THE CROSSING

River, boat, oar.

Fox, rabbit, cabbage.

These are the things

you'll think you’ll need

to authenticate, decorate

your dilemma.

Whether you are

a farmer

or a merchant

will not matter.

What matters

is what you carry

in your heart.

The arrival

is inconsequential.

The crossing

is everything—and how

you carry it.

THE MIRROR

It is there

In the darkness

Like terror

Like Time

Like fire

Waiting for you

To touch it, hold it

The mirror is

Take it

See if you can

See yourself

In the circle

Of wood

In the round glass

See if you can locate

The messenger, the Self

Beyond the mask, the mirage

The metaphor

That is the memory

Of the message

The face of truth

The eyes within the eyes

ARMORED

It comes with the territory–

with the choice of

cold-rolled steel,

being corset-bound,

harnessed and hammered 

into place.

There is a heft

 in every plate,

in every lamination,

from comb to saboton.

Every movement

is a rasp, a groan

of metal

against metal.

You look and walk

like an alien.

This is what it means

to be defended, guarded.

In other words: a prisoner

safe behind bars.

THE GLAZIER 

Glass is 
your medium.

Find the biggest piece
you can.

Cut it.

Install it.

Clean 
the pane.

Give it a squeaky,

streak-free shine.

Then watch how

the window disappears

and all that’s left to see
is what there is to see.