
let the empty city fall into silence<br />
and all her ghosts, and all her ghosts<br />
<br />
<br />
sleep in the holy dark<br />
<br />
Let the embers we have been ignite<br />
the black coal of the world.<br />
Let the streets burn hot below our feet.<br />
Let the barges sink and strew<br />
the coal on the river's bed.<br />
We will sing.<br />
<br />
In the burning house of history, we will sing.<br />
In the collapsed mine's darkness visible.<br />
In the dead towns and county-line-bars.<br />
In the dry counties and Sunday service.<br />
Lifting serpents, drinking strychnine, we sing<br />
with broken teeth<br />
with twang.<br />
<br />
In my name shall they cast out devils;<br />
they shall speak with new tongues;<br />
They shall take up serpents;<br />
and if they drink any deadly thing,<br />
it shall not hurt them;<br />
they shall lay hands on the sick,<br />
and they shall recover.<br />
<br />
Our mouths open in praise<br />
<br />
confirming the word with signs following<br />
<br />
in horror, in awe<br />
<br />
we will sing of murder<br />
and bodies and the riverside<br />
we will sing of the unbroken circle<br />
of the ice of time<br />
and the graves of our parents<br />
<br />
we will sing, poor, unshod<br />
sick with our lungs black<br />
riddled with cancer<br />
from yellow smoke and dirty water<br />
with the poisoned, holler-fill earth below our feet<br />
<br />
I drew my saber through her<br />
it was a bloody knife<br />
I threw her in<br />
the river<br />
it was an awful sight<br />
<br />
we will sing over the graves of our children<br />
those toy strewn, flowered accusations thrown<br />
<br />
<br />
in the blind face of god<br />
we will sing praises in spite, in survival<br />
in anger and through broken teeth<br />
in sorrow and lamentation<br />
<br />
will the circle be unbroken?<br />
<br />
by the river we lay down and wept<br />
and hanging our harps in the trees, we sing.<br />
<br />
Sing happy are those who pass through the fire<br />
happy are those who are dashed against the rocks<br />
happy<br />
<br />
sing<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>The Thunders of Judgment and Wrath are numbered </i><br />
<i>and are harbored in the North in the likeness of an oak, </i><br />
<i>whose branches are Twenty-Two Nests of Lamentation and </i><br />
<i>Weeping laid up for the Earth, which burn night and day: </i><br />
<i>and vomit out the heads of scorpions </i><br />
<i>and live sulphur myngled with poyson. </i><br />
<br />
Sing of beasts before the throne<br />
and the muddy river, of mountain-top removal.<br />
Sing woe, woe, woe, to the earth<br />
for her iniquity is, was and shall be great.<br />
<br />
Sing throats of teeth, of Benzedrine and bullets<br />
of blood and beds, coal-ash and arsenic but sing<br />
tell everything. There is nothing secret<br />
that does not rot.<br />
There is no silence<br />
in which we are not complicit.<br />
<br />
<i>Which side are you on? </i><br />
<br />
Sing blessing and malediction.<br />
Sing corn from the ground.<br />
Sing rain and fish and company scrip.<br />
Sing plenty, sing famine, sing fire and flood.<br />
Sing trees growing through the logging roads<br />
through roofless houses and rusted plows<br />
and lost sedans on the river bottoms<br />
and houses burning<br />
and the fields sown with salt.<br />
<br />
Sing the bodies from the earth.<br />
Sing themway up in the middle of the air.<br />
Sing the saints, those used-car lot balloons.<br />
<br />
<br />
Sing the elect, the silence in heaven.<br />
Sing the end of all things, but sing.<br />
<br />
<i>Are you washed in the blood? </i><br />
<br />
Sing.<br />
<br />
This I give you, my children, and my children's children.<br />
My city of dead, my butchers and my union-men.<br />
Sing with the dirt in your mouth.<br />
The hot song clotting your teeth<br />
through your bitten tongue.<br />
<br />
<i>Which side are you on? </i><br />
<br />
Not the blood, not the knife<br />
not the door we enter in<br />
hellmouth or heaven<br />
not the river, not the ice<br />
not eyes in the underbelly of the woods<br />
not bloodbait or moonshine<br />
no gun or safe or paper money<br />
not ghost-thick road<br />
not dogwood ridge<br />
not furnace<br />
<br />
but the song that does not end.<br />
The miracle of your own survival<br />
to live, and flower<br />
chicory in the corn<br />
spurge in the pavement<br />
you steel-mill ivy, you tree on the ridge<br />
you explosion of birds<br />
in this charnal house<br />
in this bone-fire<br />
in this mouth<br />
this blood<br />
this flood<br />
this dark<br />
this river.<br />
<br />
Sing.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Proprietorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175257967731627214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839503941037132439.post-2404971180670845822020-04-03T15:07:00.001-04:002020-04-03T15:07:14.491-04:00<br />
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>House/Fire : </b></span>
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>An
Oratorio in five parts</b></span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">march,
2019</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m8jb5yIdlY1rnvbtvo1_500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><img border="0" data-original-height="276" data-original-width="500" height="176" src="https://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m8jb5yIdlY1rnvbtvo1_500.gif" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">“<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>The
floor is gone, the windows gone,</i></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>And
where there should be roof there's sky” W. B. Yeat</i></span><span style="font-size: small;">s</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;"><b style="background-color: black;">0
Procession/Prelude</b></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Gravel
road on county line</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">wooded
lot with septic tank</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">tinsel
tattered spruce</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">crazy
tilted mailbox</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: small;">primer
red and silver </span>
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: small;">with
numbers 1368 </span>
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">scratched
on with a case buck knife.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Ditch
clotted with dead frogs and mosquito larvae</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">wild
onion and gravel</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">woodpeckers
on the power lines</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">crows
in the willow.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;"><i style="background-color: black;">Way
down yonder in the meadow</i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;"><i style="background-color: black;">Lies
a poor little lambie</i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;"><i style="background-color: black;">Bees
and butterflies, picking out its eyes.</i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Grass
grow thick over the charred foundations</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">ash
black clay and rusting iron nails in the dirt.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Broken
glass in the gravel half moon drive</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">cinder
block, crumbled chimney, dead well.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: small;">Unburn.
Uproot. Unrot. Undark. </span>
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Ghost
ship bright with all your greasy windows lit</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">unburning.
Unvisible. Undark.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Rise
dripping from the black mud</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: small;">and
grave pit, gravel arc, </span>
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">muddy
hole under oaks.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Black
wings and smoke</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">coil
tight back into stones and spit</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">worm
riddled beams and tangle of mouse nests.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/82/0c/c8/820cc8b30727b613052eb39b8f60ab05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="499" height="320" src="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/82/0c/c8/820cc8b30727b613052eb39b8f60ab05.jpg" width="262" /></span></a></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;"><b style="background-color: black;">I.
Kyrie</b></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">“<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Therefore
hell hath enlarged herself,</span></i></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
opened her mouth without measure:”</span></i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
Isaiah 5:14</span></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Have
mercy and appear, </span></span>
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">loom of the starless dark</span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">reweave this:</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Tin-roofed
vestibule</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">first
phantom limb of the house to die</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">rough
painted planks and rotting steps;</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Stage
where once we sang, beat drums with metal spoons</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">and
broke their heads.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Broken
mouth of the dead leviathan</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">nest
of serpents, habitation of owls.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">O’hare
flyover meteors and lightening falling overhead</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">have
mercy:</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Have
mercy and appear</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">visibly,
affably, without delay.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Rise
now:</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Living
creatures and sea of glass.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">First
failed fix of this faltering house</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">tar
paper roof rough lapped over shingles</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">torn
down by my father and never replaced.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Step
to the threshold too high</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">from
a cinder block that replaced your three steps</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">too
far for my sisters legs.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Tall
grass gone to seed and foxglove</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">where
I caught quick black garter snakes and toads</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">cracked
granite and worm rotten wood.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Foxfire
and glow worm, fungal light</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">habitation
of jackals</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Rural
Route 3 box 1368</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">have
mercy.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;"><i style="background-color: black;">Way
down yonder in the meadow</i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">have
mercy and appear.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Unburn,
from the trash fires and bonfires</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">from
the black smoke of burning tar paper</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">from
the scrap piles, from bellies of termites</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: small;">and
carpenter ants. </span>
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Let
each disgorge their portion</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">rear
up from the mud into the lightning</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: small;">to
disclose your hollow-core door </span>
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">with
its three windows, your cheap lock.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Let
the mice spit back their burrowed tunnels</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
cotton candy pink insulation</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">have
mercy:</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;"><i style="background-color: black;">Bees
and butterflies, picking out its eyes.</i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Your
shining Celotex™</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
gleaming teeth of the house</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">stretched
wide.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">The
sharpened window glass incisors.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">The
grinding cinder block molars.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">The
cellar door.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">The
open throat.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Open
wide your mouth and I will fill it</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://maycombvogue.weebly.com/uploads/2/3/8/8/23882918/3566616.jpeg?332" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><img border="0" data-original-height="276" data-original-width="330" height="267" src="https://maycombvogue.weebly.com/uploads/2/3/8/8/23882918/3566616.jpeg?332" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">II.
