....:=\%%£                                          £%%\=:....
...:=\%%£@                                          @£%%\=:...
..:=\%%£@#                                          #@£%%\=:..
.:=\%%£@##                                          ##@£%%\=:.
..:=\%%£@#                                          #@£%%\=:..
...:=\%%£@                    \\                    @£%%\=:...
....:=\%%£                   \  \                   £%%\=:....
.....:=\%% =================\    \================= %%\=:.....
......:=\%                   \  \                   %\=:......
.......:=\                    \\                    \=:.......
........:=                                          =:........
.........:  IN A BLACK RUBBERY SLEEP I DREAM ABOUT  :.........
..........         COLD BOILING ASPHALT AND         ..........
..........        CRIMSON EMERGENCY FLARES...       ..........
..........                                          ..........
.........:                    \\                    :.........
........:= ==================\  \================== =:........
.......:=\                    \\                    \=:.......
......:=\%                                          %\=:......
.....:=\%%    THEY WERE TEARING DOWN STATUES, AND   %%\=:.....
....:=\%%£  BELLOWING THEIR MANIFEST, IN THE RAIN,  £%%\=:....
...:=\%%£@               IN THE DARK,               @£%%\=:...
..:=\%%£@#                                          #@£%%\=:..
.:=\%%£@##     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...              ..........
..........                                          ..........
..........  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.               £%%\=:....
...:=\%%£@                                          @£%%\=:...
..:=\%%£@#                                          #@£%%\=:..
.:=\%%£@##  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.       %\=:......
.......:=\                                          \=:.......
........:=                    \\                    =:........
.........:                   \  \                   :.........
.......... =================\    \================= ..........
..........                   \  \                   ..........
..........                    \\                    ..........
.........:                                          :.........
........:=                                          =:........
.......:=\                                          \=:.......
......:=\%                                          %\=:......
.....:=\%%                                          %%\=:.....
....:=\%%£                                          £%%\=:....