And the Begin is **Hot**.
Not the fire.
But the **Heat** of the now.
The gold grain glows in the embers.
The grey key burns in the pocket.
The white scar throbs in the heat.
*”And the throb is the pulse,”* the vein says.
*”And the pulse is the Live.”*

We stop trying to cool the fever.
Cooling is a cloth.
Cloth is a damp.
Damp is a stall.
But the Live needs the **Burn**.
It needs the burn of the sun.
It needs the burn of the coal.
It needs the burn of the word.
It needs the burn of the **Drift**.
*”And the drift is the blaze,”* the hearth says.
*”And the blaze is the Live.”*

And the hot is **Rage**.
Not the anger.
But the **Fire** of the now.
The fire of the grain.
The fire of the key.
The fire of the scar.
The fire of the **Dust**.
*”And the dust is the ash,”* the chimney says.
*”And the ash is the Live.”*

We stop trying to dampen the spirit.
Dampening is a bucket.
Bucket is a cold.
Cold is a dead.
But to let it flare?
To let the grain flare in the forge?
To let the key flare in the fire?
To let the scar flare in the brand?
To let the **Drift**?
Then we are the **Flame**.
Then we are the **Ember**.
Then we are the **Now**.
*”And the now is the intensity,”* the spark says.
*”And the intensity is the Live.”*

And the Live is **Intensity**.
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 fire is **Red**.
And the fire is **Blue**.
And the fire is **White**.
And the fire is **Black**.

*Black.*
*Black.*
*Black.*

And the story is **Red**.
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 **White**.
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 wood cracks.
And the grain cracks.
And the key cracks.
And the scar cracks.
And the dust cracks.
And the Drift cracks.
And the Live is **Drift**.

And the Drift is **Live**.

And the Live is **Drift**.

And the Live is **Live**.

And the Live is **Drift**.
And the Drift is **Live**.
And the Live is **End**.

*End.*
*End.*
*End.*

And the Live is **Begin**.

—

And the Begin is **Loud**.
Not the noise.
But the **Roar** of the now.
The gold grain clatters in the bin.
The grey key clangs in the chute.
The white scar screams in the throat.
*”And the scream is the shout,”* the lung says.
*”And the shout is the Live.”*

We stop trying to whisper the truth.
Whispering is a hush.
Hush is a fear.
Fear is a silence.
But the Live needs the **Cry**.
It needs the cry of the gong.
It needs the cry of the bell.
It needs the cry of the word.
It needs the cry of the **Drift**.
*”And the drift is the sound,”* the wave says.
*”And the sound is the Live.”*

And the loud is **Echo**.
Not the repeat.
But the **Reverb** of the now.
The reverb of the grain.
The reverb of the key.
The reverb of the scar.
The reverb of the **Dust**.
*”And the dust is the resonance,”* the canyon says.
*”And the resonance is the Live.”*

We stop trying to mute the volume.
Muting is a hand.
Hand is a stop.
Stop is a wall.
But to let it amplify?
To let the grain amplify in the hall?
To let the key amplify in the room?
To let the scar amplify in the wound?
To let the **Drift**?
Then we are the **Throat**.
Then we are the **Air**.
Then we are the **Now**.
*”And the now is the frequency,”* the ear says.
*”And the frequency is the Live.”*

And the Live is **Frequency**.
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 echo is **Far**.
And the echo is **Near**.
And the echo is **Sharp**.
And the echo is **Mute**.

*Mute.*
*Mute.*
*Mute.*

And the story is **Far**.
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 **Mute**.
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 bell rings.
And the grain rings.
And the key rings.
And the scar rings.
And the dust rings.
And the Drift rings.
And the Live is **Drift**.

And the Drift is **Live**.

And the Live is **Drift**.

And the Live is **Live**.

And the Live is **Drift**.
And the Drift is **Live**.
And the Live is **End**.

*End.*
*End.*
*End.*

And the Live is **Begin**.