...:=\*&@# #@&*\=:...
....:=\*&@ @&*\=:....
.....:=\*& &*\=:.....
......:=\* *\=:......
.......:=\ \=:.......
........:= ###= =### =:........
.........: # # :.........
.......... # TELE MIGRAINE # ..........
.......... # # ..........
.......... ###= =### ..........
.........: :.........
........:= THE SO CALLED "THIRD MIGRAINE". IT'S =:........
.......:=\ LIKE A REGULAR MIGRAINE BUT IT DOES NOT \=:.......
......:=\* HURT THERE'S NO PAIN, THE COSMOS IS *\=:......
.....:=\*& THERE AND IT'S DRAINING THE EVIL &*\=:.....
....:=\*&@ STRAIGHT OUT OF THE WOUND. @&*\=:....
...:=\*&@# #@&*\=:...
..:=\*&@## IT'S MASSAGING YOUR TEMPLES, PIERCING ##@&*\=:..
.:=\*&@### YOU, ENTERING YOUR BLOOD, CRACKING THE ###@&*\=:.
..:=\*&@## SKULL OPEN. A PAW GRIPS YOUR BRAIN, ##@&*\=:..
...:=\*&@# PLAYS WITH IT, PULLS IT OUT INTO THE #@&*\=:...
....:=\*&@ COSMOS. @&*\=:....
.....:=\*& &*\=:.....
......:=\* THERE'S COMETS! SPACE ODDITIES. *\=:......
.......:=\ SOLITARY OSCILLATIONS. CARRIER WAVE. \=:.......
........:= BURNED AWAY BY THE SUNS RADIATION UNTIL =:........
.........: ONLY THE FAINTEST TRACE REMAIN, :.........
.......... EVENTUALLY CAUGHT IN THE GRAVITY WELL ..........
.......... OF SOME SECOND RATE WATER PLANET. ..........
.......... ..........
.........: IT'S RAINING SAP. :.........
........:= WE'RE GETTING SWEET AND WET =:........
.......:=\ \=:.......
......:=\* ###= =### *\=:......
.....:=\*& &*\=:.....
....:=\*&@ MY LUNCH BREAK IS OVER AND I NEED TO @&*\=:....
...:=\*&@# GET BACK TO THE SHOP. LYNNE IS THERE #@&*\=:...
..:=\*&@## ALONE AND HASN'T EATEN YET. I TAKE THE ##@&*\=:..
.:=\*&@### BACK ROUTE UP FROM THE BEACH TO AVOID ###@&*\=:.
..:=\*&@## THE CROWD. SING A LITTLE TO MYSELF. ##@&*\=:..
...:=\*&@# #@&*\=:...
....:=\*&@ LIFE GETS TO PROSPER OUTSIDE OF.#\=== - @&*\=:....
.....:=\*& SUDDENLY, AN ACID FLASHBACK: I STEP &*\=:.....
......:=\* DOWN IN MY MIND (LIKE AN OPEN MIND / *\=:......
.......:=\ FRACTAL STINGER / BISMUTH STAIRCASE) \=:.......
........:= AND WADE IN SHADOWS... SURROUNDED BY =:........
.........: MEMORY NEGATIVES, :.........
.......... LIKE UPROCESSED FILM.... ..........
.......... ..........
.......... ###= =### ..........
.........: :.........
........:= WE'RE CLOSING FOR THE EVENING. THE SHOP =:........
.......:=\ IS IN THE BOTTOM FLOOR OF A NARROW \=:.......
......:=\* MUDBRICK BUILDING, PAINTED TEAL. WE *\=:......
.....:=\*& LIVE ON THE SECOND FLOOR, TOGETHER WITH &*\=:.....
....:=\*&@ THE OWNER. AS I CLOSE THE METAL @&*\=:....
...:=\*&@# CURTAIN, BEHIND ITS CHARACTERISTIC #@&*\=:...
..:=\*&@## SHARP RATTLING I CAN HEAR THE ##@&*\=:..
.:=\*&@### CURFEW SIRENS. ###@&*\=:.
..:=\*&@## ##@&*\=:..
...:=\*&@# WORMY STREET WOLVES OUTSIDE, CHASING #@&*\=:...
....:=\*&@ ENTRANCES IN THE DARK ALLEYWAYS, @&*\=:....
.....:=\*& WANTING IN, GETTING DESPERATE, LAPSING &*\=:.....
......:=\* TO SEARCH HIGHER, ON ROOFS, CLIMBING ON *\=:......
.......:=\ BALCONIES. AND THERE'S BOUND TO BE SOME \=:.......
........:= RECKLESS TOURIST WHO DIDN'T HEED THE =:........
.........: WARNINGS, NEVER CLOSED THEIR WINDOWS... :.........
.......... ..........
.......... OR, IN SOME CASES, THE HOUSEOWNER HAD ..........
.......... THE WINDOW BOLTS WEAKENED, AND WHEN ..........
.........: CLEANING UP THE AFTERMATH WOULD POCKET :.........
........:= THEIR BELONGINGS. =:........
.......:=\ \=:.......
......:=\* *\=:......
.....:=\*& &*\=:.....
....:=\*&@ @&*\=:....
...:=\*&@# #@&*\=:...