MICHAEL KOSHKIN
THE SUBTRACTION OF LIGHT (FOR A PIG)
1
They stuffed us in there when we were kids. We read in the dark— that is, we couldn’t see any words, rather imagined what was on the page. And now some dick is crushing our bones. And we are becoming one great mass of pulp. We are hamsters in the caged anus of a porcelain ET doll. That is it—
No there is more— we still have dreams. We wake confused. We hear sounds through the walls; distorted breathing, wonder if that is what we will become. We don’t know anything—
We know everything— we know that mobile of hummingbirds hanging from the ceiling must not be real— spinning circles. We know they must only be an idea—
We dream of word patterns fitting and not fitting of hands and other appendages coming down on us of the combination of that breathing and our projection of what the hummingbirds are— why they are there—
There is light seeping through the sides of the window behind the blinds.
2
The stuff is in there. kids. We the dark— that is, we see words, imagine the page. And now some bone. we are mass pulp hamsters the aged anus. That is it—
No more— we dream wake distort breathing, we will become. We know anything—
We know— know of hummingbirds must spin . We know an idea—
We word patterns it and not it of ands and other appendages down us of the breathing and hummingbirds are— why —
There seeping through blinds.
3
The stuff. the dark— words imagine page. some bone pulp the age. That is — more— we ram a sort a thing, we come. know a thing—
We know— know humming. We know idea—
We pattern it dot it o appendage down the hum birds are— why —
seeping through blinds.
4
The tuff dark words imagine page. some age— more— we a a sort a we know a thing—
know— know hum. We know a—
We a it it a age down the hum a —
ping through blinds.
5
The a a page— more— we a a sort a a thing—
know— know . We know a—
We a it it a age the hum a —
ping o blind.
6
know— know . a—
a it it a a hum a —
pig o i.