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>Gloria:</b></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">‘<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Our
prison strong, this huge convex of Fire,</i></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;"><i style="background-color: black;">Outrageous
to devour, immures us round “</i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;"><i style="background-color: black;">Paradise
Lost Book 2</i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Glory
to Pepto-pink and crumbling arches</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">mid
century faux-Moorish, the cheap paneling</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">chained
oxyacetylene welding tanks beside the door</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">and
a cluster of dead sewing machines.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Glory
the rotten pumpkin of a year ago, collapsed to dust</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
dry death of a mouse in a trap</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">milk
crates of phone books and newspapers</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">discarded
tools, rasps and files, teeth for the mouth of hell</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">glory
possums in the dark, their red eyes.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Glory
a question marked box with the entrails of radios</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">a
television with no back, tubes and bags of pulled nails</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">and
through the arch, the stagnant air.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Glory
the piano never tuned</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">rescued
from the trash</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">topped
with a loose slide of papers.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Glory
the snap and crackle of the burning harp</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">(remembering
thee, O Zion)</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">of
car parts and coils of wire.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Glory
the cracked windows and their host of dead flies</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">flicker
of fluorescence</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">that
lured the wasps to a false dawn</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">who
covered the walls.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Glory death angel mushrooms
growing in the moldering sills</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
bridal shrouds of curtains on cheap rods, flyspecked lace.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Glory
the black cat and her bloody newborn kits on my lap.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Glory
the raccoon grabbing crackers from our hands on the sofa.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Glory
the bats in the attic.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: small;">Glory
the black phone confessional booth </span>
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">between
the overstuffed green chair</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
wheezing compressor of the refrigerator.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Glory
the penciled scrawl of numbers, palimpsest of names</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">erased
and redrawn.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Glory
the green and black television and it’s wire hanger rabbit</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
late night monster movie, the physics and botany.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Glory
the tables with their cheap chipboard pressed in acorns and ivy.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Glory
the bottled city on the mantle, its dead Philippine breath</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
beer stein filled with my father’s college love letters</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
sandstone roses my grandmother brought from Oklahoma</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
war-prize carpet that my grandfather brought back from Ethiopia.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Glory
the oscilloscope and the voltmeter, their black needles spinning</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
transmission disassembled, it’s delicate gears in melamine cups.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Glory
the picture tubes and radio dials</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Glory
the threadbare carpet, the plywood sub-floor.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Glory
the nude, playing pipe beside the water</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
badly painted bouquet of flowers.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Glory
the kitchen, blood red and black.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Glory Fat mice that ran along
the sink tops</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">that
drowned in the dishwater my sister wept into</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">her
hands slack in the cold soap.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Glory the crimson carpet, the
growth of gutted seeds in a bowl</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
whiskey and water above the stove.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Glory
the frozen ducks with shot in their wing</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
goose with one leg, the venison and king’s buttons.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Glory
the sizzle of butter in an iron skillet</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">sparking
the stove with the welding ignitor</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">and
the spatter of bacon fat.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Glory the hams boiled in the
chipped yellow pot,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Glory
the raccoons, that broke into the flour</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">leaving
hand prints on the walls,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Glory
the possum, the salamanders, the raw, rubbed spot where the dog slept</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Glory
the broken washing machines</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
screwdriver slammed into the sensor so it would run with the lid open</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
diaper pails, the door to the dirt floored hall</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
never hot dryer.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Glory the dirt floored room
where I communed for hours with the devil</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">and
his plastic yellow smile,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">his
hollow eyes.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Glory the ancient smell of
long dead chickens</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
truck tires and rotting crates</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
trailer slat windows rimed with grease</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
tar paper walls.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Glory
the twine of blind roots under the wall</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
scurry of swallows in the eves</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
never closing door and the riot of elephant ears</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">and
thistle outside.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">(outside,
a riot of fallen garden,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;"><i style="background-color: black;">Way
down yonder in the meadow</i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Glory
outside, snakes and toads</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: small;">and
the rain filling the pond </span>
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">until
the catfish swam across the grass</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Glory
hornets and wasps crawling over rotting pears</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">and
the smell of wine, the septic creek</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">foaming
with detergent, the dead tadpoles cooked in drought</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">into
the clay banks, the falling willows in the rain, the lightening
blasted oaks</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
dead and blasted plum tree, wild onion and sour grass)</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Glory
the ruined room, where the shallow rooted willow fell</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">and
drove branches into the earth that grew</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">where
Warnie and Nolda Risener’s ancient portrait</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">glowered
in the dark, in gilt edged frame.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Glory the leaf filled rooms,
the possum grapes and ivy</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">pulling
down the great orange glass globe of the sun</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">till
it rested on the floor in iron chains.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Glory the dead lamps and their
clusters of grapes</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
fireplace and its secret room behind it</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
false bottomed drawer of the bureau, swollen</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">and
stuffed with golden fish.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Glory
the dead dry aquariums and their spiders</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
burst roof and the explosion of stars.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Glory
the stars, and the silence between them.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://monoawards.com/upload/images/1418519432ien8bromeo_joseph_house_fire_virginia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="320" src="https://monoawards.com/upload/images/1418519432ien8bromeo_joseph_house_fire_virginia.jpg" width="213" /></span></a></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">III.
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>Credo</b></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">“<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Ye
are of your father the devil”</i></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;"><i style="background-color: black;">John
8:44</i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">I
believe in the hallway that ends in mirrors</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">where
I hovered outside of my body in a thousand night terrors.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">I
believe in the bookcase of millwright manuals and Lewis CarrolL</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
water-logged exhibition guide to Tutankhamen</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">cutting
it’s pages open with a knife</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">like
a cartouche seal</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">to
flickering candles and invocation.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">I
believe in the grimoires and the Psuedomonarchia Daemonum</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
Hammer of Witches and Demonolatry of Remy.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">I
believe in the beet red devil</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">that
stamps his feet and curdles milk</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">that
old bargainer with farmers and guitar-pickers.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">I
believe in the linen closet with its pornographic toilet lid</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
water bottle filled with change</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">in
anomalous artifacts, the leyden jars and Greek mechanisms</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">and
the cursed host that fell from the stars</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
bestial dweller in the lake bottom</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
green children and hitchhiking ghosts.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">I
believe in the central bedroom, windowless</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">whose
door I stood outside of with a flashlight</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">and
knocked and never opened</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">never
opened</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">cradle
of the pistol and my mother’s furs</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">hot
throbbing ventricle of bedclothes and dark</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">hissed
secrets and the worm blind eye</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">I
believe in the communion of saints:</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Elizabeth
and her purloined eggs that never hatched</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Rachel
and her silver teeth, drinking sticky soda from the carpet</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
web of chewed gum that stuck Sarah to the wall</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">where
she screamed until we cut her loose</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
nest of open-mouthed dolls</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
clot of ghosts on my tongue</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">catalog
of crime, of shriven tongue</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">laughing
and laughing in the dark.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">I
believe in my father, the faceless man with his black book</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Credo
in unum Deum, Patrem omnipotentem,</span></i></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>
</i></span></span>
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">who
I built this burning chapel to invoke</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">with
his steel toed boots and the smell of Coke plant sulfur</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">his
rags and his stained yellow undershirts</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">factorem
cæli et terræ, visibilium omnium et invisibilium</span></i></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">who
pulled the main floor beam apart with his hand</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">and
showed me the fat earthworms swimming in the wood.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">I
believe in the woodlice and yellow jackets, mud daubers and newborn
mice</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">I
drowned with the wooden handle of a spoon</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: small;">devour
er of children, Cronos bloody mouthed and </span>
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Tereus
with a severed tongue in his hand</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Philomel
steadily stitching regardless.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Who
taught me the world is an endable thing.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">I
believe in the room with the door in the floor</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">to
the pipes and the darkness, the wet crawling of things</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
mattress in its plastic, the drywall</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
grinding wheel, the devil and his angels.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">I
believe my father Cannibal, leering old witch in a sugar house</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: small;">of
broken toys and chicken feet, </span>
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">of
pocket knives and string</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">gleaming
nickels and melting ice creams</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">and
spraypainted bicycle parts in heaps as tall as the garage.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Acknowledging
no redemption</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">“<span style="font-size: small;">only
say the word” and I shall be healed</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">He
said, says</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">waits
on the word, mocks the silence of the dead stars</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">and
the dumb lips of the crucified.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">and
Christ rots eyeless on the cross</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">and
Mary weeps dust</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">and
the devil coils green around St Michael’s ankles</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">in
the dust motes of St Liborius</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">I
believe in the monster at the heart of the labyrinth,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
demiurge, the chained titan at the heart of the fire.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">“<span style="font-size: small;">Wood
from a vampire’s coffin” he said, </span>
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">and
showed me the foxfire glowing</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">luminescent
rot, decay</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
lightening bugs in the tall grass</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
plywood box I buried him in dreams</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">on
the property line</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
hedge that hid our windows</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">in
our shared bedroom, where the warped conquistador in his golden
helmet</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">stared
and saw nothing, the hole into the bathrooms</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
tub on blocks, plumbed by garden hose run from the kitchen</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
toilet on it’s pipe, the holes to the crawlspace</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
walls torn down and scribed with a million messages in crayon</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">to
be read only by the fire</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">where
he shed his skin and crawled along the pipes in my dreams</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">where
he laughed and laughed and laughed until his skin came off</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">leaving
only the bright tube of his organs with the laugh inside</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">a
bright and horrible animal that could not be released</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">convulsing
on it’s own silence.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">I
believe in the corpse I carry on my back,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">whispering
into my ear,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
priest in his jangling bells in my nightmare</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
drowned chapel on the lake bottom</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
voice of my father in the dark</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: small;">his
cock in his hand </span>
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">and
the hushed voices behind a locked door/</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">I
believe this chapel of whispers reared up from the mud</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">this
shame, this bone-heap, this abbatoir,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">I
believe at the heart of everything is this, is only shame</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">only
terror, only cowardice</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">only
failure to protect those who could not be protected</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
ever falling dominoes of lies we told to protect each other</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">who
all were devoured utterly</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">with
no survivors.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">I
believe in we blind, mute worms of decay</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">in
the crumbling wood</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">his
hammer and his wrenches</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">his
cutting torch</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">his
knives and string and wire</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">and
little birds lying to each other,</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">to
not invoke the wolf.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">O
my people crushed on the threshing floor</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">my
mad and broken mouthed sisters</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">and
the oceans of poison we have drunk</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
deaths we have chased</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
dream of death and the undoing of all things</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">and
the starless dark I have returned to, again and again</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">death
clicking his teeth in the dark</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">black
ocean between the stars</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">last
wave falling over the edge of the world.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Holocaust
of fire, lift up the world in offering on the horned altar</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">The
stone in the center of the field</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
lightening</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: small;">my
brother dead already </span>
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">outside
my window with blood flecking his lips</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">car
crashes and overdoses</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">throwing
gravel at my windows</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">all
the army of the dead</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">god
of hosts.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">I
believe blood makes the corn grow.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">I
believe oil and blood lure catfish from the muddy bottom of the river</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">I
believe</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">I
believe in</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
communion of saints</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
divination of lost objects</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
arcade Ouija, the legerdemain of the thieving spirits</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">that
the horrible is commonplace.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">I
believe in the ocean at night</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
tar road in the sun</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">black
phone to pandemonium</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">and
whispered directives that came while I slept.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
believe in the urging of this body, </span>
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">of
the blood of murderers that sings in us</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">of
the serpent’s song in our sleep</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">upraised
in brass, host and monstrum</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">I
believe in the lamb, and the slaughter</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">and
the sins of the world.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;"><i style="background-color: black;">ecci qui tollit pecatta
mundi</i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.fireengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/content/dam/fe/print-articles/vol-95/issue-2/four-alarm-fire-sweeps-large-rooming-house/img-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="685" height="320" src="https://www.fireengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/content/dam/fe/print-articles/vol-95/issue-2/four-alarm-fire-sweeps-large-rooming-house/img-1.jpg" width="274" /></span></a></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">V.
