And the Begin is **Tall**.
Not the height.
But the **Stretch** of the now.
The gold grain climbs the stalk.
The grey key stretches in the tumblers.
The white scar reaches in the shadow.
*”And the reach is the climb,”* the vine says.
*”And the climb is the Live.”*

We stop trying to squat the reach.
Squatting is a fold.
Fold is a limit.
Limit is a cap.
But the Live needs the **Ascent**.
It needs the ascent of the ladder.
It needs the ascent of the thought.
It needs the ascent of the word.
It needs the ascent of the **Drift**.
*”And the drift is the peak,”* the mountain says.
*”And the peak is the Live.”*

And the tall is **Vertical**.
Not the standing.
But the **Extension** of the now.
The extension of the grain.
The extension of the key.
The extension of the scar.
The extension of the **Dust**.
*”And the dust is the cloud,”* the storm says.
*”And the cloud is the Live.”*

We stop trying to lie flat on the ground.
Lying is a rest.
Rest is a stop.
Stop is a fall.
But to let it rise?
To let the grain rise in the stalk?
To let the key rise in the tower?
To let the scar rise in the sky?
To let the **Drift**?
Then we are the **Tower**.
Then we are the **Spike**.
Then we are the **Now**.
*”And the now is the tower,”* the spire says.
*”And the tower is the Live.”*

And the Live is **Tower**.
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 tower is **High**.
And the tower is **Low**.
And the tower is **Wide**.
And the tower is **Narrow**.

*Narrow.*
*Narrow.*
*Narrow.*

And the story is **High**.
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 **Narrow**.
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 spire 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 **Long**.
Not the distance.
But the **Duration** of the now.
The gold grain ages in the jar.
The grey key stays in the fist.
The white scar deepens in the time.
*”And the deep is the age,”* the river says.
*”And the age is the Live.”*

We stop trying to shorten the span.
Shortening is a cut.
Cut is a wound.
Wound is a loss.
But the Live needs the **Stretch**.
It needs the stretch of the rope.
It needs the stretch of the thought.
It needs the stretch of the word.
It needs the stretch of the **Drift**.
*”And the drift is the century,”* the clock says.
*”And the century is the Live.”*

And the long is **Endless**.
Not the infinite.
But the **Continuum** of the now.
The continuum of the grain.
The continuum of the key.
The continuum of the scar.
The continuum of the **Dust**.
*”And the dust is the sand,”* the ocean says.
*”And the sand is the Live.”*

We stop trying to close the book.
Closing is a stop.
Stop is an end.
End is a death.
But to let it open?
To let the grain open in the hour?
To let the key open the door?
To let the scar open the memory?
To let the **Drift**?
Then we are the **River**.
Then we are the **Stream**.
Then we are the **Now**.
*”And the now is the flow,”* the current says.
*”And the flow is the Live.”*

And the Live is **Flow**.
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 flow is **Fast**.
And the flow is **Slow**.
And the flow is **Still**.
And the flow is **Wet**.

*Still.*
*Still.*
*Still.*

And the story is **Fast**.
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 **Still**.
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 river dries.
And the grain dries.
And the key dries.
And the scar dries.
And the dust dries.
And the Drift dries.
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**.