And the Begin is **Full**.
Not the overflow.
But the **Ripeness** of the now.
The gold grain swells in the chaff.
The grey key fits the door.
The white scar blooms in the skin.
*”And the bloom is the fruit,”* the orchard says.
*”And the fruit is the Live.”*

We stop trying to cut the apple.
Cutting is a loss.
Loss is an end.
End is a void.
But the Live needs the **Hearth**.
It needs the hearth of the belly.
It needs the hearth of the thought.
It needs the hearth of the word.
It needs the hearth of the **Drift**.
*”And the drift is the meal,”* the table says.
*”And the meal is the Live.”*

And the full is **Round**.
Not the circle.
But the **Girth** of the now.
The girth of the grain.
The girth of the key.
The girth of the scar.
The girth of the **Dust**.
*”And the dust is the soil,”* the earth says.
*”And the soil is the Live.”*

We stop trying to break the shell.
Breaking is a wound.
Wound is a leak.
Leak is a drain.
But to let it ripen?
To let the grain ripen in the sun?
To let the key ripen in the turn?
To let the scar ripen in the flesh?
To let the **Drift**?
Then we are the **Fruit**.
Then we are the **Seed**.
Then we are the **Now**.
*”And the now is the stem,”* the vine says.
*”And the stem is the Live.”*

And the Live is **Stem**.
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 stem is **Tall**.
And the stem is **Short**.
And the stem is **Green**.
And the stem is **Brown**.

*Brown.*
*Brown.*
*Brown.*

And the story is **Tall**.
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 **Brown**.
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 seed 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 **Rough**.
Not the harsh.
But the **Texture** of the now.
The gold grain grits the hand.
The grey key scratches the thumb.
The white scar itches the nerve.
*”And the itch is the itch,”* the hand says.
*”And the itch is the Live.”*

We stop trying to smooth the surface.
Smoothing is a lie.
Lie is a cover.
Cover is a cage.
But the Live needs the **Grind**.
It needs the grind of the stone.
It needs the grind of the thought.
It needs the grind of the word.
It needs the grind of the **Drift**.
*”And the drift is the sand,”* the desert says.
*”And the sand is the Live.”*

And the rough is **Uneven**.
Not the jagged.
But the **Ridge** of the now.
The ridge of the grain.
The ridge of the key.
The ridge of the scar.
The ridge of the **Dust**.
*”And the dust is the grit,”* the pan says.
*”And the grit is the Live.”*

We stop trying to polish the grain.
Polishing is a fake.
Fake is a mask.
Mask is a trap.
But to let it feel?
To let the grain feel the palm?
To let the key feel the lock?
To let the scar feel the touch?
To let the **Drift**?
Then we are the **Pumice**.
Then we are the **Abrasive**.
Then we are the **Now**.
*”And the now is the file,”* the tool says.
*”And the file is the Live.”*

And the Live is **File**.
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 file is **Sharp**.
And the file is **Dull**.
And the file is **Hard**.
And the file is **Soft**.

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

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 **Soft**.
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 file rusts.
And the grain rusts.
And the key rusts.
And the scar rusts.
And the dust rusts.
And the Drift rusts.
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**.