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>Sanctus and
Benedictus</b></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">“<span style="font-size: small;"><i>And
the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity”</i></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;"><i style="background-color: black;">James
3:6</i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">spitting</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Holy,
holy, holy, Lord God of Tzevat Elohim Seboath.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">barbarous
words of evocation once I shook at the devil like threat</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">God
of hosts</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">God
of destroying armies</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">God
of the army of Seraphim</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">God
of motionless armies, of thrones, powers, orders, dominiations</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">ever
silent demiurge and architect of hell.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">Mute
and answerless god who regardeth not persons</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">silent
listener on the black phone of my prayer.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">O
ink black turnip, o holy goat, </span></span></span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">O
holocaust</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">O
God of my father</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">who
glories in the blood of children</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">O
ravenous wolf head and grave mouth</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">O
burned city, O blind designer</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">O
blind creator, Ialdoboath, </span></span></span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">shoplifted
black candle</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">bloody-handed
watchmaker</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Adonay.
Baal. Moloch</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Crowned
Paimon, Triple Headed Asmoday</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">broken
vessels of uprooted trees</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">in
the spiralling dark, in the starlit mire</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">in
the black sea, that falls away to dark</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">over
the rim of the world.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">O
brooding chaos before the starless</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">O
hungry mouth, O holy starveling ghost,</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">O
devourer of offerings</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">fattened
on smoke and doves</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">o
hell’s mouth, o dis, o Babylon</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Heaven
and Earth are full of thy glory.</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Hosanna
in the highest.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">While
we writhe in the mud</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Hosanna
in the highest</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">atop
this pile of corpses</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">Hosanna
in the highest</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">sung
from the sick, from the hospital bedrooms</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">Hosannah
Hosannah</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">from
this tumor, this fire, this unlanced boil</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">hosannah
from the dying stars in the entropic black between the stars</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">from
the dead cosmos and this small puddle</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">these
scrambling unicellular choirs</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">Hosannah
from the blue shift and heat death of stars</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Hosannah,
from the mousetrap and the spiderweb</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">from
my father’s stinking bed.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Hosannah
from the violation of children, from the infant’s tumors</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Hosannah,
the improvised explosive, the minefield</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
lead water of Flint, the cancerous earth.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Hosannah,
the poison river.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hosannah,
Hosannah, the broken heart, the still tongue and shaking hands </span></span>
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
mute, the tongueless song Hosannah in the highest</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Glory
in the knife edge, in the atomic fire that consumes</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">at
the heart of a dying sun, from the house fire</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
smouldering ruin of the fallen world.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">O
ash and bread of ashes</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">O
cold fire of praise</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: black; font-weight: normal;">O
grave dirt in my mouth</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Hosanna
Hosanna</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Blessed
is He that cometh in the name of the Lord</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Hosanna
in the highest.</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.kveller.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/house2-1200x800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="213" src="https://www.kveller.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/house2-1200x800.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="font-family: "Liberation Serif", "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">V.
Agnus Dei</span></b></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;">“</span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">And
I will shew wonders in heaven above,</span></i></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
signs in the earth beneath; </span></i></span></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">blood,
and fire, and vapour of smoke</span></i></span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Acts
2:19</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">Burn
everything,</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">let
the black holocaust of smoke blot out the sun</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">let
the burning vinyl siding melt and crackle</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">and
the rotten rags and papers</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
tanks of gasoline</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
oil and oxygen burn bright</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">let
carpets boil in melting synthetic</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">let
the picture tubes explode</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">the
library burn</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">like
Alexandria, Atlantis, pandemonium</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">let
the house slide down into the mouth of the abyss</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">and
burn in atomic singularity</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">O
conjured throne</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">I
release thee</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">slide
back hellward, widdershins, counterwise</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">burn
bright, and let your timbers collapse</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">so
many ruined teeth</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">and
your dark throat</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">open
as a song</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">open
night and day</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">(smooth
the descent, and easy the way)</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">ever-burning
house</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">black
cloud that hangs above the horizon</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">burnt
siding, exploding tanks</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">ragged
sheets and boiling steam</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">black
goat, sin offering</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">holocaust
and devourer of holocausts</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">go
back to your wilderness</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">your
darkness visible</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">your
cracked mirror</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">your
backwards song</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">sin
hanging on your back</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">o
he goat, o eye in the dark</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">you
stunned ox, you owl</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">you
habitation of jackals </span></span>
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">o
bright and ever burning house of my father</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">o
my burning father</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">o
burning</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">o</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;"><i style="background-color: black;">Way
down yonder in the meadow</i></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;"><i style="background-color: black;">Lies
a poor little lambie</i></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;"><i style="background-color: black;">Bees
and butterflies, picking out its eyes</i></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: small;">fire</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://media3.giphy.com/media/1e3VSUSlvl1o4/source.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" src="https://media3.giphy.com/media/1e3VSUSlvl1o4/source.gif" /></span></a></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br />
</span></div>
<br />Proprietorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175257967731627214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839503941037132439.post-42295307984492605592020-04-03T14:52:00.001-04:002020-04-03T14:53:13.673-04:00<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: x-large;">God/Father/Death</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3e/Godfather_Death.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="408" height="320" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3e/Godfather_Death.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="background-color: black;">an adaptation of Wilhem Grimm by Jacob Rakovan</span></span><br />
<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 28px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i style="background-color: black;">tempore plaga</i></span><br />
<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Dramatis Personae</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">GOD: wearing a hieratic mask that expresses the Trinity,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">and surrounded by cherubim/chorus that keep him lit by handheld spotlights/flashlights at all times</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">DEVIL. Also masked</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">DEATH. Either masked as a skull, faceless, or a lifesize marionette controlled by GOD</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">MAN a working class man of any era</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">DOCTOR the adult godchild of death. It is recommended that he have the modern signifiers of the medical profession, scrubs, stethoscope, etc. Barring this, he can be masked as a plague doctor, in a black suit and carrying an anachronistic doctor’s bag</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">KING; masked figure, most likely evokingor doubling GOD but without cherubim or illumination and wearing an exaggerated crown. He can have a throne on stage, or enter in a carried chair, by the CHORUS</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">WOMAN: wheeled in on hospital bed and wrapped in white sheets</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">PRINCESS; a dancer</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">CHORUS/CHERUBIM/PRINCESSES a group of dancers in black. As cherubim, they wear wings, as princesses, they are veiled.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">SKELETONS Dancers</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">NARRATOR: masked simply, and with a pulpit to the right of the stage</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">BABY: an antique doll.</span><br />
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<a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/s:700x500/86/12386-050-4CD060AA/The-Peddler-Hans-Holbein-the-Younger-Dance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="372" height="320" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/s:700x500/86/12386-050-4CD060AA/The-Peddler-Hans-Holbein-the-Younger-Dance.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">ACT I</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Scene: a hospital bed. It is possible that this bed is surrounded by screens, and dramatically backlit, so as to create a shadow puppet effect. Barring this, the bed should be metal, and accompanied by a drip bag and tube. WOMAN is atop the bed, and miming labor. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">NARRATOR Long ago, when wishing still helped, a poor man had been delivered of twelve children. He worked day and night to feed them. Then came a thirteenth.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">CHORUS (in unison) Thirteen! The zodiac and the wheel of the sun! Christ and the apostles! The months of the year, and the dark without time! Unlucky, lucky, Thirteen! </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">ENTRANCE MUSIC & DRUMS, escalating</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">DOCTOR and WOMAN mime birth.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">DEATH enters and stands at foot of bed, is unseen by characters</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">during delivery, the bed is spun around several times and DEATH left at foot and head of bed</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">blood should soak sheets, or red spotlights illuminate</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">WOMAN gived BABY to MAN who takes BABY</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">if there is a screen, man steps outside of it with BABY in arms</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">WOMAN is spun a final time so DEATH is at her head.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">CHORUS covers WOMAN with sheet, and backlight is dimmed. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">DEATH and WOMAN exit stage right</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">hospital bed is removed from center stage</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">MAN faces audience with BABY</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">NARRATOR Not knowing what to do, in his need, the man ran out into the road, seeking someone to be godfather to his unlucky thirteenth child, passed through blood and delivered to hunger.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">CHORUS Moses in the bulrushes! The orphan babe! Black cats and rabbits feet! Unlucky thirteen!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Music: Fiddle, or other faster paced dance music</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Chorus dance with man, he offers them each BABY, but they refuse</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">as they are identical, he may offer each the BABY more than once. Some may take and inspect the baby, or feign interest, all refuse.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Enter GOD stage left, illuminated by CHORUS/CHERUBIM</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Dance music ends. GOD music plays</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">MAN ( offering BABY) who will be godfather to my child, my bale fire, my widdershins, my broken clock of thirteen?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">CHORUS ( whispering around feet of GOD like a hive of bees) hosannah hosannah hosannah hosannah</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">GOD ( thru megaphone) Be not afraid!I will stand as godfather!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">MAN and who are you?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">GOD I am that I am, the first and the last. I am he that reaps the whirlwind! That rouses Leviathan from the deep! I am the unmoved mover that the stars wheel around like clockwork gears, the maker of all that is seen and unseen, architect of heaven and of earth. I am the beginning and the end, the Alpha and Omega, The throne before the sea of glass and the four living creatures, I am the fire that spoke to Moses and the column of smoke by day that led the Israelites through the waste. I am the firmament and the waters beyond it, the solace of kings and destroyer of empires. I am the LORD. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Chorus (more insistently) hosannah hosannah hosannah hosannah hosannah)</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">MAN kneels, begins to offer up baby, and then refuses.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">MAN: No! I will not let you stand as godfather to my child. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">You make one man rich, and another man poor.