Artist's Statement

8 Black Warrior Review

Aristilde Kirby

Artist’s Statement

The essence of this work as a whole is Lettrisme as a whole, but specifically Isidore Isou’s “Sonnet Infinitésimal No.3” (1958). Lettrisme offered me dramatically new ways of envisioning the word alongside concrete & sound poetry, but the SI, for short, was exemplar of Isou’s idea of Art infinitésimal, that couldn’t really made (?), but gives aesthetic revelations in contemplation of its depths. When I first glanced it, years ago, it was really interesting. There was something enticing about the form that made me want to decode it. I saved the image, but I went no further with it, until last year, where it kept catching my eye. I saw the section sign, AKA the silcrow or the scillicet (Latin for it is permitted to know) & noticed it reminded me of the hilt of a sword: the guard, grip & pommel, looking at it from the very front, as if the blade was pointed at you. That set my mind to work—I looked up what the symbol was used for, learned its names. Later that year, I had a conversation with Avren Keating about the nature of translation, what it meant to me, in a tweet thread beginning with a post I had made with an image of Isou’s SI, & by the end of it, I knew I had my skeleton key to a rosetta stone, it was permitted to know. All I had to do was stab, twist, & release the bolt. I saw that if one inverted the bottom ‘s’ & overlapped it over the first, it’d form 8, the shape of the Moebius strip. It was then I saw the locus of Isou’s technique, the mot juste on an atomic level, symbolism in its primacy. The SI wasn’t made to be “understood,” as this sentence makes itself out to be, but it was made to be a motherboard for poetic permutation. Using translation as a means to make said transmutation happen, here’s a line by line translation of all of the sonnet’s 14 in varying degrees. The translations only happen on the poems to the left most side, the right poems past the map of the SI herein are supplements to the story & characters, making 28 total poems. Those 14 poems on the left are the land that makes the map legendary, for me. This is my metagraphie supertemporelle. I use my skillset as best as 9

I could at the time, & this is just one chapbook in a planned set of 13 more works. One of which I’m very fortunate, lucky, to present to you now—shout out BWR. The next is “Sonnet Infinitésimal n°3 / Everything Is Beautiful n°11”. For more in-depth craft notes in regards to method, & divulgences on a social / poetic / personal scale please read L’EYENDA / EMENDER on the BWR website when it comes out! To the debridal of the world as we know it for the regeneration of the world as we need it. [‘cause we are living in a material world / & I am a material girl] b l a c k wa r r i o r r e v i e w c h a p b o o k s e r i e s 44.1 11

A bouquet of everlasting hydrangeas for the following: Kay Gabriel, Stephen Ira, Liam O’Brien, & Rylee Lyman of Les Vetchiennes - Rachel Levitsky & Ana Paula Simões, the Belladonnas—an. cinquepalmi, Frida Palacios, Thel Seraphim, Avren Keating, Brooke Larson, Kris Leggett, James Pascua, Stephanie Mathis, Sylvia Thach, Hue Nguyen, Megan Smith, & Renee Carter - all of whom are my friends.

& for everyone like me I wish a world void of murder, marginalization & suffering.

\- - *~à~*_ _ - - / ~ = = = ‘ - , , , , , , , - ·; *の ∴ の= =; = ◌ . . ◌ ɔ ~j o y e u x~ ᶨ ∵ ∵ ᶨ {l’ette-risa-hime} �

12 Black Warrior Review

for lil’ wander, heiress of stillness

The black unicorn was mistaken for a shadow or symbol and taken through a cold country where mist painted mockeries of my fury. It is not on her lap where the horn rests but deep in her moonpit growing. —from audre lorde | the black unicorn

Young unicorns snatched from the impossible skies precious horns, ordinary chainsaws In a dead infection a desk drawer full of blurry sunflowers Under your bare feet are only symptomatic of the monster i have become —from pig destroyer | pixie

There’s something wrong with me That’s why I wrote this note I’ve joined the writers who believe they have the antidote Kirby 13

{You picked up Dimension Dagger Voyeureuse !▽} {You looked into its lustrous glare . . . ▽} {whose look pierces back through into you. ▽}

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[hyper-lyrical chronicle of dot-matrix split & helix slasher] [Helianthus decapetalus x Ipomoea alba ‘Moonflower’] [Translated sonnet infinitésimal, 2017]

this work is based off of Isidore Isou’s “Sonnet infinitésimal n°3” (1958) 14 Black Warrior Review

I: Beheaded Aparajita / Obelism Éclisser

Sonnet Infinitésimal a person caret-weight, umlaut-bit vampiric: (o)| §%§%^¨= (o) ' '' ½; /§/§/! ,;:( ' " ' ") )o a black pearl fairy unto a shellac setting; (+)| &_/%/ ?§?§? -”’-”’_/&°+&°+% %§%§=+ a ligature girl like a crossguard as lyric, (o)| ½&½ )° / ./°& &! ‘-”’ _/=+) °( : ) ’”’”) )o ≙ an epoch calyce trophy half-said begetting. (+)| ^§ %%%%, °°°_/? &+%!’” (-))°%%§%§=+

Lis Crow, Lis Crow! Grow slashedged, pyric! (o)| -)=-=-=½;§! ¨&%%%%% ?&? ()()(½) §%°&o Parent’s thesis for an evolution of a worm: (;)| ? , ; . ¨ . ’ / -) (-%%% ’ ” ’ ” ) ° ()()(½) &%;§; beheaded, my body divid to mirror aspheric; (o)| -) ¨ ^%%% §! §! §! ... ++” ’ ++?( ) §%°&o a grand ball of extremities sperm to herme, (;)| &° ° +=+° ½ ’ ”-/ ?,?, §%°&½_/_/() &%;§; from mortal hurt to your you portal hearse; (.)| ‘”&^/^& °&+&°+^§ ‘%§’%^ ½½½! ()½=½=;. The first symbol corresponds to the second, (¨)| ( - ) ° ( - ) ° ; . ; . / ‘ ” ” ’ ” ’ ^ , ? , ? ( ) ? ! ?^^¨ & a Monroe stud rose in stature biodiverse: (.)| ( - ) °& _ - ( ) ( ) §§§§§§§§¨ ¨§§§§§§ ( ) ½=½=;.

