lust, caution

She not only gets inside me, she worms her way into my heart like a snake. Deeper. All the way in. I take her in like a slave. I play my part faithfully so I, too, can get to her heart...

---adapted from Lust, Caution.

how do we differ? in what we're a slave to? some to money, others to flesh, the mind; bow down to the gods of success and status. and we're all slaves to time. so where is your uniqueness, which qibla do you turn to? flesh will grey, sag, rot, the mind slow, thought slip, picking on garbage, forsaking universals or particulars; success is another word for anxiety. tell me, why was there a snake in the Garden (and therefore in every garden)?

'silence is not absence'. then what is it? idols vacantly stare into eternity, the smooth everlasting golden smile of tranquility a balm for the weary. the way out is not a way out. still. not for you. not overcome by "the desire to sleep overcomes all desires". what fiery heart you hold, that knows no sighs? what strange creature is this...that knows no bonds, that takes no captives?

~~~

a man walked in the street, holding three pieces of string. attached to them were a goat, a monkey, and a dog. the monkey to entertain, the dog for companionship. and the goat? the goat to remind him of death.