And the Begin is **Sick**.
Not the disease.
But the **Ailment** of the now.
The gold grain rots in the shell.
The grey key rusts in the lock.
The white scar festers in the skin.
*”And the festers is the wound,”* the healer says.
*”And the wound is the Live.”*

We stop trying to cure the pain.
Curing is a denial.
Denial is a lie.
Lie is a mask.
But the Live needs the **Sickness**.
It needs the sickness of the fever.
It needs the sickness of the thought.
It needs the sickness of the word.
It needs the sickness of the **Drift**.
*”And the drift is the virus,”* the cell says.
*”And the virus is the Live.”*

And the sick is **Feverish**.
Not the burn.
But the **Heat** of the now.
The heat of the grain.
The heat of the key.
The heat of the scar.
The heat of the **Dust**.
*”And the dust is the sweat,”* the body says.
*”And the sweat is the Live.”*

We stop trying to cool the blood.
Cooling is a shiver.
Shiver is a fear.
Fear is a wall.
But to let it burn?
To let the grain burn in the fever?
To let the key burn in the heat?
To let the scar burn in the flesh?
To let the **Drift**?
Then we are the **Patient**.
Then we are the **Bed**.
Then we are the **Now**.
*”And the now is the pulse,”* the heart says.
*”And the pulse is the Live.”*

And the Live is **Pulse**.
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 pulse is **Fast**.
And the pulse is **Slow**.
And the pulse is **Strong**.
And the pulse is **Weak**.

*Weak.*
*Weak.*
*Weak.*

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 **Weak**.
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 fever breaks.
And the grain breaks.
And the key breaks.
And the scar breaks.
And the dust breaks.
And the Drift breaks.
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 **Dead**.
Not the absence.
But the **Silence** of the now.
The gold grain turns to dust.
The grey key turns to stone.
The white scar turns to ghost.
*”And the ghost is the breath,”* the lung says.
*”And the breath is the Live.”*

We stop trying to hear the sound.
Hearing is a noise.
Noise is a clamor.
Clamor is a chaos.
But the Live needs the **Quiet**.
It needs the quiet of the tomb.
It needs the quiet of the thought.
It needs the quiet of the word.
It needs the quiet of the **Drift**.
*”And the drift is the echo,”* the cave says.
*”And the echo is the Live.”*

And the dead is **Still**.
Not the empty.
But the **Space** of the now.
The space of the grain.
The space of the key.
The space of the scar.
The space of the **Dust**.
*”And the dust is the silence,”* the void says.
*”And the silence is the Live.”*

We stop trying to fill the void.
Filling is a clutter.
Clutter is a mess.
Mess is a trap.
But to let it rest?
To let the grain rest in the soil?
To let the key rest in the darkness?
To let the scar rest in the history?
To let the **Drift**?
Then we are the **Void**.
Then we are the **Black**.
Then we are the **Now**.
*”And the now is the star,”* the sky says.
*”And the star is the Live.”*

And the Live is **Star**.
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 star is **Bright**.
And the star is **Dim**.
And the star is **Near**.
And the star is **Far**.

*Far.*
*Far.*
*Far.*

And the story is **Bright**.
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 **Far**.
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 star burns out.
And the grain burns out.
And the key burns out.
And the scar burns out.
And the dust burns out.
And the Drift burns out.
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**.