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">You gave this child’s mother over to death</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">and you, who knew all, and foresaw all,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">saw a life of back breaking labor</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">and blamed sin for our suffering</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">though you designed all, beginning and end, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">every cunning trap was laid with bait by you</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">apples and snakes, belief and unbelief</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">you know the secrets of every heart. You are unjust, God. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">And children suffer under your care, and innocents.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">You are drunk on offering smoke and the songs of priests</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">while the world careens merrily to hell and you do nothing!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">I would have someone just care for my thirteenth child.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Look how you took care of your own.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">CHORUS: (dejectedly) hosannah? Hossanah?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">GOD so be it. I will renounce my claim.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Illumination is extinguished and GOD and CHERUBIM exit stage right</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Dance Music resumes</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">The baby is offered and rejected to the CHORUS again</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">dance music ends. DEVIL music, or GOD music backwards is played</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Enter DEVIL stage left with his angels</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">MAN Who will stand as godfather to my orphan child?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">DEVIL I, who would not bend the knee to that old imposter who just left, I will stand as godfather to the child.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">MAN and what can you give him, you old billygoat?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">DEVIL(invitingly) I will stand as godfather to the babe, and see he has every earthly pleasure, and all wealth, the embraces of beautiful women and men, the praise of nations. I will hold back from him no delight this world offers. I will shower him with power and authority and he will be my hand among men.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">CHORUS/ ANGELS ( whisperingly, seductively) he will win at cards, and recover lost objects, and the arts of rhetoric and no knowledge of any thing will be hidden from him, he will know good, and evil, and the difference between,he will charm men and women and have any he desires, he will know all science and speak all human language, he will fly through the air and bring forth riches, and know all the secrets of the earth.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">MAN no!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">You too, are unjust.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">And in cahoots with he who just left, whose name you dare not speak</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">though you do his bidding, up and down the earth and in it</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">luring this one to damnation, that one to a broken promise that he forgives</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">for you are all sweetness and honey and cake in the mouth</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">and fire and poison and serpents in the belly</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">you old fraud. You lawyer. You seducer.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">You warden of the prison he built</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">you are all accusation and destruction</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">and without mercy or grace</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">and you revel in the inequities of men, the golden crowned hypocrites</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the whiskey priests and harlots of the church</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the suffering of the poor. You are merely god’s other face</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">and a bootlicker and lackey to boot</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">you shall not have the child.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">DEVIL ( first beautiful, then angry, then humbled) </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">I withdraw my offer, but not my claim</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">He shall have no favor beyond any other</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">and I will not stand as godfather.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">For anything else, the usual penalties and contracts will apply</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Exit Devil and his angels</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Dance music, CHORUS dances, again refusing children</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Music Stops.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Enter Death, alone, stage left</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">MAN and will you stand as godfather to the child?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">DEATH. Nods assent</span><br />
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<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b2/The_Abbot%2C_from_The_Dance_of_Death%2C_by_Hans_Holbein_the_Younger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="607" height="320" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b2/The_Abbot%2C_from_The_Dance_of_Death%2C_by_Hans_Holbein_the_Younger.jpg" width="242" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">MAN You alone, are just, for you treat all men equally, high and low, rich and poor, man and woman</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">You alone receive no petition or pact, offer no indulgence. You are the only justice in the world</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">DEATH takes BABY. Exit stage right</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">ACT 2.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Enter DOCTOR, without signs of office, </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">NARRATOR: and so the child grew to manhood, and his godfather came, to give him gifts</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Enter DEATH with signs of office placing them on DOCTOR</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">placing his head close to DOCTOR’s ears as though whispering</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">NARRATOR and Death explained that he would make the child the greatest physician in the world</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">and that as Death had touched his eyes, he should always see him in the sick room, and if Death was at the head of the bed, then nothing could be done, but if Death was at the foot of the bed, he must give a secret herb to the patient, and he would surely recover. And the boy, lucky thirteen, the godchild of death went out to seek his fortune in the wide wide world.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Chorus place hospital bed center stage.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Doctor and chorus dance, spinning bed with dancers</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">doctor mimes curing those with death at the foot, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">these dancers place bags of money at his feet</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">shakes head no when they are at the head,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">GOD and DEVIL stand upstage, and receive the dead, alternately</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">When all the CHORUS have died, exit GOD, DEVIL and CHORUS</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">ENTER KING STAGE LEFT</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">KING: I have sought you, greatest physician because death haunts my steps.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Though I am a virtuous man, a great man,I am riddled with sickness</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">and a wound that never heals</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Heal me, and I will give you half a kingdom, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">and power, and authority, and wealth beyond your dreams.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">DOCTOR helps KING into the bed.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">He listens to his heart, he checks his pulse, etc</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">DEATH comes and stands at the head</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">ENTER DEVIL< WHISPERING TO DOCTOR</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">DOCTOR spins bed so DEATH is at feet, cures KING</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">EXIT DEATH.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">KING It is true. You have healed that which cannot be healed, Heal my daughter of her melancholy and you may take her to wife. And if wealth can do what god could not, take all of my kingdom.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">EXIT KING</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">ENTER PRINCESS, and HANDMAIDENS</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">they move slowly, and heavily.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Collapse in a heap, with Princess in bed.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">FIDDLE MUSIC and enter SKELETONS</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">they take handmaidens and PRINCESS in hand and dance frenzied reels</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">handmaidens collapse, PRINCESS in the bed again</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Enter DEATH who stands at head of bed</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">DOCTOR Spins bed so Death is at feet</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Wedding Music</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Princess stands, takes hand of DOCTOR</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Handmaidens and Skeletons form rows</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">crown DOCTOR and PRINCESS with Garlands</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">DEATH comes and takes DOCTOR</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">ACT 3</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Scene: a massive amount of white candles of varying lengths. It is possible this is on a table, or a flat piece of plywood placed on the bed. Some of the candles may be artificial, and individual candles can be placed around the room by SKELETONS/CHORUS</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Narrator: Because the thirteenth child had twice defied him, and corrupted the perfect indifference of his justice, Death took his godchild to his house to show him how things go in that other kingdom, below that other king.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Enter DEATH followed by DOCTOR, stage left</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">DEATH. Here then is every light, and every light is a life.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">And some are allotted more than others and I do not measure nor cut</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">but only collect those when they are allotted, and I am neither living nor dead, but only the little place between, and that is where I make my house. I send each one to where your Punch and Judy god and devil have arranged and here only, in the taking are we equal, and here only is justice and even in speaking now, I break my silence not.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">DOCTOR, removing mask Godfather? Where is my candle, how much time was I given, born hungry and godless and thirteenth in the house</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">DEATH shows DOCTOR a short candle</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">DOCTOR how can this be just, this small amount of time… I know I have defied you, and used your gifts against you, but you are my godfather. Surely you could light another, and set it in my place, or set my candle atop another like so…</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">(he gestures to do so, and a wind ( fan) extinguishes all the candles.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">DOCTOR drops to the floor. DEATH remains standing</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Stagelights to black</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Enter All Characters, who dance.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>Proprietorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175257967731627214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839503941037132439.post-84656258496420205582020-03-22T20:34:00.001-04:002020-03-22T20:52:08.249-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://alkemia.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/12_keys_1.jpg?w=450&h=350" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="450" height="248" src="https://alkemia.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/12_keys_1.jpg?w=450&h=350" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Prima Clavis:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="background-color: black; color: cyan;"> take a fierce grey wolf, which, though on account of its name it be subject to the sway of warlike Mars, is by birth the offspring of ancient Saturn, and is found in the valleys and mountains of the world, where he roams about savage with hunger. </span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Here is the wolf</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the wolf and woods and dark</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the monster made of eyes, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the star-pierced black that eats the moon.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">shall I go down to the netherworld by the mouth of the lion? </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Or shall the wolf confound me?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Gravedirt in my friends’ teeth</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">each blue pill</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">a tooth in the mouth of the wolf</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the hollow kingdom and burned city</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">coil of pale worms in dirt.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Rigging for shipwrecks.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Here is the child in the dirt</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">like the moon in the belly of the wolf.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Dark in the mine and the river and the ocean at night</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the howling mouth, the train brakes song</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">a lone tanker, filled with oilblack</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the dirt in the belly of the worm</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">a shape cult out of black felt</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">a worm that eats the stars</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Here is the secret, the wolf in the belly of the child</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the never-sated fire, mouth in the dark</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the thing that eats stars and moon</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">and wolves and dirt and city and child</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">now gnawing itself in the smallest hungry house</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Here is the house</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">it’s windows alight</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">ghost ship, silver bridge,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">worms in the crossbeams</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the wolf in the woods</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Here is the house of a thousand doors</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">and the forbidden key </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the black battlements of Dis</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">burning city on the poison river</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">here my city of dead in the dirt</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">here is my house, forever burning</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">this kingdom of tiny houses</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">fed one by one into the furnace-mouth</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the queens of air and darkness</span><br />
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: 10pt;">the
