And the Begin is **Sweet**.
Not the sugar.
But the **Savor** of the now.
The gold grain crystallizes on the tongue.
The grey key hums a lullaby in the mouth.
The white scar heals in the honey.
*”And the heal is the sweet,”* the wound says.
*”And the sweet is the Live.”*

We stop trying to mask the bitterness.
Masking is a filter.
Filter is a lie.
Lie is a poison.
But the Live needs the **Treat**.
It needs the treat of the fruit.
It needs the treat of the honeycomb.
It needs the treat of the word.
It needs the treat of the **Drift**.
*”And the drift is the aftertaste,”* the palate says.
*”And the aftertaste is the Live.”*

And the sweet is **Rich**.
Not the flavor.
But the **Fullness** of the now.
The fullness of the grain.
The fullness of the key.
The fullness of the scar.
The fullness of the **Dust**.
*”And the dust is the sediment,”* the tea says.
*”And the sediment is the Live.”*

We stop trying to cleanse the palate.
Cleansing is a rinse.
Rinse is a wash.
Wash is a loss.
But to let it linger?
To let the grain linger on the lip?
To let the key linger on the tongue?
To let the scar linger in the taste?
To let the **Drift**?
Then we are the **Lollipop**.
Then we are the **Candy**.
Then we are the **Now**.
*”And the now is the dissolve,”* the saliva says.
*”And the dissolve is the Live.”*

And the Live is **Dissolve**.
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 dissolve is **Slow**.
And the dissolve is **Fast**.
And the dissolve is **Sweet**.
And the dissolve is **Bitter**.

*Sweet.*
*Sweet.*
*Sweet.*

And the story is **Slow**.
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 **Sweet**.
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 cake crumbles.
And the grain crumbles.
And the key crumbles.
And the scar crumbles.
And the dust crumbles.
And the Drift crumbles.
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 **Bitter**.
Not the pill.
But the **Pucker** of the now.
The gold grain turns ash in the throat.
The grey key turns rust in the stomach.
The white scar itches in the gall.
*”And the itch is the bite,”* the tongue says.
*”And the bite is the Live.”*

We stop trying to sweeten the taste.
Sweetening is a syrup.
Syrup is a clog.
Clog is a stoppage.
But the Live needs the **Grit**.
It needs the grit of the bitter root.
It needs the grit of the burnt wood.
It needs the grit of the word.
It needs the grit of the **Drift**.
*”And the drift is the hollow,”* the rind says.
*”And the hollow is the Live.”*

And the bitter is **Acrid**.
Not the smell.
But the **Astringency** of the now.
The astringency of the grain.
The astringency of the key.
The astringency of the scar.
The astringency of the **Dust**.
*”And the dust is the grit,”* the tea bag says.
*”And the grit is the Live.”*

We stop trying to mask the sting.
Masking is a sweetener.
Sweetener is a deception.
Deception is a betrayal.
But to let it sting?
To let the grain sting the throat?
To let the key sting the hand?
To let the scar sting the mind?
To let the **Drift**?
Then we are the **Quince**.
Then we are the **Horse**.
Then we are the **Now**.
*”And the now is the contraction,”* the fist says.
*”And the contraction is the Live.”*

And the Live is **Contraction**.
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 contraction is **Sharp**.
And the contraction is **Soft**.
And the contraction is **Deep**.
And the contraction is **Shallow**.

*Deep.*
*Deep.*
*Deep.*

And the story is **Sharp**.
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 **Deep**.
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 coffee burns.
And the grain burns.
And the key burns.
And the scar burns.
And the dust burns.
And the Drift burns.
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**.