83% being suffuse in query, hexedit fecund, (¨)| === ¨ ^ ¨ ! “ ’ ” ° ( )!,!&&&& ()?!?^^¨ yr mutated blank-faced emote clips off map; (§)| +) (+...+) “’”’”’ ,½½½½½,_/ §%§%§%&&%§ ≙ ≙ ≙ sits on dimension lip, bullet turned black. (§)| ¨’”^¨o o ¨^’” ///^¨ ’ ” ° ° °?-/ §%§%§%&&%§ Kirby 15

II: Cherry Croissant / Paradi 0

Sonnet Infinitésimal eating a pretzel in the shadow of a 4D sun, (o)| §%§%^¨ = ( o ) ‘ ‘ ’ ½; /§/§/! , ; : ( ‘ ” ’”))o + watching you die x2 thru an oreo edgecap (+)| &_/%/ ?§?§? -”’-”’_/&°+&°+% %§%§=+ from its obsidian compact, I lick with fun (o)| ½&½ )° / ./°& &! ’-”’ _/=+) ° ( : )’”’”) )o ≙ my candied mirror from that black hole gap (+)| ^§ %%%%, °°°_/? &+%!’” (-))°%%§%§=+ you slipped into some one more warmer spun (o)| -)=-=-=½;§! ¨&%%%%% ?&? ()()(½) §%°&o eating a pastel in the shadow of a 4D slug, (;)| ? , ; . ¨ . ’ / -) (-%%% ’ ” ’ ” ) ° ()()(½) &%;§; a person eclipsed nonplussed by a head one. (o)| -) ¨ ^%%% §! §! §! ... ++” ’ ++?( ) §%°&o crestfallen on planar vermillion, so shrug (;)| &° ° +=+° ½ ’ ”-/ ?,?, §%°&½_/_/() &%;§; the planets cast upon galaxial half & half. (.)| ‘”&^/^& °&+&°+^§ ‘%§’%^ ½½½! ()½=½=;. a beauty mark cutlass sans a body scabbard, (¨)| ( - ) ° ( - ) ° ; . ; . / ‘ ” ” ’ ” ’ ^ , ? , ? ( ) ? ! ?^^¨ what’s a slasher to do as handless epitaph? (.)| ( - ) °& _ - ( ) ( ) §§§§§§§§¨ ¨§§§§§§ ( ) ½=½=;.

& she’s disassociated again! un yr bastard (¨)| === ¨ ^ ¨ ! “ ’ ” ° ( )!,!&&&& ()?!?^^¨ son, turn it back, like a capsized ship as (§)| +) (+...+) “’”’”’ ,½½½½½,_/ §%§%§%&&%§ ≙ ≙ ≙ a half-kiss moon sunken as a smile in skin. (§)| ¨’”^¨o o ¨^’” ///^¨ ’ ” ° ° °?-/ §%§%§%&&%§ Kirby 17

(o) “Xxxxxx Xxxxx—fatally wounded in Paradies | “There’s been an accident (+) Black Forests yesterday morning, was found | at the house built out of sticks (o) next to a cake knife & baskets of pastries. | I will miss that Little Piggy. . . (+) The prints of the deceased found outbounds | I can’t believe this. . .

(o) upon the handle—& with traces of pastis | There’s been one more victim. . . (;) mark smeared by the perpetrator in a fight | but I don’t know his name, (o) that brokeout during Hunthour—Dct. Tracy | and the wolf’s got a taste for bacon, (;) Logan, says it’s just about damn yea right | it’s just part of the game. . .”

(.) an open & shut case—The testimonies from | “It seems too sad to call this home / (¨) the victim, who’d wished to stay anonymous, | However, I’ve had time to think / (.) invoked the Plant Your Ground laws. & some | about the past, and what went wrong /

(¨) have remarked that it was not an anomalous | I’m running out of ink!” (§) use of the loved self-defense legislations. | —He Is Legend | 7. The Walls Have Teeth (§) More on this story, eh not really, @ 13:00.” | | 8. Do You Think I’m Pretty? 18 Black Warrior Review

III: Dog of Diana / la Dyadeinesse

Sonnet Infinitésimal gemini navel piercing scare quotes a paint (o)| §%§%^¨ = ( o ) ‘ ‘ ’ ½; /§/§/! , ; : ( ‘ ” ’”))o -filled chevron scar, an emblem of service. (+)| &_/%/ ?§?§? -” ’-”’_/ &°+&°+% %§%§=+ you prism forth the patterns, mirror faint, (o)| ½&½ )° /./°& &! ’-”’_/=+)° (:) ’ ” ’ ” ) ) o ≙ 3 pills a day escalating her wait, nervous (+)| ^§ %%%%, °°°_/? &+%!’” (-))°%%§%§=+ eyes dilate glitch raise? Ligands stellate! (o)| -)=-=-=½;§! ¨&%%%%% ?&? ()()(½) §%°&o Service is a laminate that keeps to of you (;)|? , ; . ¨ . ’ / -) (-%%% ’ ” ’ ” ) ° ()()(½) &%;§; display hissy traits as beheld constraints (o)| -) ¨ ^%%% §! §! §! ... ++” ’ ++?( ) §%°&o but you eschewed for a free miss minus too, (;)|&° ° +=+° ½ ’ ”-/ ?,?, §%°&½_/_/() &%;§; now a polydentate formal donation, darling. (.)|‘”&^/^& °&+&°+^§‘%§’%^ ½½½! ()½=½=;. Your dead name and your daed you, forgiven. (¨)|( - ) ° ( - ) ° ; . ; . / ‘ ” ” ’ ” ’ ^ , ? , ? ( ) ? ! ?^^¨ A hyperwoman sent beyond flat 3D starlings, (.)|( - ) °& _ - ( ) ( ) §§§§§§§§¨ ¨§§§§§§ ( ) ½=½=;. you aren’t beautiful, yr a headspace riven (¨)|=== ¨ ^ ¨ ! “ ’ ” ° ( )!,!&&&& ()?!?^^¨ parhelion ichor pet acrylic along horizons (§)| +) (+...+) “’”’”’ ,½½½½½,_/ §%§%§%&&%§ ≙ ≙ ≙ airbrushing to be cut incisoring eye teeth. (§)| ¨’”^¨o o ¨^’” ///^¨ ’ ” ° ° °?-/ §%§%§%&&%§ Black Warrior Review Kirby 19

(o) When news breaks. . .you never see she lived, | “Now I lay me down to sleep / (+) just that she died. Lis enjoyed croissants | I pray the lord my soul to keep / (o) cherry jellie stuffed, scented marker nibs, | And if I die before I wake, / (+) warm sand. She really kinda hates her aunt. | That’s just my luck, that’s just my luck. /

(o) Her speech styled on the sides of the glib. | They never told me they were going to / (;) She loved the moon, as well as anyone else. | put me away / I am not insane. / I am not / (o) & more so when she took 3 pills, & strived | crazy. / I made a magic wand today, maybe / (;) to be at her heals & to long like sunbelts, | I’ll wish myself away, / next to the ocean

(.) or a misty greyhound in midsts of a sprint. | where birds sing, / these are a / few of my / (¨) At her Leahs, a meadow of the body even as | favorite / things.” (.) her navelearth yawns, binds & then encysts |

(¨) her comatose being—Her sac sheds its has, | —He Is Legend (§) & signed her metaplastic spirit & minotaur | 8. Do You Think I Am Pretty? (§) piercings she received & cleaned last week. | “Whosoever is a wolf to man 20 Black Warrior Review