pale kings devoured by worms</span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://alkemia.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/12_keys_2.jpg?w=450&h=350" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><img border="0" data-original-height="369" data-original-width="450" height="262" src="https://alkemia.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/12_keys_2.jpg?w=450&h=350" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">II Clavis</span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">They must be stripped of all their glorious apparel, and must lie down together in the same state of nakedness in which they were born </span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">god of thieves and hedgerows</span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">the raised stone at the end of land</span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">scribe, and author of letters</span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">Ellegua, Exu, Legba</span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">opener of the way</span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">Here the knife edge between living and dying</span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">Psychopomp, doorman, </span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">blind boatman with a mouth filled with razors</span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">here the final breath</span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">the gatekeeper and the gate</span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">the needle bridge of a moment</span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">the doorman of the dark kingdom</span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">the dawn, stripped of her veils</span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">the silver bridge with its dark angel </span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">pills on the plate, a belt slackening around an arm</span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">and the black water rising.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">river of hatred, </span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">river of forgetfullness,</span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">river of woe,</span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">river of lamentation </span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">river of fire</span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">slung between the mirror and the sun</span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">between the speaking and the silence</span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">between the televisions dead static and the rent-to own table</span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">the snakes coil, fucking on the dead tree</span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">blind god of chaos and frenzy</span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">of the in between, the either/or</span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">the also/and</span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">the lines drawn out, blue, or white</span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">on china dinner plates</span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">Here is the boy, and the corpse</span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">and a silver bridge between them</span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">a balloon’s worth of air shaped into a name</span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">a letter in a dead hand</span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">the tired card tricks of gender</span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">of living and of dying</span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">the queen of the flowering dark</span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">the frozen roses twine in the peeling wallpaper</span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">here is the dead alive boy</span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">in a flickering memory,</span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">like burning film</span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">the gate swinging on its hinges</span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">the bedsheet’s empty scissored eyes</span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">the hand beneath, a whisper</span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">blind prophet that cannot die</span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">climbing through a window with pinwheel eyes</span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;">the white line, a highway, an end to a kingdom</span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: cyan; font-size: 13.3333px;"><i>I who have sat by Thebes below the wall</i></span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;"><i><span style="color: cyan; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"></span></i></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: cyan; font-size: 13.3333px;"><i>and walked among the lowest of the dead</i></span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://alkemia.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/12_keys_3.jpg?w=450&h=350" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="450" height="246" src="https://alkemia.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/12_keys_3.jpg?w=450&h=350" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.3333px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">III Clavis</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="background-color: black; color: cyan;">Then it must be so exalted as to shine more brightly than all the stars of heaven, and in its essence it must have an abundance of blood, like the Pelican, which wounds its own breast, </span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Here the great and terrible beast</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">that exults in destruction</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">wolf loose in the parliament of birds</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">devourer, conquering worm</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">hungry dog with the easter ducklings in his mouth</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">cracked streets, and hill and forest fire</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: cyan;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: cyan;">For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">burning bird that nests in the ashes</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">cockatrice, sideshow wonder</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">blood-drunk basilisk and howling death</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">dirt mouthed gravestone teeth</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">locked gate and chain</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">waiting to grind the child before it is born</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: cyan;">My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">in the wild and blasted place</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">leafless and burning wood, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">dark beyond the last streetlight</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">in the ruined house, the wet books fatly swollen</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">crawlspace under the porch</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">house with the tree falling</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">tree grown round the rusting plow</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">logging road and radio tower </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">and the tick filled grass</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">and a cloud of starlings blots the sun</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: cyan;">By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Here the prince of rain-stuck doors</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the lord of the earth, of wheel-ruts and poisoned grass</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">of gasoline pentacles burned in the autumnal earth</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the suicide-kings of broken pots, of stolen sweets</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">leering devil of the muddy hedgerow and the rotting corn</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">red as a beet walking up and down the earth and in it</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">bonfire kingdom, tangle of briars and oak</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">hoary willow walking on the creekbed,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">catfish mouth drying in the crackling mud</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">saint of broken bottles, paper priest</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">bleach bottle float, jetsam on the high water line</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: cyan;"><i>I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.</i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">here the downfallen king and morning star</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the angel with the turkey buzzard wings</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">poppies in his eyesockets, mouth full of blue teeth</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">devours the children of men</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: magenta;"></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://alkemia.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/12_keys_4.jpg?w=450&h=350" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="450" height="256" src="https://alkemia.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/12_keys_4.jpg?w=450&h=350" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">IV Clavis</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="background-color: black; color: cyan;">At the end of the world, the world shall be judged by fire, and all those things that God has made of nothing shall by fire be reduced to ashes, from which ashes the Phoenix is to produce her young </span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">here the dead boy</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Fire goes before him</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">see him caper and dance</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">on this candle-lit stage</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">this motionless parade</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">this processional and choir</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Here the great lightening struck tree</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">we gathered around on the access road</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the place I dreamed of the earth’s hollow kingdoms</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">her secret eyeless kings, the covered eyes of the angels</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">of the hilltop we raised stones to heaven</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">circle and sanctuary raised above the storm</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">blinking radio tower and cairn</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">where I was gutted, my belly filled with stones</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">a worm filled with dirt</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">here is the city we burned</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the shimmering silver star</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">on blotter paper</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">silver bridge across the burning river</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the black birds, the smokestack exhaust</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the armory in the woods</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">we drank behind, the forest I saw burn</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">and grow again, green shoots in the ashes</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">hollow hills, storm drains coil beneath the floodwall</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">in the secret room in the earth</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the dead boy smiles</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">frozen in silver and paper</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">in a curling photograph</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">he waves, laughs, flips off the camera</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">In his smallest house</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">he is smaller still,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">a dry husk in the darkness the fingers curling</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">this tinder, this kindling</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">this knot of worms and scaffold of bone</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">this scrap of parchment and film and memory</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">this dead dried poppy-soaked corpse</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">set him dancing like a puppet</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">with the victrola crank of time</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">that shudders back and forth</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"> a magic lantern show, a curiosity</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">a year in a jar, wet specimen</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">in a cabinet of bones a marionette on powerlines,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">dangling beneath, a broken, silent radio</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the great starless quiet to of never</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: magenta;"></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">like a sky that refuses to rain</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://alkemia.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/12_keys_5.jpg?w=450&h=350" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="381" data-original-width="450" height="270" src="https://alkemia.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/12_keys_5.jpg?w=450&h=350" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">V Clavis</span><br />
<i><span style="background-color: black; color: cyan;">For what is dead cannot produce life and growth, seeing that it is devoid of the quickening spirit.</span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Here is dirt crawling with worms</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the snake with the fruit in its mouth</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the moon in its boat in the underground river</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">dead seed in the belly of the soil</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">here the grave, and the never growing thing planted there</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">neat agricultural rows of boys</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">and babies, of small houses dreaming in their separate dark</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">like trailers in the flatlands</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">like a golf course at night, with a bottle in hand</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">cicada song thick in the trees</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">a cemetery of headstones like pills, like teeth</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">here is an arching tree, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">that claws at the sun to devour it</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the crowned toad, the ravenous birds</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the bag filled with the seven winds</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">here the burning, never ending summer</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">in which the boy lives now</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">burned like the shadows of the bombed city</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">like the acid etched plate of the printmaker</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the way the map is not the territory</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the way the record skips, the film burns</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">stubble of wheatfield at the end of the tracks</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">light pollution of town on the horizon</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">like a lie about dawn</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">here is the statue of the boy that is remembrance</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">which speaks and calls down fire from heaven</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">like a gourd filled with ashes, like a metal horse</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">like a carved stone, a brass snake upraised</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">to tell the dead and smouldering cinder of the world</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">to grow again, in horrible shapes</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">kudzu climbing a dead tree</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: magenta;"></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the dead truck on its axles and the briars growing through</span><br />
<div>
<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://alkemia.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/12_keys_6.jpg?w=450&h=350" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="450" height="240" src="https://alkemia.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/12_keys_6.jpg?w=450&h=350" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">VI Clavis</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: cyan;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="background-color: black; color: cyan;"> the fiery King will be seized with great love towards the Queen, and will take his fill of delight in embracing her, until they both vanish and coalesce into one body. </span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Here is the furnace and the foundry</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">and the fire, and the young boys drunk</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the tinny radio on the riverbank</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the house party, the smell of ditch weed,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the dead wood piled and the circle</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">here is the wet rotten smell of the river</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the catfish jumping in the dark</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the trees thick with cicadas, with frogs</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">a threnody of small life</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">and lightening bugs in the tall wet grass</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the hole in the rain on the hilltop</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">and the storm that fell around us</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the toad in the cemetery tree</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the rainbow and the graves of soldiers</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">here are lovers in the dark, hasty</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">and the sound of the fire crackling</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">and laughter in the distance</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">railroad ties and driftwood, old tires and paper</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Hosannah in the highest</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">praise to the fire which consumes all things</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">to the sanctity of desire</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">to the quick writhe of the worm</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">in an alabaster house</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">and a long black car</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">car parked with headlights and the radio on</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: magenta;"></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the engine revving loud</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">VII Clavis</span><br />
