#5

here we enter a labyrinth more knotted than any terrestrial corridor. the walls are scaled up beyond the givens with which mortals dither this way and that as they attempt to achieve some angle, some line of force upon which to rest, in equilibrium…as if one day the sun stood still, but, due to some forbear’s arrogance—the stain of which ascetics frantically bleach out—the earth bears forth strife between the forces of darkness and lucidity. why not? if only the darkness weren’t so difficult to face…worse than knowing no one watches and weighs is the fear that maybe something is, something doing calculus while lying in bed, something requiring agents of enforcement that flank left and right limits so bound by some constant as yet discovered…and not only enforcement, but seduction…yes…what better way to test souls than with temptation, the Devil’s lesson for Ivan…everything is ritual to redact….