.....--**#                                          #**--.....
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.::::-***#  IN A BLACK RUBBERY SLEEP I DREAM ABOUT  #***-::::.
.:-^**####         COLD BOILING ASPHALT AND         ####**^-:.
:-^**#####        CRIMSON EMERGENCY FLARES...       #####**^-:
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.:-^**####                    ^^                    ####**^-:.
....:^**## ------------------^  ^------------------ ##**^:....
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.:-----**#    THEY WERE TEARING DOWN STATUES, AND   #**-----:.
.:---**###  BELLOWING THEIR MANIFEST, IN THE RAIN,  ###**---:.
.:^**#####               IN THE DARK,               #####**^:.
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.......-*#     AND SOMETHING FOLLOWED ME OUT, A     #*-.......
.:-^**####  YEARNING. A MEMORY OF BEING TOUCHED BY  ####**^-:.
.:-^**####     A RAY FROM A RASPBERRY SUN. STILL    ####**^-:.
.:-^**####   THERE, EVERYTHING WOULD BE GRITTY AND  ####**^-:.
..:::-*###  FULL OF TAR. RAIN UPON IT. BUT THEN A   ###*-:::..
.:-^*****#  FEW BRIGHT AND COLORFUL ANOMALIES. AND  #*****^-:.
.:-^*#####            A PROMISE FOR MORE.           #####*^-:.
.:-^^****#                                          #****^^-:.
.:-^**####  LIKE WAKING UP WITH A BUSINESS CARD IN  ####**^-:.
:-^**#####              YOUR POCKET...              #####**^-:
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....::^^*#   A FEATHER BOA WRAPPED AROUND A VELVET  #*^^::....
.:-^**#### LIZARD, SURFACING FOR MILLISECONDS AT A  ####**^-:.
.:-^**####    TIME, CALLING, TUGGING AT MY ARMS.    ####**^-:.
.:-^**####    BEGGING ME TO SINK BACK DOWN AND BE   ####**^-:.
.:-^**#### WITH THEM, WITH THEIR KIND. EASY TO GET  ####**^-:.
....--^**#  WASHED AWAY FROM THE TETHER, FROM THE   #**^--....
......-**#               WAY BACK UP.               #**-......
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.:-^****##  BUT I CANNOT GO. THE CONSEQUENCES WOULD ##****^-:.
...:^^***#  BE TOO LARGE. ESPECIALLY SINCE I'M IN   #***^^:...
.:-^**####   THE WORK MILL AND THEY'VE GOT THEIR    ####**^-:.
....:-^**#   EYES ON ME ALREADY. THE FEELING WILL   #**^-:....
.:-^**####  WANE, AND I WILL MISS IT, AND CEASE TO  ####**^-:.
.:-^****##       UNDERSTAND. LIKE EVERY DAY.        ##****^-:.
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.:--^^*###                   ^  ^                   ###*^^--:.
....--^**# -----------------^    ^----------------- #**^--....
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