......:=*%                                          %*=:......
.....:=*%$                                          $%*=:.....
....:=*%$@                                          @$%*=:....
...:=*%$@#                                          #@$%*=:...
..:=*%$@##                                          ##@$%*=:..
.:=*%$@###                    **                    ###@$%*=:.
..:=*%$@##                   *  *                   ##@$%*=:..
...:=*%$@# =================*    *================= #@$%*=:...
....:=*%$@                   *  *                   @$%*=:....
.....:=*%$                    **                    $%*=:.....
......:=*%                                          %*=:......
.......:=*  IN A BLACK RUBBERY SLEEP I DREAM ABOUT  *=:.......
........:=         COLD BOILING ASPHALT AND         =:........
.......:=*        CRIMSON EMERGENCY FLARES...       *=:.......
......:=*%                                          %*=:......
.....:=*%$                    **                    $%*=:.....
....:=*%$@ ==================*  *================== @$%*=:....
...:=*%$@#                    **                    #@$%*=:...
..:=*%$@##                                          ##@$%*=:..
.:=*%$@###   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.       ##@$%*=:..
...:=*%$@#                                          #@$%*=:...
....:=*%$@                    **                    @$%*=:....
.....:=*%$                   *  *                   $%*=:.....
......:=*% =================*    *================= %*=:......
.......:=*                   *  *                   *=:.......
........:=                    **                    =:........
.......:=*                                          *=:.......
......:=*%                                          %*=:......
.....:=*%$                                          $%*=:.....
....:=*%$@                                          @$%*=:....
...:=*%$@#                                          #@$%*=:...
..:=*%$@##                                          ##@$%*=:..