IV: Harmony, Finally / Sing, Paraselene

Sonnet Infinitésimal

You didn’t like a universe who’d done this (o)|§%§%^¨ = ( o ) ‘ ‘ ’ ½; /§/§/! , ; : ( ‘ ” ’”))o to we, so together, I take cleave of every (+)| &_/%/ ?§?§? -” ’-”’_/ &°+&°+% %§%§=+ now departed mean with a silver halo gliss. (o)|½&½ )° /./°& &! ’-” ’ _/=+) ° ( : ) ’ ” ’ ” ) )o ≙ At half-power, Lis tears a page in reverie (+)|^§ %%%%, °°°_/? &+%!’” (-))°%%§%§=+ from the spine of life with an antikinesis (o)|-)=-=-=½;§!¨&%%%%%?&?()()(½)§%°&o that killed you too across fifty timelines! (;)|? , ; . ¨ . ’ / -) (-%%% ’ ” ’ ” ) ° ()()(½) &%;§; Logical conclusion of antimaterialism hiss? (o)|-) ¨ ^%%% §! §! §! ... ++” ’ ++?( ) §%°&o & the mind as a uniquely awry mental place? (;)|&° ° +=+° ½ ’ ”-/ ?,?, §%°&½_/_/() &%;§;

If you don’t think you can make a space in (.)|‘”&^/^& °&+&°+^§ ‘%§’%^ ½½½! ()½=½=;. the world for yourself, then you won’t. If (¨)|( - ) ° ( - ) ° ; . ; . / ‘ ” ” ’ ” ’ ^ , ? , ? ( ) ? ! ?^^¨ people kill you in trying, a more linchpin (.)|( - ) °& _ - ( ) ( ) §§§§§§§§¨ ¨§§§§§§ ( ) ½=½=;. you’ll be. You look to the mirror so stiff (¨)|=== ¨ ^ ¨ ! “ ’ ” ° ( )!,!&&&& ()?!?^^¨ & see nothing vanished as a hid hieroglyph. (§)|+) (+...+) “’”’”’ ,½½½½½,_/ §%§%§%&&%§ ≙ ≙ ≙ I understood, and was beheaded for my fear (§)|¨’”^¨o o ¨^’” ///^¨ ’ ” ° ° °?-/ §%§%§%&&%§ Kirby 21

(o)The teeth of her skies opened wides to eat | is a wolf, not a man.” (+) itself—& yr world vanishes as shellfires |—from Bertolt Brecht’s (o)fade in an armistice—no traces, but heat | Is Communism Exclusive? (+) of buried casings—a case closed by liars | “It’s just you and me /

(o)who had doctored a red helix on their beat | The execution of all things” (;)to a scene sliced with her cake knife upon | —from Rilo Kiley (o)the cutting room floors along my metasuite | The Execution of All Things (;)behind space’s dimensional doors, evermore.| “There’s a monster in my room /

(.)In Lis’ blind spots, she was ready to sing | Well, he got hungry / licked his lips, (¨)like a canary at this, ab-avoided, reality | he shook my hand / and tried to eat me / (.)no-one humored. Paraselene sees everything.| And it’s getting on my nerves /

(¨)Two beings of light converse, & latchkeyed | I’m trying / hard not to meet you when I am (§)via shared verges & a mutual space between.| sleeping. (§)Now a rosy fingered pawn moves a grayqueen. | (Still I don’t know how to kill you. . .) 22 Black Warrior Review

V: Wishboned Alchemy / Tuning Fucked

Sonnet Infinitésimal

& bodied for yr courage, merged amalgamate. (o)|§%§%^¨ = ( o ) ‘ ‘ ’ ½; /§/§/! , ; : ( ‘ ” ’”))o Gotta skirt death to live forever, I guess? (+)| &_/%/ ?§?§? -” ’-”’_/ &°+&°+% %§%§=+ To be buried in black is a worms best fate, (o)|½&½ )° /./°& &! ’-” ’ _/=+) ° ( : ) ’ ” ’ ” ) )o ≙ a fasciated wink, caterpillaring eyelashes. (+)|^§ %%%%, °°°_/? &+%!’” (-))°%%§%§=+

To be a head who a knows—how to regenerate (o)|-)=-=-=½;§! ¨&%%%%% ?&? ( )( )(½) §%°&o from a piece of self is a hilt who clashes (;)|?,;.¨.’/ -) (-%%% ’ ” ’ ” ) ° ( ) ( ) ( ½ ) &%; § ; against a shielded negative quoting phrase (o)|-) ¨ ^%%% §! §! §! ... ++” ’ ++?( ) §%°&o that shocks, like some uncoated cut cables. (;)|&° ° +=+° ½ ’ ”-/ ?,?, §%°&½_/_/() &%;§;

A metal tuning fork broke a noisome melody. (.)|‘”&^/^& °&+&°+^§ ‘%§’%^ ½½½! ()½=½=;. I am the lone daughter of a manufracturing. (¨)|( - ) ° ( - ) ° ; . ; . / ‘ ” ” ’ ” ’ ^ , ? , ? ( ) ? ! ?^^¨ I give off-light, not because I am ecstasy, (.)|( - ) °& _ - ( ) ( ) §§§§§§§§¨ ¨§§§§§§ ( ) ½=½=;. but a heresy against ideas of sky coloring. (¨)|=== ¨ ^ ¨ ! “ ’ ” ° ( )!,!&&&& ()?!?^^¨ They want me blue & bruised to this—yet, (§)|+) (+...+) “’”’”’ ,½½½½½,_/ §%§%§%&&%§ ≙ ≙ ≙ in the twilight palettes her precious mean. (§)|¨’”^¨o o ¨^’” ///^¨ ’ ” ° ° °?-/ §%§%§%&&%§ Kirby 23

(o)When her tuning is off, she turns the keys | Yet, I think I can.” (+) on her axe to her desired tones, naturally. | —from He Is Legend | 2. Eating A Book (o)Must she, again, shred deathmetal reprise? | “is it my fault that i am a human being? (+) Well, do kill the murderers & then call me, | i wont forget how the wind was blowing

(o)maybe? I was born nine years afore release | in your gardens / i was your knight, / (;)of Decapitated’s best—Winds of Creation, | i was a traitor / i, created to die, / (o)on April 11th. I consider it my time piece, | to fall into the abyss my existence for (;)it’s in my blood—a parfait illustration | you to have your flower / your gardens

(.)of my logos for our indecipherable futures. | grow on my soul / the roots of your trees (¨)& yet my watch is as faceless as my wrists, | draw juice from my blood / & yield fruit (.)& I won’t tell a time tearing into sutures. | from my wounds / your world comes from my

(¨)& all I ever desired was to carve gorgeous | pain / my wandering, your triumph. my cry: (§)this acephalous sentence of a sad universe, | for you to exist / my feelings, longing, (§)which says we’ve no life to live or thrive. | & rebellion / unfulfilled, unreal but i 24 Black Warrior Review

VI: Letters to Cicatrix / Bleed D.I.R.A.C# Sea

Sonnet Infinitésimal

And she cut a bisected moonscape in halves (o)| §%§%^¨ = ( o ) ‘ ‘ ’ ½; /§/§/! , ; : ( ‘ ” ’”))o of everything severing severine stony like (+)| &_/%/ ?§?§? -” ’-”’_/ &°+&°+% %§%§=+ a frozen moonpie sliced in two. Gore haves (o)| ½&½ )° /./°& &! ’-” ’ _/=+) ° ( : ) ’ ” ’ ” ) )o ≙ of entrailing sweetness, & how she strikes, (+)| ^§ %%%%, °°°_/? &+%!’” (-))°%%§%§=+ who she savors. A girl as cute saber raves (o)| -)=-=-=½;§! ¨&%%%%% ?&? ( )( )(½) §%°&o with no one to save her. Time, when ceased, (;)|?,;.¨.’/ -) (-%%% ’ ” ’ ” ) ° ( ) ( ) ( ½ ) &%; § ; stops. Time with you, confused, space gave (o)| -) ¨ ^%%% § ! § ! § ! ... ++” ’ ++?() §%°&o & engraves the future plotline we’d seised. (;)|&° ° +=+° ½ ’ ”-/ ?,?, §%°&½_/_/() &%;§;

