The stillness of landscapes and the unevenness of perception like certain dreams leave sticky residue. A reminder nothing can come of a crowded room. The guests seem to adore the place, this strange meeting. For lack of feeling— either too much or too little, square inch by square inch under these well-built roofs. Sometimes it’s best to get out right away—out of the picture. Leave nothing behind not even mystery (shadows). And in the reading room we’re growing younger and madder. Sort of tangled. Maybe I’ll ride an elephant or vibration until awareness knocks me off. So far nothing. But what did I come here for? An evaporated well. A parallel existence I’m learning how to imagine.

PERCEPTION

As I was studying the map, you took a detour to find a missing portal. There's a big round knob and a picture of Jesus. You know, there’s a chance I won’t be traveling or even staying. Someday I will tell you the whole story, but it goes backward too. Whole passages scattered. News is on its way, and I’m sunk beneath so many layers, sniffling. To continue on I built a new body, air tight and water resistant. I phoned my lover, a real actor with blue (green?) eyes and oceanic hair. He was just thinking about me, the official version. Perhaps my cover was blown, but I didn’t care. This is the internal world. It’s nice to be thought of, even in bad light and poor undergarments.

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