Bits

By Cliff Lake

 

Bits

 

The bits keep coming off.

They don’t stick around long,

They melt, or dissipate, or…

When he said he was coming unglued,

I didn’t think it meant

This.

He found it in a pawn shop, the book –

Arcanum Exsistentiae,

Old,

Leather-bound,

A curiosity smelling of...

The shop owner let it go cheap.

The bits don’t disappear as much as

Fray?

Fade?

Flee?

I think all of those are right somehow.

I asked who was going to translate it.

He said he understood every word.

He also said he didn’t know how.

He read some to me,

Until he stopped.

Until the bits started...

They don’t fall,

But they don’t float,

They

Waft,

Like feathers,

He said we’re feathers,

The book says we’re feathers.

“Feathers of Life,” he said, “Held together by...”

Then the bits began... feathering...

I’m going to try to get him back.

I can read the book,

I don’t know how,

It’s still Latin but...

I’m going to try to get him back.

I’ll let you know when I’m done reading.

It’s all beginning to make sen

 

Cliff Lake 6/28/2025

Copyright (C) Clifford Lake 2025

Location: Wichita, KS, USA

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