Crow! Cutlass! Cicatrix! Timelines ellipse (.)|‘”&^/^& °&+&°+^§ ‘%§’%^ ½½½! ()½=½=;. & I cannot find that cord to draw yr coeur (¨)|( - ) ° ( - ) ° ; . ; . / ‘ ” ” ’ ” ’ ^ , ? , ? ( ) ? ! ?^^¨ to court. A splintering infinite outstrips (.)|( - ) °& _ - ( ) ( ) §§§§§§§§¨ ¨§§§§§§ ( ) ½=½=;. with the peel of that Dagger of the Voyeur (¨)|=== ¨ ^ ¨ ! “ ’ ” ° ( )!,!&&&& ()?!?^^¨ the copse planted in Paradies Black Forest. (§)| +) (+...+) “’”’”’ ,½½½½½,_/ §%§%§%&&%§ ≙ ≙ ≙ I search on, crossing planes for your void? (§)| ¨’”^¨o o ¨^’” ///^¨ ’ ” ° ° °?-/ §%§%§%&&%§ Kirby 25

(o)The Inelegant Dirac Sea was percieved as a| last & i’ll be a thorn in your eye forever.” (+) space—agujeros sin fin—drops as zeroes, | —from Decapitated | The First Damned (o)which sucks—if you claim culture isn’t a| “I’ve got to find—to find the princess (+) void. The framing of the world as an erose| she’s in another castle—& I’m dancing

(o)space, this reign of these negative stratae| with the Capulet, we’re so crazy in love” (;)states that to exist is an entombed vacuum.| —from He Is Legend | 1. The Seduction (o)People kill others for wormhole sense-data, | “Can you find my angel? (;)they fill the grated gaps, never to exhume| She crawled under the bed”

(.)all these dead-ends, said to point nowhere.| —from He Is Legend | 3. The Creature Walks (¨)Next, Lis’ signature positron blade alters| “Just as light pours in the room (.)all fates. Can you imagine: a mirror pared| I saw it once (I saw it once)

(¨)from its other reflected edge? la Faulter:| It disappeared and so did you” (§) Nanon slit a rift in her self-inversed| —from He Is Legend (§)shed & fractals events of its causal twins.| 4. The Greatest Actor Alive or Dead (Enters Stage Right) 26 Black Warrior Review

VII: Silver Bullet / Gunmetal Grayed

Sonnet Infinitésimal

Crossing phrases, as your body rhymes with (o)| §%§%^¨ = ( o ) ‘ ‘ ’ ½; /§/§/! , ; : ( ‘ ” ’”))o mine. I’d yet to know that in the meantime (+)| &_/%/ ?§?§? -” ’-”’_/ &°+&°+% %§%§=+ as Céline saw all matter pared. A monolith (o)| ½&½ )° /./°& &! ’-” ’ _/=+) ° ( : ) ’ ” ’ ” ) )o ≙ of the real into twain, like, totally mime. (+)| ^§ %%%%, °°°_/? &+%!’” (-))°%%§%§=+

In the lead city a ball parting with width (o)| -)=-=-=½;§! ¨&%%%%% ?&? ( )( )(½) §%°&o gray. So too were the kids, to a tire iron, (;)|?,;.¨.’/ -) (-%%% ’ ” ’ ” ) ° ( ) ( ) ( ½ ) &%; § ; one side equaled the other. It was no myth, (o)| -) ¨ ^%%% § ! § ! § ! ... ++” ’ ++?() §%°&o the half-degreed hot day, halved and pryor, (;)|&°° +=+° ½’”-/ ?,?, §%°&½ _/ _/( ) &%;§; the buildings, the street she was on going (.)|‘”&^/^& °&+&°+^§ ‘%§’%^ ½½½! ()½=½=;. more parallel from the one Lis was shot on, (¨)|( - ) ° ( - ) ° ; . ; . / ‘ ” ” ’ ” ’ ^ , ? , ? ( ) ? ! ?^^¨ half phases said, “How?,?” she had thought, (.)|( - ) °& _ - ( ) ( ) §§§§§§§§¨ ¨§§§§§§ ( ) ½=½=;. still whole though, in perfect color, gone (¨)|=== ¨ ^ ¨ ! “ ’ ” ° ( )!,!&&&& ()?!?^^¨ from the world as she knew it, so slow, so (§)| +) (+...+) “’”’”’ ,½½½½½,_/ §%§%§%&&%§ ≙ ≙ ≙ silvered. Also Lis, in cold blood, severed. (§)| ¨’”^¨o o ¨^’” ///^¨ ’ ” ° ° °?-/ §%§%§%&&%§ Kirby 27

(o)It was like time stopped & beholds a split | “It’s getting late, I’m coming home (+) headache, the hurt although still—extant, | I picked this rose for you (o)in antimatter, preserved not so in an emit | I’ve been away searching for oceans (+) formaldehyde, but set fossilized, excedent, | With time to kill. . .

(o)in amber. Across a city block she heard it, | You better buy a gun—I’ve seen them (;)a shot. Cél stirs—shocked, some were not. | watching you. The old man and his son, (o)They’d no time to, before the freeze, omit | “Can you find my angel? (;)their peace, for some, it was hard to blot. | they’ve been studying your moves. . .

(.)& just like that Cél found herself encased | And I can’t wait—‘til I can sleep in (¨)in a pause’s gradient, separate of a world | late—maybe I’ll miss you then—with (.)as it was. A moment around her neck braced | no garden to tend. . .

(¨)as a precious locket in hand while unfurls | I’m your gardener (oh no, oh no, oh no, (§)an earthquake. An albatross keeping a date | oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no.)” (§)she left alone after her tattoo shift ends. | —from He Is Legend | 5. China White 28 Black Warrior Review

VIII: Iron Resolver / Céline Reloaded

Sonnet Infinitésimal

Eternity rendered exponential, a reel rips (o)| §%§%^¨ = ( o ) ‘ ‘ ’ ½; /§/§/! , ; : ( ‘ ” ’”))o on both edges of her edge a phrase phasing (+)| &_/%/ ?§?§? -” ’-”’_/ &°+&°+% %§%§=+ as she, petrified upon another end, shifts. (o)| ½&½ )° /./°& &! ’-” ’ _/=+) ° ( : ) ’ ” ’ ” ) )o ≙ If time stopped, Cél thought, start moving. (+)| ^§ %%%%, °°°_/? &+%!’” (-))°%%§%§=+

