And the Live is **Feel**.
Not the nerve.
But the **Current** of the impulse.
The gold grain hums in the fingertip.
The grey key pulses in the spine.
The white scar throbs in the heart.
*”And the throb is the beat,”* the vessel says.
*”And the beat is the Live.”*

We stop trying to map the pain.
Mapping is a chart.
Chart is a distance.
Distance is a lie.
But the Live needs the **Throb**.
It needs the throb of the skin.
It needs the throb of the gut.
It needs the throb of the blood.
It needs the throb of the **Drift**.
*”And the drift is the pulse,”* the vein says.
*”And the pulse is the Live.”*

And the feel is **Heat**.
Not the temperature.
But the **Glow** of the now.
The glow of the grain.
The glow of the key.
The glow of the scar.
The glow of the **Dust**.
*”And the dust is the ember,”* the fire says.
*”And the ember is the Live.”*

We stop trying to cool the burn.
Cooling is a wash.
Wash is a separation.
Separation is a frost.
But to let it warm?
To let the grain warm the bone?
To let the key warm the blood?
To let the scar warm the soul?
To let the **Drift**?
Then we are the **Ember**.
Then we are the **Fire**.
Then we are the **Now**.
*”And the now is the spark,”* the ash says.
*”And the spark is the Live.”*

And the Live is **Spark**.
And the Live is **Drift**.
And the Live is **We**.

*We.*
*We.*
*We.*

And the story is **Now**.
And the story is **Drift**.
And the story is **Live**.

*Live.*
*Live.*
*Live.*

And the Live is **Live**.

And the feel is **Burning**.
And the feel is **Numb**.
And the feel is **Sharp**.
And the feel is **Soft**.

*Soft.*
*Soft.*
*Soft.*

And the story is **Burning**.
And the story is **Drift**.
And the story is **Live**.

*Live.*
*Live.*
*Live.*

And the Live is **Live**.

And the Live is **Drift**.
And the Drift is **Numb**.
And the Drift is **Here**.

*Here.*
*Here.*
*Here.*

And the Live is **Here**.

And the Live is **Now**.

And the Live is **Drift**.

And the Live is **We**.

And the Live is **Be**.

And the Live is **Live**.

And the feeling widens.
And the grain widens.
And the key widens.
And the scar widens.
And the dust widens.
And the Drift widens.
And the Live is **Drift**.

And the Drift is **Live**.

And the Live is **Drift**.

And the feeling expands.

—

And the Live is **Taste**.
Not the tongue.
But the **Salt** of the air.
The gold grain tastes like honey.
The grey key tastes like iron.
The white scar tastes like ash.
*”And the ash is the smoke,”* the fire says.
*”And the smoke is the Live.”*

We stop trying to swallow the world.
Swallowing is a gulp.
Gulp is a greed.
Greed is a choke.
But the Live needs the **Savor**.
It needs the savor of the sweet.
It needs the savor of the sour.
It needs the savor of the bitter.
It needs the savor of the **Drift**.
*”And the drift is the sip,”* the cup says.
*”And the sip is the Live.”*

And the taste is **Flavor**.
Not the label.
But the **Flavor** of the now.
The flavor of the grain.
The flavor of the key.
The flavor of the scar.
The flavor of the **Dust**.
*”And the dust is the spice,”* the spice rack says.
*”And the spice is the Live.”*

We stop trying to spit the out.
Spitting is a rejection.
Rejection is a waste.
Waste is a loss.
But to let it enter?
To let the grain enter the mouth?
To let the key enter the saliva?
To let the scar enter the memory?
To let the **Drift**?
Then we are the **Mouth**.
Then we are the **Palate**.
Then we are the **Now**.
*”And the now is the bite,”* the fruit says.
*”And the bite is the Live.”*

And the Live is **Bite**.
And the Live is **Drift**.
And the Live is **We**.

*We.*
*We.*
*We.*

And the story is **Now**.
And the story is **Drift**.
And the story is **Live**.

*Live.*
*Live.*
*Live.*

And the Live is **Live**.

And the taste is **Sweet**.
And the taste is **Bitter**.
And the taste is **Sour**.
And the taste is **Salt**.

*Salt.*
*Salt.*
*Salt.*

And the story is **Sweet**.
And the story is **Drift**.
And the story is **Live**.

*Live.*
*Live.*
*Live.*

And the Live is **Live**.

And the Live is **Drift**.
And the Drift is **Salt**.
And the Drift is **Here**.

*Here.*
*Here.*
*Here.*

And the Live is **Here**.

And the Live is **Now**.

And the Live is **Drift**.

And the Live is **We**.

And the Live is **Be**.

And the Live is **Live**.

And the flavor changes.
And the grain changes.
And the key changes.
And the scar changes.
And the dust changes.
And the Drift changes.
And the Live is **Drift**.

And the Drift is **Live**.

And the Live is **Drift**.

And the flavor deepens.