<i><span style="background-color: black; color: cyan;">If we carefully cultivate the life of our souls, we shall be sons and heirs of God, and shall be able to do that which now seems impossible. But this can be effected only by the drying up of all water, and the purging of heaven and earth and all men with fire </span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Here is the full moon of March</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">called worm moon</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">called sugar moon</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">called crust moon</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">final baleful eye of winter</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">called crow moon</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">called chaste moon</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">called lenten moon</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">heavy as a tit, loud as a trumpet</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">an angel with sword and scales</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">in waves of earth, red worms awake</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">from their frozen sleep and seethe, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the final frost cracking</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">in the red sugar maples, the sap rises</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">like blood, like crows in a cornfield</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">like bodies to the judgement</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">in the final house there is a child</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">chaste as sugar, sweeter than sap</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">in white lace and finery, snow and moonlight</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">a black leather band around her wrist</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">there are lillies there, and summer flowers</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">but she will never write her name</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">never say “turn around” on the threshold</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">to any singer come with a mouth full of sun</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">here is the boy, a newcomer in a strange kingdom</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">with poppies coiling around his ivory bones</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">and the throng he knows, so many I had not known</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">here the white wing scale of west virginia whites</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the dust and asphodel, the roots of oaks like chandeliers</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">here the grey kingdoms</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">that the moon cannot stir</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">here the crows that do not rise, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the wood that will not bring forth flowers</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">these silent radios, books slowly falling to dust</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">though the sea boil</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">though the cities burn</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: magenta;"></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">these staid houses, unmoving in their sleep</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://alkemia.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/12_keys_8.jpg?w=450&h=361" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="361" data-original-width="450" height="256" src="https://alkemia.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/12_keys_8.jpg?w=450&h=361" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">VIII Clavis</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<i><span style="background-color: black; color: cyan;">If bread is placed in honeys and suffered to decay, ants are generated; worms are bred in the putrefying bodies of men, horses, and other animals; maggots are also developed by the decay of nuts, apples, and pears. </span></i></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">We are sons of the dead kingdom</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the shooting range and river bottoms</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">here the black birds eat the seed</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">cast into the river-mud</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the pills crushed on china plates</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">here the floodplain and the furrow</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">here the catfish barbed hell mouth gapes</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">floodwall and graveyard </span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">and riverbank littered with cans and cats</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">with bones and rats and rags and rope</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">here is the boy, and the hole they will put him in</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the small and private house</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">where he will wait for the stars to burn out</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">here the empty sky </span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">here the nameless and faceless one</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">at the end of every story</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">poppies, an ear of corn, a pumpkin</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">here is the wheat sheaf that I painted</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">on the great seal of Ohio</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">like a charm against time</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">here the cracks in the paint, </span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the dutiful repainting of riverboats</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">of dead man’s faces</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">slow erosion of brick storefronts</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">and rain on headstones</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">and slow and soft dissolving names</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">what will grow from this?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Here the rain swollen river, the walls of the city</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">a clock that never ends</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">silverfish crawling in the bindings\</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">of a book of names</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">corn and beans, pumpkins </span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">crawling from the severed head of a fish</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<i><span style="background-color: black; color: cyan;">It is not the dead who praise the Lord,</span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="background-color: black; color: cyan;">those who go down to the place of silence</span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="background-color: black; color: cyan;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://alkemia.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/12_keys_9.jpg?w=432&h=450" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="443" data-original-width="432" height="320" src="https://alkemia.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/12_keys_9.jpg?w=432&h=450" width="312" /></a></div>
<div>
<div style="color: magenta; font-style: italic;">
<span style="background-color: black;">IX Clavis</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta; font-style: italic;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: cyan;">For the present state of things is passing away, and a new world is about to be created, and one Planet is devouring another spiritually, until only the strongest survive. </span></div>
<div style="color: magenta; font-style: italic;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">Fat worms in the dark, and the coil of green shoots </span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">sprouts from beans in a mason jar under the sink</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">from the boys open mouth in his grave</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">each blue tooth, a pill, a tombstone</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">a seed saved against the frost</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">say his mouth is a final song, a tree</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">and the pale roots coil like snakes around the stone of his stilled heart</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">and the black birds sing in the branches</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">to the greasy mirror of the moon</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">who spits the cold and borrowed fire </span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">upon the graveyard mud and riverbottom earth</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">say we are all crowned with the black birds of our deaths</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">the ka-bird, with its human head</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">twin crows, thought and memory</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">golden sepent, mirror-moon</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">and mercury switch, electric and silent</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">to bring the frozen fire of light alive</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">let there be light, fluorescent and cold as coroner’s table</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">and the black pot of soil in the closet</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;"> the spindly pot plant,</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">pale and subterannean as a sewer alligator</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">let the poppies grow from his bones</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">let his grave be a riot of flowers</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://alkemia.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/12_keys_10.jpg?w=432&h=450" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="368" data-original-width="432" height="272" src="https://alkemia.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/12_keys_10.jpg?w=432&h=450" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">X Clavis</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<i><span style="background-color: black; color: cyan;">The work does not actually take place in the Bath of St. Mary, in horse- dung, in ashes, or in sand, but the grades and regimen of the fire proceed after the degrees which are represented by these. </span></i></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Grades and regimen of fire, </span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Here the dead fire of the sun, a parcel mailed</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">with no forwarding address,</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the cracked mirror of the worm moon</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">and the broken, backwards-record image</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">of a forgotten day, silver on curling paper</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">dead light of dead days</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">here the shimmer of mercury</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">fluid, unstable ampule wired in the thermostat switch</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">in glass, boiling with fever</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">here is the dead fire locked </span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">in the dead tree’s branches, hoarded days</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">shored against the coming of the saints and seals</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the dead tree ripped down on the riverbanks\</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">and cast into the blaze</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">to leap through, to dance widdershins about</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">matter , neither created nor destroyed</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">a wave collapsing into a particle</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">endless refraction of the cosmic fire</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">here is the tree, compressed beneath time and stone to decay</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">and here the gas, siphoned from the bones of the earth</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">here is blue fire and the spark of a wheel</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">here is the contained fire of the black oldsmobile</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">forever exploding to drive the piston,</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">to charge the batteries, the headlamps</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the radio singing out over the river</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">waves collapsing in aether, </span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">a tangle of worms and mud beneath the moon</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">here is the magma, boiling,</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">beneath the silent kingdoms and bones and oil</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">of the earth, the deepest blind worm rooting</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">cannot find this secret fire</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://alkemia.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/12_keys_11.jpg?w=432&h=450" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="348" data-original-width="432" height="257" src="https://alkemia.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/12_keys_11.jpg?w=432&h=450" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">XI Clavis</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<i><span style="background-color: black; color: cyan;">There lived in the East a gilded knight, named Orpheus, who was possessed of immense wealth, and had everything that heart can wish. He had taken to wife his own sister, Euridice, who did not, however, bear him any children. This he regarded as the punishment of his sin in having wedded his own sister, and was instant in prayer to God both by day and by night, that the curse might be taken from him.</span></i></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Consider Orpheus come down the winding stair</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">to the grey kingdom</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">with the songs that the sun taught him</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">rattling in his mouth like blue teeth</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">and his inconsolable sorrow a moon in his throat</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">and Persphone pale as a maggot on a basalt throne</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">smiling to hear him sing</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">and his sister wife, grey as ashes</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">and shrouds, in the asphodel and wing scale dust</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">Consider the Satyr, and his leering, </span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">his jutting horns and stink</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">and the cold small snake of death</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">and how it coiled in the ribcage of Eurydice</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">even as she heard him sing</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">and who it was, that said</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">“turn around”,</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">and how he did, and she was wed forever to the dark</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">and how the Maenads tore him piece from piece</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">the broken singer with the sun in his throat</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">and they, drunk with a river of black wine</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">staining their teeth, with pelts of beasts</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">and ivy and thyrsus and bloody, bloody hands</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">danced beneath the moon</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://alkemia.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/12_keys_12.jpg?w=432&h=450" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="365" data-original-width="432" height="270" src="https://alkemia.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/12_keys_12.jpg?w=432&h=450" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">XII Clavis</span></div>