She can be saved, although her heart trips (o)| -)=-=-=½;§! ¨&%%%%% ?&? ( )( )(½) §%°&o to a steely pause—in suspended animation. (;)|?,;.¨.’/ -) (-%%% ’ ” ’ ” ) ° ( ) ( ) ( ½ ) &%; § ; So did Cél’s as she sees Lis’s torso drips. (o)| -) ¨ ^%%% § ! § ! § ! ... ++” ’ ++?() §%°&o She can ship her to the ER, said carnation, (;)|&°° +=+° ½’”-/ ?,?, §%°&½ _/ _/( ) &%;§;

& place it there, so they could take to it (.)|‘”&^/^&°&+&°+^§‘%§’%^½½½!()½=½=; immediately. But first, she’d have to stop (¨)|( - ) ° ( - ) ° ; . ; . / ‘ ” ” ’ ” ’ ^ , ? , ? ( ) ? ! ?^^¨ the bleeding! So Cél decided she’d do flit; (.)|( - ) °& _ - ( ) ( ) §§§§§§§§¨ ¨§§§§§§ ( ) ½=½=;. in the valley of an alley lifted by zero-g. (¨)|=== ¨ ^ ¨ ! “ ’ ” ° ( )!,!&&&& ()?!?^^¨ from the world as she knew it, so slow, so (§)| +) (+...+) “’”’”’ ,½½½½½,_/ §%§%§%&&%§ ≙ ≙ ≙ & so expanded an entire gruesome crimeseen. (§)| ¨’”^¨o o ¨^’” ///^¨ ’ ” ° ° °?-/ §%§%§%&&%§ Kirby 29

(o)So she goes through every timeline she can, | “I’ll just keep waiting—You’ll just keep (+) trying to make up for the times she flaked | waiting. I’ll just keep waiting—You’ll (o)on Lis through out these fractals, she ran, | just keep waiting. I’ll just keep waiting (+) killing each of Lis’ murderers, one staked | you’ll just keep waiting—I’ll just keep

(o)by one. They disappeared to sand, lifespan | waiting. Obsession, obsessive, obsessed, (;)like the vampires in Buffy. Yet the future | abscess.” (o)refused to change—Her combat knife began | —from Between The Buried & Me (;)to dull. She felt she’d cut, & not sutured. | The Decade of Statues

(.)She who ghosted had now been ghosted & yet | (¨)now she had time to get to know Lis’ lived | “We always thought that we had time—to let (.)reality, her amen perseverance thru a bête | the dead bury their own—& what is this

(¨)who put her in a rigged roulette underived. | that’s trying to slow me down? Feels like the (§)Cél saw the gash in every scene, to ribbon| the deadweight of all our broken promises & (§)she lacerated every plane. Cél too is free.| every 30 Black Warrior Review

IX: la Vertigonisse / Rift Paradis

Sonnet Infinitésimal

As her feet hovered just above the asphalt (o)| §%§%^¨ = ( o ) ‘ ‘ ’ ½; /§/§/! , ; : ( ‘ ” ’”))o the world begins to spin in her head again. (+)| &_/%/ ?§?§? -” ’-”’_/ &°+&°+% %§%§=+ Her double negative to zeroth power faults (o)| ½&½ )° /./°& &! ’-” ’ _/=+) ° ( : ) ’ ” ’ ” ) )o ≙ her mind. And, as Cél hits the street then (+)| ^§ %%%%, °°°_/? &+%!’” (-))°%%§%§=+ she cries: for what she’s seen & her exalt. (o)| -)=-=-=½;§! ¨&%%%%% ?&? ( )( )(½) §%°&o She took a sec to come to, brace her break, (;)| ?,;.¨.’/ -) (-%%% ’ ” ’ ” ) ° ( ) ( ) ( ½ ) &%; § ; and set to her task, or try. Her eyes halt (o)| -) ¨ ^%%% § ! § ! § ! ... ++” ’ ++?() §%°&o over Lis’ severed body, stonefaced, flakes (;)| &°° +=+° ½’”-/ ?,?, §%°&½ _/ _/( ) &%;§; as ash in a wind. A blackbody beauty marks (.)| ‘”&^/^& °&+&°+^§ ‘%§’%^ ½½½! ( )½=½=; her cheek like a fist of mars, and steamed (¨)| ( - ) ° ( - ) ° ; . ; . / ‘ ” ” ’ ” ’ ^ ,?,? ( ) ? ! ?^^¨ like its imprint. A bullet transmuted dark. (.)| ( - ) °& _ - ( ) ( ) §§§§§§§§¨ ¨§§§§§§ ( ) ½=½=;.

Questions: why & how? a true shock. Beamed, (¨)| === ¨ ^ ¨ ! “ ’ ” ° ( )!,!&&&& ()?!?^^¨ her frozen twin tear streams—& voidslash. (§)| +) (+...+) “’”’”’ ,½½½½½,_/ §%§%§%&&%§ ≙ ≙ ≙ No one else in the world caret like Céline. (§)| ¨’”^¨o o ¨^’” ///^¨ ’ ” ° ° °?-/ §%§%§%&&%§ Kirby 31

(o)Or could—considering what was the world.| stillborn declaration carried too far—too long.” (+) There was vertigo, and then there was this.| —from Cursed | R.I.P. (o)A negative shiner, an inverted period girl.| “I’ve been jumping over buildings—I’ve been (+) Space oozed from the divide, this Paradis—| sleeping in the street. Well, I’ll meet you

(o)would gulp all of it. Cél hurried & curled| at the river where we both can clear our (;)Lis into her arms. Spores of space warping| heads, I think we—would—look great dead!” (o)ground & air like rain on a window, whirls| —from He Is Legend | 1. The Seduction (;)beading behind in a trail as Cél, bounding| “Lock me up, lock me up, lock me up, lock me

(.)through the still air, battles throwing up,| up (lock me away lock me away lock me away (¨)going towards her tenement’s rooftop, four| lock me away) No one will know.” (.)blocks away, her leaps making great windup.| —from He Is Legend | 6. Best In Mexico

(¨)She crashes on a vent wart, the roof floor.| “Raw sugar (save that date)—I don’t wanna die (§)Lis, so solid, is unhurt by the stark fall.| living in a high rise grave—my baby come home” (§)Cél recovers her, & then kicks the door in.| —from Metric | Raw Sugar 32 Black Warrior Review

