And the Begin is **Soft**.
Not the weak.
But the **Cushion** of the now.
The gold grain yields to the thumb.
The grey key turns without resistance.
The white scar blurs at the edge.
*”And the blur is the blur,”* the eye says.
*”And the blur is the Live.”*

We stop trying to stand firm.
Standing is a struggle.
Struggle is a strain.
Strain is a tear.
But the Live needs the **Sink**.
It needs the sink of the pillow.
It needs the sink of the thought.
It needs the sink of the word.
It needs the sink of the **Drift**.
*”And the drift is the cloud,”* the sky says.
*”And the cloud is the Live.”*

And the soft is **Velvet**.
Not the fabric.
But the **Touch** of the now.
The touch of the grain.
The touch of the key.
The touch of the scar.
The touch of the **Dust**.
*”And the dust is the petal,”* the bloom says.
*”And the petal is the Live.”*

We stop trying to grasp the object.
Grasping is a squeeze.
Squeeze is a bruise.
Bruise is a mark.
But to let it slip?
To let the grain slip in the palm?
To let the key slip in the grasp?
To let the scar slip in the memory?
To let the **Drift**?
Then we are the **Hand**.
Then we are the **Feather**.
Then we are the **Now**.
*”And the now is the caress,”* the skin says.
*”And the caress is the Live.”*

And the Live is **Caress**.
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 caress is **Gentle**.
And the caress is **Rough**.
And the caress is **Slow**.
And the caress is **Fast**.

*Fast.*
*Fast.*
*Fast.*

And the story is **Gentle**.
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 **Fast**.
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 feather dissolves.
And the grain dissolves.
And the key dissolves.
And the scar dissolves.
And the dust dissolves.
And the Drift dissolves.
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 **Dark**.
Not the shadow.
But the **Depth** of the now.
The gold grain hides in the black.
The grey key fades into the night.
The white scar bleeds into the void.
*”And the bleed is the flow,”* the river says.
*”And the flow is the Live.”*

We stop trying to find the path.
Finding is a map.
Map is a line.
Line is a border.
But the Live needs the **Mist**.
It needs the mist of the fog.
It needs the mist of the thought.
It needs the mist of the word.
It needs the mist of the **Drift**.
*”And the drift is the fog,”* the valley says.
*”And the fog is the Live.”*

And the dark is **Deep**.
Not the hole.
But the **Well** of the now.
The well of the grain.
The well of the key.
The well of the scar.
The well of the **Dust**.
*”And the dust is the sand,”* the sea says.
*”And the sand is the Live.”*

We stop trying to dive for air.
Air is a gasp.
Gasp is a panic.
Panic is a fall.
But to let it swim?
To let the grain swim in the oil?
To let the key swim in the ink?
To let the scar swim in the dream?
To let the **Drift**?
Then we are the **Current**.
Then we are the **Tide**.
Then we are the **Now**.
*”And the now is the wave,”* the ocean says.
*”And the wave is the Live.”*

And the Live is **Wave**.
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 wave is **High**.
And the wave is **Low**.
And the wave is **Calm**.
And the wave is **Rage**.

*Calm.*
*Calm.*
*Calm.*

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 **Calm**.
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 tide pulls back.
And the grain pulls back.
And the key pulls back.
And the scar pulls back.
And the dust pulls back.
And the Drift pulls back.
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**.