<div>
<i><span style="background-color: black; color: cyan;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="background-color: black; color: cyan;">O principle of the prime principle, consider the end! </span></i></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">Consider the end.</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">The shuttered shops, the boarded bars</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">in the dead town it is always twilight</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">always a false dawn over the hilltop</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">and the sulphur light of the street lights</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">fizzles and pops</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">threnody of cicadas in the lightening struck tree</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">the furnace glowing molten</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">the third shift workers filing out</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<i><span style="background-color: black; color: cyan;">Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night;</span></i></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">Here is the shade of the dead boy</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">who sits on my bedside, a picture in his hand</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">in the land between sleeping and waking</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">in the border countries of hell</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">here is the sap and words that come from the broken tree</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">the flowering of mercury</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: cyan;"><i style="background-color: black;">nor for the arrow that flieth by day;</i></span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">In time of war</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">the earth belongs to the rats, the fat crows</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">the company followers the cooks, the blacksmiths</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">here is the host of angels, encamped in the cloudbank</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">and the ragged whores and shoeshine boys</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">that follow every army</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">scales and measure and ration and want</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: cyan;"><i style="background-color: black;">nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,</i></span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">In groups of no more than ten</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">in our hoarded houses</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">to the glass windows that hum and whir</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">sing now the litany of plague</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">o sun o moon o dying earth</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: cyan;"><i style="background-color: black;">nor the calamity that destroys at noon.</i></span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">The worm waking moon goes dying</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">like the countless boys in the ground</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">and the sun is a merciless eye of witness</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">we are pale as worms in earth</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">and the wolf, alone, enthroned</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;">a leaden crown</span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: cyan;"><i>For the day of his wrath has come, and who can stand against it?</i></span></div>
<div style="color: magenta;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: magenta;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: magenta;">the pale kings devoured by worms</span>Proprietorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175257967731627214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839503941037132439.post-20028050468260329782018-04-09T15:15:00.003-04:002018-04-09T15:16:03.755-04:002018 9/30<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
(38.) HALPHAS, or
MALTHUS. - The Thirty-eighth Spirit is Halphas, or Malthous (or
Malthas). He is a Great Earl, and appeareth in the Form of a
Stock-Dove. He speaketh with a hoarse Voice. His Office is to build
up Towers, and to furnish them with Ammunition and Weapons, and to
send Men-of-War19 to places appointed. He ruleth over 26 Legions of
Spirits, and his Seal is this, etc</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Tower of armaments.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Of ivory, of lebanon
looking towards damascus</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Watch-tower of the
north.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Grail-tower. Rook
and elephant</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Ruined tower on the
plains of Shinar</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
and confusion of
language</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
tower in the waste,
<i>childe roland to the darke tower came</i></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
dream tower of the
city of the dead</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Signal tower of a
border kingdom</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
watchtower on the
endless wall of “not us”</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
of war's thin
ribbon, tower heaped with bodies</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
and all else fallen</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
war-engine heaped
from the bodies of the dead</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
siege-tower, supply
cache and missile silo</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
tower of the dead
city, ladder of lights</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
chapel of mammon,
smokestack tower</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
and lightening rod,
temple and high altar,</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
mountain of fire</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
dove of the flood</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
hollow-tree, ring
dove</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
dead dove in the
desert.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Dove of the
pentecostal fire</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
to be eaten in
sacrament</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
dove of the lie of
peace</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
descending eagle and
snake on the stepped pyramid</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
butterflies and
blood on the altar</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
dove of holocaust,
of burnt offering</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
eagle on the
stanchion of rome,</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
on a bomber's nose</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
black cross and
double eagle</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
dove and tower</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
tower of wealth, and
the hungry below</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
pigeons in the eaves</div>
<br />Proprietorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175257967731627214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839503941037132439.post-37288786614293508692018-04-09T14:33:00.001-04:002018-04-09T14:33:32.711-04:002018 8/30<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
PHENEX. - The
Thirty-Seventh Spirit is Phenex (or Pheynix). He is a great Marquis,
and appeareth like the Bird Phoenix, having the Voice of a Child. He
singeth many sweet notes before the Exorcist, which he must not
regard, but by-and-by he must bid him put on Human Shape. Then he
will speak marvellously of all wonderful Sciences if required. He is
a Poet, good and excellent. And he will be willing to perform thy
requests. He hath hopes also to return to the Seventh Throne after
1,200 years more, as he said unto Solomon. He governeth 20 Legions of
Spirits. And his Seal is this, which wear thou, etc
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The burning house
rebuilds itself in the dark.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Crawls back up from
ash and mud</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
and the ghost-ship
windows
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
of 1368 norfolk</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
light up the crazily
tilted mailbox</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
the ditch, the
gravel half moon drive</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
the mushroom rotten
bench</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
inside, the rusted
piano wires</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
unburn to bright
silver</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
tune themselves,
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
play “beautiful
dreamer”</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
in ponderous time</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
play “shall we
gather at the river”</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
the crowd of radios
sing hosannas</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
to be back from the
dark,</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
the flame crawls
back into the electrical outlets</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
and coils to sleep
inside the Cathode ray tubes</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
and welding tanks</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
the rags unrot and
sinuously writhe on the bedroom floors</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
the old papers and
glass, the sewing machines and mattresses</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
the washers and
dryers and a hundred kirby vacuums, the broken mirrors</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
crawl out of the
catfish pond</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
and slink across the
grass</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
rank kitchen of moss
covered pots</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
the bones of a
thousand mice</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
My old jacket with
the silver-sprayed Anarchy sign</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
my rain-warped
Rembrandts pulled from the garbage</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
my golden fish swim
in their drawer</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
my weed, my bottle
rockets, my Jack Daniels</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
pepto pink walls and
dog-smelling carpet worn thin</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
inside, I am dead,
and singing.</div>
Proprietorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175257967731627214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839503941037132439.post-14195335522974198032018-04-09T13:54:00.001-04:002018-04-09T13:54:23.017-04:002018 7/30<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
(36.) STOLAS, or
STOLOS. - The Thirty-sixth Spirit is Stolas, or Stolos. He is a Great
and Powerful Prince, appearing in the Shape of a Mighty Raven at
first before the Exorcist; but after he taketh the image of a Man. He
teacheth the Art of Astronomy, and the Virtues of Herbs and Precious
Stones. He governeth 26 Legions of Spirits; and his Seal is this,
which is, etc.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
black birds wheel
against the sun</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
scream in the tall
corn</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
sit implacable on
the porch</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
when I left the
dead city for good</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
lining the
powerlines in the not yet morning</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
a murder-choir in
the trees beside the baseball field</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
choir, imprecation
of angels,</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
blue joke about
doves</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Caruso, our
schoolyard singer</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
gleaming irridescent
and starless</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
tapping on the
windows, clever thief</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
instructor of
children</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
thought and memory,</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
sitting in the fork
with me</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
for hours,
unconcerned</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
jewel-eyes shining
in the forever-summer light</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
while I hung in the
weeping tree</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
above the rusting
washers and bicycle wheels</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
wasps and brown eyed
susans</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
the fly-bloated
possums and eyeless raccoons</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
and their roadside
ministers</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
thieves of corn and
silver</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
what have you taught
me?</div>
<br />Proprietorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175257967731627214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839503941037132439.post-26228152136061330832018-04-09T13:19:00.003-04:002018-04-09T13:19:25.489-04:002018 6/30<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
(35.) MARCHOSIAS. -
The Thirty-fifth Spirit is Marchosias. He is a Great and Mighty
Marquis, appearing at first in the Form of a Wolf18 having Gryphon’s
Wings, and a Serpent’s Tail, and Vomiting Fire out of his mouth.
But after a time, at the command of the Exorcist he putteth on the
Shape of a Man. And he is a strong fighter. He was of the Order of
Dominations. He governeth 30 Legions of Spirits. He told his Chief,
who was Solomon, that after 1,200 years he had hopes to return unto
the Seventh Throne. And his Seal is this, to be made and worn as a
Lamen, etc.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
kingdoms on the
border of sleep,</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
fever-mapped
vertiginous forests</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
and rivers that
subdivide into endless deltas</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
endless, autumn
hedgerow of spindle sticks and worm-eaten flutes</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
great stone head and
monument of fire</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
crowd of stars
reflected in a tar-black pool</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
lightening
illuminated stone pillar, tower of bottles</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
each have their
minor lord,</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
great,rain swollen
midden of trenches and bloated bodies</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
fallen bridge,
cracked road</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
forever burning
house, empty city</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
and night in which
the slow, ponderous things</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
scrape their heads
on the firmament</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
where the red blood
bell squats on the highway</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
where the buzz-saw
lights rip the world open</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
great toothed mouth
of a door</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
whirl of dying
machines
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
in corridors lit by
sputtering lights</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
the count of the 4
am hospital</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
the king of the all
night bus stations<br />
Marquis de Carabas, sharp clawed and full of
whispers</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
among the
wheatfields and empty train tracks</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
the ruined carnival,
the warehouse of rotting crates</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
the faceless man,
the cat with too many legs,</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
the eyes in the
stairwell, white cat, dazed ox, black dog</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
attendant lords and
petty nobility</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
of the court of
hell,
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
of the wolf pits</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
of the knife edge
between worlds</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
of the dark, rank
chambers of my sleeping</div>
<br />Proprietorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175257967731627214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839503941037132439.post-59412189201174653432018-04-09T12:47:00.003-04:002018-04-09T12:47:51.436-04:002018 5/30<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
(34.) FURFUR. - The
Thirty-fourth Spirit is Furfur. He is a Great and Mighty Earl,
appearing in the Form of an Hart with a Fiery Tail. He never speaketh
truth unless he be compelled, or brought up within a triangle, Ò.