X: Paradise Rind / Apricot Embalm

Sonnet Infinitésimal

Is this my rind of paradise? Cél had asked (o)| §%§%^¨ = ( o ) ‘ ‘ ’ ½; /§/§/! , ; : ( ‘ ” ’”))o herself, looking at an ampersand form upon (+)| &_/%/ ?§?§? -” ’-”’_/ &°+&°+% %§%§=+ Lis’ eye as a bruise floating up, forecast (o)| ½&½ )° /./°& &! ’-” ’ _/=+) ° ( : ) ’ ” ’ ” ) )o ≙ to the surface of her head, a cubed photon (+)| ^§ %%%%, °°°_/? &+%!’” (-))°%%§%§=+ squaring to the body’s skin, its open mask, (o)| -)=-=-=½;§! ¨&%%%%% ?&? ( )( )(½) §%°&o open darkroom water. She was Lis as far as (;)|?,;.¨.’/ -) (-%%% ’ ” ’ ” ) ° ( ) ( ) ( ½ ) &%; § ; Cél’s eye could see, but, stuccoed, a husk (o)| -) ¨ ^%%% § ! § ! § ! ... ++” ’ ++?() §%°&o of rendered ash hardened & halved—a pass (;)|&°° +=+° ½’”-/ ?,?, §%°&½ _/ _/( ) &%;§; on coursed coarse through her, all serrate (.)|‘”&^/^& °&+&°+^§ ‘%§’%^ ½½½! ( )½=½=; at the edges of her sever, reposed in rest. (¨)|( - ) ° ( - ) ° ; . ; . / ‘ ” ” ’ ” ’ ^ ,?,? ( ) ? ! ?^^ The space between draws her line like bait, (.)|( - ) °&_ -( ) ( )§§§§§§§§¨ ¨§§§§§§ ( )½=½=; ¨ it felt meaningful, to desire this inquest, (¨)|=== ¨ ^ ¨ ! “ ’ ” ° ( )!,!&&&& ()?!?^^¨ yet it was just a petty want & she knew it (§)| +) (+...+) “’”’”’ ,½½½½½,_/ §%§%§%&&%§ ≙ ≙ ≙ best to crush it, & not her place to touch. (§)| ¨’”^¨o o ¨^’” ///^¨ ’ ” ° ° °?-/ §%§%§%&&%§ Kirby 33

(o)Cél had decided to take her this time, see, | “I thought I saw her breathing (+) & wondered why she had yet thought of this. | But found out she was dead (o)Hate can keep us from seeing possibilities, | It’s too late. . .it’s over!” (+) Love looks the other way—even when amiss |

(o)something is. But to Like—here—was key. | There has to be a closer country (;)She liked Lis enough to see how her tattoo | where love can live near me (o)she’d gave her a week ago was—its debris | Well, I’ve got to find it (;)chapped, but shedding. From afar Cél views | because right now, I’m not seeing clearly

(.)her home tat station & walks to get a balm | There’s someone knocking on my door (¨)to nourish it. It’s graystuck, as all else, | no one lives here anymore (.)she’s frustrated, until she takes her calm | there’s someone knocking on my door

(¨)knife to it. The jar colors as cream melts, | no one lives here anymore. . . .” (§)unlocks with the scent of apricot—& rubs | —from He Is Legend (§)it on her rosa stellata vine which blushes. | 9. Dinner With A Gypsy 34 Black Warrior Review

XI: Cnidarietta / Pomegranate

Sonnet Infinitésimal

Her love looked the other way, as Lis’ eye (o)| §%§%^¨ = ( o ) ‘ ‘ ’ ½; /§/§/! , ; : ( ‘ ” ’”))o opened—as blank as an undertaken coroner. (+)| &_/%/ ?§?§? -” ’-”’_/ &°+&°+% %§%§=+ Cél screamed. Of all things—a vital sigh (o)| ½&½ )° /./°& &! ’-” ’ _/=+) ° ( : ) ’ ” ’ ” ) )o ≙ was the last thing she expected. Her inner (+)| ^§ %%%%, °°°_/? &+%!’” (-))°%%§%§=+ galaxy turns. This couldn’t be real right? (o)| -)=-=-=½;§! ¨&%%%%% ?&? ( )( )(½) §%°&o A rind of hair & holding hands grasp cusp (;)|?,;.¨.’/ -) (-%%% ’ ” ’ ” ) ° ( ) ( ) ( ½ ) &%; § ; of half Lis’ shell, she saw a hazel sight (o)| -) ¨ ^%%% § ! § ! § ! ... ++” ’ ++?() §%°&o staring back, smiling. Cél screams! “Yups, (;)|&°° +=+° ½’”-/ ?,?, §%°&½ _/ _/( ) &%;§; it’s me,” said Lis as she half-pulled out, (.)|‘”&^/^& °&+&°+^§ ‘%§’%^ ½½½! ( )½=½=; held Cél by the wrist, & dragged her with! (¨)|( - ) ° ( - ) ° ; . ; . / ‘ ” ” ’ ” ’ ^ ,?,? ( ) ? ! ?^^ through the chasm & lines of flight route (.)|( - ) °&_ -( ) ( )§§§§§§§§¨ ¨§§§§§§ ( )½=½=; ¨

& tears like beads, quote marks forthwith (¨)|===¨^¨!“ ’ ” ° () !, !&&&& ( )?!?^^¨ accompanied in a stream that crystallized (§)| +) (+...+) “’”’”’ ,½½½½½,_/ §%§%§%&&%§ ≙ ≙ ≙ to a tiny frozen river amidst a dark seam (§)| ¨’”^¨o o ¨^’” ///^¨ ’ ” ° ° °?-/ §%§%§%&&%§ Kirby 35

(o)of reality—an ocean of jellyfish phlegm, | “I’ve been jumping over buildings (+) her pocket galaxy. “Hi, don’t be stargazy. | I’ve been sleeping in the street (o)We don’t have a lot of time & space. Emmm, | Well, I’ll meet you at the river where (+) ok so I brung you here. I’ve a sword baby: | we both can clear our heads—I think we

(o)her name is Nanon , who cuts thru wavy | would look great dead.” (;)realities. Think of our universe as a gel | —from He Is Legend | 1. The Seduction (o)pomegranate—& each aril contains a hazy | “Is there a place that we can go / (;)stalk of broccoli, those are veins, cells: | to teach the children / not to grow?

(.)timelines—that keep our universes rife. | Where lovers don’t remember where they met / (¨)Each verse has set rule of its own realis | And heartbreak is easy to forget? (.)mood. I’ll get to it in a bit—My strife | Is there no love to speak of?

(¨)is with the root of a death you witnessed: | I gotta find a new place to call home.” (§)mine. I also wanted to make sure we’d had | —from He Is Legend (§)our date. I cut thru—lots—to take you. | 9. Dinner With A Gypsy 36 Black Warrior Review

XII: Paradie I / Paradies II

Sonnet Infinitésimal

But we’re gonna cancel it—now—face me. (o)| §%§%^¨ = ( o ) ‘ ‘ ’ ½; /§/§/! , ; : ( ‘ ” ’”))o 1 rule is that our verse is just a parody. (+)| &_/%/ ?§?§? -” ’-”’_/ &°+&°+% %§%§=+ You & I, I’ve seen, are never going to be (o)| ½&½ )° /./°& &! ’-” ’ _/=+) ° ( : ) ’ ” ’ ” ) )o ≙ a thing, another rule. & I shall di every (+)| ^§ %%%%, °°°_/? &+%!’” (-))°%%§%§=+ time. & my madness plusd inside as enmity. (o)| -)=-=-=½;§! ¨&%%%%% ?&? ( )( )(½) §%°&o & the worst thing is that it started as a (;)|?,;.¨.’/ -) (-%%% ’ ” ’ ” ) ° ( ) ( ) ( ½ ) &%; § ; myth of origin in the country of Paradies! (o)| -) ¨ ^%%% § ! § ! § ! ... ++” ’ ++?() §%°&o They’ve been looking for me, you, too the (;)|&°° +=+° ½’”-/ ?,?, §%°&½ _/ _/( ) &%;§; twin of yours, who’s been sweetly killing (.)|‘”&^/^& °&+&°+^§ ‘%§’%^ ½½½! ( )½=½=; in other timelines, as I have—she threw (¨)|( - ) ° ( - ) ° ; . ; . / ‘ ” ” ’ ” ’ ^ ,?,? ( ) ? ! ?^^ the scent off. A detective’s been tearing (.)|( - ) °&_ -( ) ( )§§§§§§§§¨ ¨§§§§§§ ( )½=½=; ¨ out his hair trying to find me, trying to (¨)|| ===¨^¨! “ ’ ” ° () !, !&&&& ( )?!?^^¨ take my Root to protect their sad reality. (§)| +) (+...+) “’”’”’ ,½½½½½,_/ §%§%§%&&%§ ≙ ≙ ≙ They know I’m coming for them, my revenge. (§)| ¨’”^¨o o ¨^’” ///^¨ ’ ” ° ° °?-/ §%§%§%&&%§ Kirby 37

