Clear eyes
draw the dead light
as through a keyhole,
the muffled
aquarium music
of heartbeat and held
breath.
The ceremony has run
thin on tears,
the forced cries
obey the agenda.
An initiate
questions his
superiors and is
carefully recorded,
watchers rounding on
themselves in a
fury of code.
All is in calm
balance.
A white ceramic
bowl,
the needle,
poised and bright,
the rope,
waking from its
sleeping coil.