Donald Illich
The City
Cars are forced to the periphery, and
pedestrians are invited to wander.
Fires will burn tonight as sure as winter
is coming. A little blue house spouts a thin,
gray plume of smoke from its chimney. Let me
just say for the record that grout is a
wonderful thing. It makes a not so hot
tile job look pretty darn good. The word "square"
does not have the same meaning. It has a
heavy patina that I have not changed
in any way. Warming the house with a live
fire, I expect to wake up tomorrow.
This old metal ashtray is either brass
or bronze. I know it is non magnetic.
This death precipitated the Battle of
Big Mound. There is a marker on the site.
The business and the pace of the city
slows. It measures 7 x 5 x 3.5
inches. Edgewater was originally
a summer resort. The lingering scents
of wood smoke serve as punctuations or
pauses in the street plan. This looks like a
Pharaoh, is now standard equipment in newer
poultry houses, was erected by the people.
The sheer force of growth wiped the old gathering
spots off the map, used by immigrants.
A slave gallery and stately old fashioned
pulpit offer a reminder of what the
entire city once looked like. A cold front
rolls in. It is not too surprising. This is
the Paris of Madeline, and of our dreams.
Ancient Wisdom
We work harder to get you the things you want.
Now the spirit of man loves purity,
but his mind disturbs it. We use bubbled air,
bubble wrap. The floral fizzes look good
enough to eat. We try jolly hard
to get your order turned round. The mind of man
loves stillness, but his desires draw it
away. We provide examples of star gates
and wormholes in the ancient world the same day
so you can enjoy next day delivery.
The wisdom of our ancestors frequently
puzzles modern people. We have a winning
attitude and we expect the same from our
clients: prayer which is sent forth into the world.
Ghost Immunities
The "deep mystery" of melted steel.
Here comes a rain cloud. Water beats fire.
These were years of billowing smoke.
The torch will make the flame design flicker.
And the secret of steel, used to fire
a home barbecue. Smelting iron ore.
Years of great mystery: Will dad find another
job soon? Are we poor now? The main exit
near the fire was blocked. A source of
conflict in the city. The alarm goes off
in the middle of the night. The many
immunities Ghost has covered up are
contained under pressure in a cylinder.
Wishful thinking. Middle shift and layoffs.