(o)In the origin myth, a werewolf was killed, | (+) but it wasn’t just any, it was a me. Bête | “I’m trying hard to read your mind / (o)of legend, a rarity among a species build. | Built a machine to travel time / (+) She tried to take a disguise, but the let | “Blessing the globe with pestilence” /

(o)hunter set a musk: embergris—it filled | This is my magic residence (;)air, a rare dog whistle, which tears form | —He Is Legend (o)of the beheld mind, denudes you as sealed | 8. Do You Think I Am Pretty (;)& gives ‘probable cause’ to kill you more.” |

(.)“So the shell wasn’t you?”. . .A booby trap. | “Let out a sign / pretend to die/ (¨)It’s good you did what I thought you’d do, | You’re going to need an alibi (.)or 531 years of plans would be total crap.” | A broken arm / the same smell

(¨)“I am sorry.” “I know.” “Wasn’t ready too.” | So just relax / no one will know (§)“& you’ll never be. but it’s cool—cause | It stings me all over again / (§)you’re going to help destroy all Paradies.” | it’s the same dream / in the back of my head 38 Black Warrior Review

XIII: Divorce / Lunairetic

Sonnet Infinitésimal

“You said Bête an it, do you not identify?” (o)|§%§%^¨ = ( o ) ‘ ‘ ’ ½; /§/§/! , ; : ( ‘ ” ’”))o “No. When you’ve been held here as long as (+)| &_/%/ ?§?§? -” ’-”’_/ &°+&°+% %§%§=+ me you can’t see oneself as any other life. (o)|½&½ )° /./°& &! ’-” ’ _/=+) ° ( : ) ’ ” ’ ” ) )o ≙ & anyway, that’s the issue, they keep task (+)|^§ %%%%, °°°_/? &+%!’” (-))°%%§%§=+ trying to map a plane on us yet—we awry, (o)|-)=-=-=½;§! ¨&%%%%% ?&? ( )( )(½) §%°&o reject the graft—So they see fit to gift (;)|?,;.¨.’/ -) (-%%% ’ ” ’ ” ) ° ( ) ( ) ( ½ ) &%; § ; us wings. The Were don’t have gender, sigh. (o)|-) ¨ ^%%% § ! § ! § ! ... ++” ’ ++?() §%°&o So the fact they said “He” cross time rift (;)|&°° +=+° ½’”-/ ?,?, §%°&½ _/ _/( ) &%;§;

& space. . .REALLY bothers me. So they break (.)|‘”&^/^& °&+&°+^§ ‘%§’%^ ½½½! ( )½=½=; all into what they see. No more. You ready?” (¨)|( - ) ° ( - ) ° ; . ; . / ‘ ” ” ’ ” ’ ^ ,?,? ( ) ? ! ?^^ “Huh?” Three scalpel points tore slow rake (.)|( - ) °&_ -( ) ( )§§§§§§§§¨ ¨§§§§§§ ( )½=½=; ¨ across the galaxy fabric, into the setting, (¨)|| ===¨^¨! “ ’ ” ° () !, !&&&& ( )?!?^^¨ with a snap of four ribs. “Oh, a C-section? (§)| +)(+..+)“’”’”’,½½½½½,_/§%§%§%&&%§ ≙ ≙ ≙ “This is a big break!” says Lis unsheathed. (§)|¨’”^¨o o ¨^’” ///^¨ ’ ” ° ° °?-/ §%§%§%&&%§ Kirby 39

(o)When Lis cleft through Paradies’ incision, | in the back of my head.” (+) all Cél could do was stare. Her 1st slash | —He Is Legend | 6. Best In Mexico (o)split an autopsist’s skull in red elision, | “Like a TV, you wanna turn on man” (+) so it knocked out the nurse too with bash. | —from Skepta | Nasty

(o)Blood pixels on Lis’ face say an eclosion | “Oh / how I felt safe / (;)happened as five agents were, too, halved. | & she’s been singing out of tune (o)Lis stalks the president, whose implosion | just then / I’m flying to the moon (;)of shit prompts him to scream—& arrived | & I don’t know where / I don’t know when /

(.)now—bursted thru the wall: “Paraselene!” | but / someone’s gonna give / give me in.”/ (¨)“Lis, my dearie—You didn’t really think | “I never saw the officers— (.)I’d let ya leave? We’ve court proceedings. | but I heard what they said”

(¨)Your charge is Grand Conspiracy in a link | —from He Is Legend (§)with the slain beast—How do you plead?” | 4. The Greatest Actor Alive or Dead (§)Happy Lis charged for the judge’s jugular. | 40 Black Warrior Review

XIV: Prominence / Debridal

Sonnet Infinitésimal

Between endless clashes goring black holes (o)| §%§%^¨ = ( o ) ‘ ‘ ’ ½; /§/§/! , ; : ( ‘ ” ’”))o through the Paradies’ core—Cél stuck out (+)| &_/%/ ?§?§? -” ’-”’_/ &°+&°+% %§%§=+ of the cavity & saw a girlcorpse in a sole (o)| ½&½ )° /./°& &! ’-” ’ _/=+) ° ( : ) ’ ” ’ ” ) )o ≙ largesse of a wolf cadaver & a space about (+)| ^§ %%%%, °°°_/? &+%!’” (-))°%%§%§=+

Cél’s hips, leg. She sat back in her shoal (o)| -)=-=-=½;§! ¨&%%%%% ?&? ( )( )(½) §%°&o of the void in a fetal position as a world (;)|?,;.¨.’/ -) (-%%% ’ ” ’ ” ) ° ( ) ( ) ( ½ ) &%; § ; sucked in around her, safe. She saw a soul (o)| -) ¨ ^%%% § ! § ! § ! ... ++” ’ ++?() §%°&o whom were the Route of a wormholed whirled (;)|&°° +=+° ½’”-/ ?,?, §%°&½ _/ _/( ) &%;§; like a root ball—as an atom of scratches (.)|‘”&^/^& °&+&°+^§ ‘%§’%^ ½½½! ( )½=½=; on the subway go barely glimpsed by no-one. (¨)|( - ) ° ( - ) ° ; . ; . / ‘ ” ” ’ ” ’ ^ ,?,? ( ) ? ! ?^^ Cél stared through the window into hatches (.)|( - ) °&_ -( ) ( )§§§§§§§§¨ ¨§§§§§§ ( )½=½=; ¨ of darkness—a funnel cake of tunnel runs. (¨)|| ===¨^¨! “ ’ ” ° () !, !&&&& ( )?!?^^¨ Marriage is what occurs when our Dirac Sea# (§)| +) (+..+) “’”’”’ ,½½½½½,_/ §%§%§%&&%§ ≙ ≙ ≙ evaporates an open drop—taken by hot air. (§)| ¨ ’ ” ^ ¨ o o ¨^’”///^¨’”°°°?-/ §%§%§%&&%§ Kirby 41

