Mantra	Originally written for Snakeskin, No. 103, 2004, on the theme of “Happiness”. An anomalous mantra, because it has meaning and its repetition value lies in that meaning. No eternal life? No problem! Think about it. Remember the immortals in Zardoz, bored into catatonia and desirous only of death? If we want to live longer, we can get out of the fast lane, try slowing time down subjectively, and get more money to medical research. But live forever? No, thanks.
Give… sieve… Viv… olive… alive… live… drive… dive… connive… revive… strive… five… hive… jive… I’ve… more alive… liver. Dire.	You live. You die.	… tie, cravat, caveat, Lascaux, mould, mushrooms, Bulgarian wood, Mt. Vitosha, sunset, slate roofs, courtyard, leak-filled corridor, faint bulb-light, wafer-thin writing paper, Luanda bookshop, tropical deluge of memories…
Like a giant ray, the idea lifts, carries us from sandshift foundations into midstream pulsating ocean. Flight is not of the element: wish-bones beach on a future strand.	That’s it. No problem.	Game over. End of. Ya basta. Jiu zhe yang. Full stop.

Bryan Murphy

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