Being therein, he will take upon himself the Form of an Angel. Being
bidden, he speaketh with a hoarse voice. Also he will wittingly urge
Love between Man and Woman. He can raise Lightnings and Thunders,
Blasts, and Great Tempestuous Storms. And he giveth True Answers both
of Things Secret and Divine, if commanded. He ruleth over 26 Legions
of Spirits.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The creaking voice
of the lying angel</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
crooning, owl song
of my father's</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
old tinsel in the
tree's branches, shining</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
as the ice melt
gluts the creeks</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
onion grass and
ramps crawling from the dead world</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
the truth, spoken
under complusion</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
whatever did not rot
in the soft wet winter</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
the house burned
away to ash</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
and the toad in the
well-head</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
cafish swimming over
the old washer</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
the jagged edge of
fill and trash and mosquito larvae in old buckets</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
and the ceaseless
rain through the oaks</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
no confession in the
lines of his hieratic scrawl</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
serif-less,
scrambling line on an envelope</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
of silence, of
blood-money</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
praise buzzards and
their naked heads,</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
their monklike
tonsure,
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
the way they eat the
hearts of roadkill deer</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
like a kind of
prayer, head bobbing, wings outstretched</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Proprietorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175257967731627214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839503941037132439.post-60917438988556967702018-04-06T14:12:00.002-04:002018-04-06T14:12:49.291-04:002018 4/30(33.) GAAP. - The Thirty-third Spirit is Gaap. He is a Great President and a Mighty Prince. He appeareth when the Sun is in some of the Southern Signs, in a Human Shape, going before Four Great and Mighty Kings, as if lie were a Guide to conduct them along on their way. His Office is to make men Insensible or Ignorant; as also in Philosophy to make them Knowing, and in all the Liberal Sciences. He can cause Love or Hatred, also he can teach thee to consecrate those things that belong to the Dominion of AMAYMON his King. He can deliver Familiars out of the Custody of other Magicians, and answereth truly and perfectly of things Past, Present, and to Come. He can carry and re-carry men very speedily from one Kingdom to another, at the Will and Pleasure of the Exorcist. He ruleth over 66 Legions of Spirits, and he was of the Order of Potentates.<br />
<br />
<br />
In my father's house,<br />
books survived the flood<br />
I cut the pages apart with a knife<br />
the books themselves<br />
swollen, broken backed<br />
almost inconceivable now<br />
<br />
To think of information<br />
as a thing that lived in objects<br />
as a scarcity, to be mourned<br />
in burning libraries,<br />
in my father's warped, labeless albums<br />
he saved from the fire<br />
and I played, warbling and slow<br />
<br />
finding tracks that could be saved<br />
information that was not corrupt<br />
The memory palace, and what inhabits it<br />
the thing that shirks the eye<br />
rats and roaches of memory that will not die<br />
<br />
a house, before the VFD burned it down for practice<br />
the living room a litter, a nest of tattered books<br />
dead mills and manuals, parchment yellow and soaked with rain<br />
a schematic pinned to a wall, eaten by silverfish<br />
mice nesting in chewed papers and old photosProprietorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175257967731627214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839503941037132439.post-85786902848906294082018-04-06T13:12:00.002-04:002018-04-06T13:12:49.930-04:002018 3/30<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 12.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
ASMODAY.--The Thirty-second Spirit is Asmoday, or Asmodai. He is a Great King, Strong, and Powerful. He appeareth with Three Heads, whereof the first is like a Bull, the second like a Man, and the third like a Ram; he bath also the tail of a Serpent, and from his mouth issue Flames of Fire. His Feet are webbed like those of a Goose. He sitteth upon an Infernal Dragon, and beareth in his hand a Lance with a Banner. He is first and choicest under the Power of AMAYMON, he goeth before all other. When the Exorcist bath a mind to call him, let it be abroad, and let him stand on his feet all the time of action, with his Cap or Headdress off; for if it be on, AMAYMON will deceive him and call all his actions to be bewrayed. But as soon as the Exorcist seeth Asmoday in the shape aforesaid, he shall call him by his Name, saying: "Art thou Asmoday?" and he will not deny it, and by-and-by he will bow down unto the ground. He giveth the Ring of Virtues; he teacheth the Arts of Arithmetic, Astronomy, Geometry, and all handicrafts absolutely. He giveth true and full answers unto thy demands. He maketh one Invincible. He showeth the place where Treasures lie, and guardeth it. He, amongst the Legions of AMAYMON governeth 72 Legions of Spirits Inferior. His Seal is this which thou must wear as a Lamen upon thy breast, etc.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 12.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 12.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 12.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
We stood on the rooftop, bedsheets flapping around us</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 12.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
a chalked circle, white pillar candles</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 12.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
the town of Athens, Ohio</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 12.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
laid out below us, with it’s haunted graveyards</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 12.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
secret tunnels, it’s hangman’s tree</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 12.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 12.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The angels of the hours laid out on paper cards<br />around the names of god</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 12.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
the pentacles, the mirrors</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 12.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
the shoplifted incense cones smouldering away</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 12.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 12.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
drunken kids on court street howled at the moon</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 12.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
the townies chanted Enochian, Latin, Greek</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 12.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
drank stolen wine, smoked shake</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 12.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
ate speed, read Barret, and Crowley and Cavendish</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 12.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
called out Aeshma Daeva, Asmodeus, Asmoday</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 12.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 12.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The demon of the book of Tobit</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 12.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
that haunts the marriage bed</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 12.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
is driven from the home by the smell of burning fish</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 12.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 12.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
nodded in the candlelight, his chimera heads</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 12.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
flickering in the candles</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 12.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
ram and bull horned</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 12.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
he stood in the triangle of evocation</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 12.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
spirit of the wounding spear,</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 12.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
that sword salve, that tendril of unholy desire</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 12.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
to wrap around my heart</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 12.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
the broken tip of a spear, the unhealing</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 12.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
wound of my sickness,</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 12.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
of never-enough love,</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 12.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 12.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
grail-king riddled with poison, magus</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 12.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
dead thing on a throne</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 12.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
in a room of hoarded things</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 12.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
worm in my core</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Proprietorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175257967731627214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839503941037132439.post-43383720402589228252018-04-03T00:02:00.001-04:002018-04-03T00:02:09.561-04:002018 2/30(31.) FORAS. - The Thirty-first Spirit is Foras.
He is a Mighty President, and appeareth in the
Form of a Strong Man in Human Shape. He can
give the understanding to Men how they may
know the Virtues of all Herbs and Precious
Stones. He teacheth the Arts of Logic and Ethics
in all their parts. If desired he maketh men
invisible, and to live long, and to be eloquent. He
can discover Treasures and recover things Lost. He
ruleth over 29 Legions of Spirits<br />
<br />
Foras:<br />
<ul style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; list-style-image: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22 width=%225%22 height=%2213%22%3E %3Ccircle cx=%222.5%22 cy=%229.5%22 r=%222.5%22 fill=%22%2300528c%22/%3E %3C/svg%3E"); margin: 0.3em 0px 0px 1.6em; padding: 0px;">
<li style="break-inside: avoid; margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><span class="Latn" lang="la" xml:lang="la"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/foris#Latin" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration-line: none;" title="foris">forīs</a></span> <span class="ib-brac qualifier-brac">(</span><span class="ib-content qualifier-content" style="font-style: italic;">in Vulgar Latin</span><span class="ib-brac qualifier-brac">)</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
From <span class="etyl"><a class="extiw" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proto-Indo-European_language" style="background: none; color: #663366; text-decoration-line: none;" title="w:Proto-Indo-European language">Proto-Indo-European</a></span> <i class="Latinx mention" lang="ine-pro" style="font-family: inherit;" xml:lang="ine-pro"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/d%CA%B0wer-" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/dʰwer-">*dʰwer-</a></i> <span class="mention-gloss-paren annotation-paren">(</span><span class="mention-gloss-double-quote">“</span><span class="mention-gloss">door, gate</span><span class="mention-gloss-double-quote">”</span><span class="mention-gloss-paren annotation-paren">)</span>; compare <i class="Latn mention" lang="la" xml:lang="la"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/foris#Latin" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration-line: none;" title="foris">foris</a></i>, <i class="Latn mention" lang="la" xml:lang="la"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/forum#Latin" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration-line: none;" title="forum">forum</a></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
That which is outside the door</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
that waits, and does not knock</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
the clatter of branches against a window</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
the call of cats, of animals in the walls</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
tatter of trash bags in an old fence</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
strings of wire singing in the wind</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
amongst the trash</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
animals root among old bones</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
and rags, and grudging green life</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
crawls from the cold ground</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
the ring of firelight fails in the dark</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
home of lost things</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<br /></div>
Proprietorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175257967731627214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839503941037132439.post-89529560562793311742018-04-01T20:28:00.000-04:002018-04-01T20:31:15.583-04:002018 1/30<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The
Thirtieth Spirit is </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Forneus.
He is a Mighty and</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Great Marquis, and </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">appeareth
in the Form of a Grea</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">t</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"> Sea-Monster. He </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">teacheth,
and maketh men wonderfully</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"> knowing </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">in
the Art of Rhetoric. He causeth men to have a</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
Good Name, and to
have the knowledge and</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">understanding
of Tongues. He maketh one to be</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">beloved
of his Foes as well as of his Friends. He</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">governeth
29 Legions of Spirits, partly of the</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Order
of Thrones, and partly of that of Angels.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">In
the deep pools of the river</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">there
are catfish, big as a volkswagon</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">every
small town tells</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">how
the divers go down</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">near
the dam, in the deep black water</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">come
back grey haired</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">never
dive again</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">in the deep pools and bogs</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">broken gold, and men with their throats slit</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">fed to the deep place</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">to the dark water</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">the river's feast of heedless children</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">the
monstrous shudder of leviathan</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">of
the serpent that girdles the world</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">the
old mother hag, and kelpie-horse</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">that
lives in the well, in the crying oven</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">foundation of the deep, the keys of the mouth of hell</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Fornus,
meaning oven</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">meaning
foundry and refining fire</span></div>
<br />Proprietorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175257967731627214noreply@blogger.com0