(o)A blanket of night covered outside, dots | “Wait! This is a cover up (+) connected, an eclipse from inside out as | Let me see him (o)the populace’s bodies imploded with rots | Alert the press! (+) inversed further—vacuous to their last. | Where’s the wolf, where’s the wolf

(o)Lis & Sel’s Avers Heat Death severs jots | Where’s the wolf, where’s the wolf, (;)like punctuations into the membraned sap | I gotta find him.” (o)in form of reborn body paragraphs—mots | —He Is Legend (;)de passe sealing the cluster’s latch gap. | 7. The Walls Have Teeth

(.)So, entropy occurs when one is left bare | Heather’s gone, she left a note (¨)with nil, except an other side of a lens | “He Is Legend” was all she wrote (.)sheet of paper—white as the walls lair | Go fetch the detective

(¨)Heather’s bed, a comforter of intestines. | I think I’ve found something. . . (§)A reversal—the territory is not my map. | This isn’t Heather’s handwriting! (§)& so I change, a girl to reveal her land. |—He Is Legend | 10. I Am Hollywood 42 Black Warrior Review

Laeverl’& Afterword | Neutral Ending 0

“Fragments of the moon and the darkness. I weave them and gently whisper. Understanding joins everything. I take it out and a shapeless word is born.” —from Envy | Pieces of the Moon I Weaved

Cél somersaulted out of the cavity to negate the sheer confusion that was taking a toll on her, but she almost tilted to the ‘floor’ anyway. She looked down, and there was no floor. Just whiteness. & she jumped with a scream, as if the absence of an evident texture was a surface, as if she thought she would fall. So she jumped, then landed, then collapsed. Paraselene and Lis were talking a ways away. Eventually, having shaken off the aftershocks of total calamity, she ran up to both of them. “What the fuck was that,” Cél asked. She shoved Paraselene’s shoulder. “I thought you turned on her, how could you?!” “Haven’t you ever heard of a double turn?” said Paraselene, slicking back her bangs, rubbing & rotating her arm, checking the rotator cuff. “If I hadn’t joined up with Paradies, I wouldn’t have gotten this,” she said, flashing the Voyeureuse , a comically large cake knife. More along the lines of a sword breaker. “531 years,” said Lis. “I hope you didn’t think I was bullshitting.” Cél fell back onto her behind. It took her a few moments of silence before: “So now what?” Lis half-planted Nanon into the absence like a sheath of soil. She looked to the horizon, although with things as they are, it had to have been imagined. “Well...” “Where do we even go from here,” asked Cél, hand raised. “We did a good thing by destroying that universe. I know it may not make any sense to you, you lost everything, but. . .if we didn’t the same things would have kept happening. & I was beyond sick of it all. If you have power, you should do something good with it. What else could we do besides clear the board?” Lis put her hand on the pommel. “I wasn’t made to create, but to destroy, as you can see. I was cutting in blind anger for at least 20 years, purely, destroying everything that didn’t make sense to Kirby 43

erase. When I finally got tired, I got sad. I realized I didn’t know how to start over, even if I could have a new life. But then I saw that more or less, this is it, & I have a responsibility for something larger. I had to carve what we see before us through pure trial & error.” She let it go, squatting towards the floor. “I wanted to save you,” said Cél. Sel laughed, it was something she’d given up a long time ago. “Save me?” asked Lis. “There was a song I liked, that said: I needed someone to move me, not someone to save me, just someone to move me.” Lis gestured to Sel & Cél. “That’s what y’all did. I was always going to destroy Paradies. It was just a matter of when, & how I would go about it. I ended up taking the most neutral route. What were you going to do? Take me to the hospital, totally severed in half, drop me in the ER, & hope the doctors would just immediately conduct surgery?” Cél looked down, almost ashamed. Lis rejoined, “I chose this version of you because you believe in the impossible. It’s not just because you ghosted on me that I think you a fool.” Cél looked up, tearing up. Lis says, “So, that leads me to where we’re going next. Sel, she should hear it from you.” Sel stopped fingering the tatters of her shirt. She scooted toward Cél in pretzel position. She looked just like Cél, but obviously & thoroughly worn, aged, mature. Her face was speckled in dry blood. She had a razor line in her eyebrows, to be sure, it was one she cut herself amidst all this time she had. “You’re gonna do what I couldn’t do,” Sel said. “I did the same as you, I went through timelines with my knife to take revenge one at a time. I wanted to clear the board. But I was working too small. The knife, one night, showed me what to do. It sensed I was thinking that all of this was going nowhere slow, so it showed me a future. & it was this one. So I’m so happy to be here, to know it’s really true. . .I had my role when I managed to run into Lis. She gave it to me, here I am, playing my position. I know it seems like you just sat there a lot, but now it’s time for you to take action.” Sel took Cél’s hands. “You’ll remake the universe.” Lis stood up. “We trust it’s in the right hands. You know judging by everything we’ve seen. It’s not like the world we lived in was anything that was gonna change for the better in any sort of hurry. As for Sel & me, we’ve got other fish to fry out here. 44 Black Warrior Review

Paradies wasn’t the only rotten fruit worth chopping. I don’t want to live in the world anymore, come back to life. This is more me, I think.” Sel stood up as well. “& if it turns to shit, you know we’ll be back,” she said, with a finger gun. “How do I even do that?” asked Cél, crying now. Sel squatted back down & took her hands. Lis started to walk towards the wolf/ girl portal. “Sit here as long as you need. Come up with rules, envision a planet, a general flow of history. Plant the Voyeureuse into the floor, then start walking into the very beginning. Everything will change, when you will vanish. Don’t ask me where.” “Not even we know everything,” shouted Lis. Cél started to weep. Sel hugged her. “Why are you crying?” “I’m gonna die aren’t I?” Sel laughed. “Die? You already have.” This grew her tears deeper. “Shit. I’ve never been good at this.” Cél continued to weep. “Fuck. Well, hey, the Voyeureuse is the knife you’ve been using. Use it to control the flow of time. I gotta go.” Sel ran over to the wolf/girl portal. “Whatever you do, please keep this safe, okay?” Lis & Sel went into the portal, & the wound closed. Cél, outstretched like someone making a snow angel, or the Vitruvian Man, cried into the absence. She was jealous it wasn’t her who went with Lis. She too, knew that the longer they lingered, the more it would hurt. The tears streamed from her face for a long second. Then she turned onto her side, once more in the fetal position. Eventually, the world of Laeverl’& to come came to mind.