Two Times Thirteen
TWO TIMES THIRTEEN BY AYSHA J. NASSER
THIS IS A MANUAL. OF SOME SORT. WE ALL KNOW HOW TO USE A MANUAL. HOWEVER, I RECOMMEND TURNING IT UPSIDE DOWN. SHAKE IT A LITTLE. FEED IT SOME CHOCOLATE. TIPTOE AROUND IT. START AN ARGUEMENT. LET IT SLEEP IN YOUR BED. TAKE GOOD CARE OF IT. WASH IT TWICE A WEEK. GOOGLE SOME OF IT. EVENTUALLY IT WILL COME AROUND. DON'T WORRY. I GOT YOU. IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS LEAVE A NICE VOICEMAIL. OR BUY ME DINNER. FOOD ALWAYS WORKS.
// IN CASE OF HEART – BREAK //
COLLECT A PIECE
EVERYDAY
BEGIN WITH THE TINIEST THE ONE YOUR BARE EYES MIGHT NOT EVEN SEE CAREFULLY FOLD THOSE PIECES INTO YOUR SOFTEST CLOTH WAIT FOR FULL MOON BATH
NAKED
IN MOONLIGHT
SPEAK TO THE ROOTS OF THE GRANDEST TREE SPEAK INTO THE EARTH EXCHANGE STORIES DO IT UNTIL YOU HAVE LEARNED THE WAYS OF THE FULL MOON LET THE NEW MOON COME TALK TO THE LEAVES THIS TIME THEY SPEAK IN WINDY TONGUES START A FIRE
INVITE THE SMALL FOLK
THEY DANCE CLEVERLY
MOLD YOURSELF A HEART OF ROOTS OF LEAVES OF FIRE AND MOONSHINE FILL IT WITH THE SONGS OF MIDNIGHT NATURE
RISE WITH THE SUN
// IN CASE OF DISPERSION //
FOLD YOURSELF TOWARD YOURSELF INWARD DO NOT CUBE YOURSELF WE DO NOT NEED EDGES INSTEAD MOVE IN CIRCLES FALL BACKWARDS RAISE YOURSELF ONTO TIPTOES WHILE HANGING FROM THE NEXT BEST CEILING ARE YOU STRAIGHT YET CURVE IN WAVES RAISE YOUR VOICE IN TWIRLS TO THOSE SHADOW-HANDED BIRDS ON THE WALL HOWEVER DO NOT FRIGHTEN THEM AWAY MAKE RIMES THAT WRAP AROUND A WALNUT BRANCH A BALL OF WOOL A GLASS MARBLE A BUTTERFLY ONLY A KNOWING HAND CAN UNFOLD FROM SOFTNESS IT WILL SHOW YOU THE WAY
// IN CASE OF NEGLECT //
LOOK UP SEARCH FOR THE FARTHEST POINT ON THE HORIZON PUT IT BETWEEN YOUR THUMB AND FOREFINGER PLUG IT FROM THE SKY CRADLE IT IN YOUR ARMS FOR TWENTY MINUTES YOU WILL HAVE TO PUT IT SOMEPLACE ELSE SOON BUT FIRST THE HORIZON MUST GROW AND YOU MUST GROW WITH IT FROM NOW ON CARRY A RULER WITH YOU – FOR MEASUREMENT A WATER LEVEL – FOR BALANCE AND SPINE NOW DIG A HOLE INTO THE SOFTEST SPOT OF EARTH IT MAY BE IN YOUR BACKYARD NEXT TO YOUR BED UNDERNEATH A PILE OF CLOTHES RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE HORIZON DIG EQUALLY IN WIDTH AND DEPTH ABOUT THIS MUCH LAY THE FARTHEST POINT ON THE HORIZON DOWN INTO WHAT IS WHOLE POUR: CLEAREST WATER OUT OF CRYSTAL CAVES COAX: WITH THICKEST FOREST WINDS COVER: IN LIGHTEST DESERT SANDS SPRNKLE WITH ESSENTIAL LOVE LET TAKE ROOT WITHIN
RETURN SEEDLINGS TO THE WILD ONCE A MONTH
IN CASE OF DISCRIMINATION //
YOU WILL NEED A BAG OF USEFUL THINGS: A POLAROID CAMERA – A PERMANENT MARKER – THREE MATCHES – A YELLOW FLOWER – A COZY PULLOVER – A PUPPY • FIND A RIVER THAT IS FULL OF WILL AND PURPOSE QUESTION IT THOROUGHLY NOT ALL RIVERS FLOW WITH AN EDGE WADE INTO SAID RIVER FIND A LOOP IN TIME YOU MIGHT WANT TO WEAR YOUR PULLOVER BEFORE ENTERING IT WILL BE VERY COLD LOOK THROUGH ALL THE WINDOWS INSIDE THE LOOP (IF THERE ARE NO WINDOWS TRY AGAIN THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT LOOPS) FIND THE WINDOW WITH DEMONS BEHIND IT TAKE A PICTURE THEY WILL GRIN LET THE RIVER PULL YOU BACK DOUSE THE POLAROID IN RIVER WATER IMMEDIATELY LET SOAK LET DRY IN THE SUN LET BLEACH ONCE DRIED DRAW THE FOLLOWING THINGS ON IT: A BOY WITH FLOWERS IN HIS HAIR A DRAGON-FIGHTING PRINCESS A FAIRY OF DARK MATTER AND STARDUST WITH A SHY SMILE (MAYBE THAT WEIRD FLUFFY THING YOU ONCE SAW) A ONE-MAN BAND A CIRCLE TO DANCE IN NOW SET FIRE TO THE PHOTOGRAPH THREE KINDS OF FIRE BURN TO ASHES THEN TUCK YOUR FLOWER BEHIND YOUR EAR PICK UP THE PUPPY GATHER THE ASHES JUMP INTO THE RIVER AT A RUN IT IS FULL OF WILL AND PURPOSE IT WILL TELL YOU THREE TIMES:
GOD IS NOT A MAN.
IN CASE OF BETRAYAL //
SPIT INTO A BOWL
ADD THREE OF YOUR HOTTEST TEARS LEMON JUICE MAYBE SOME COCONUT OIL IT IS GOOD FOR EVERYTHING (BETTER YET YONI OIL) CLEAN THE BOWL
SPIT INTO THE BOWL TWO TIMES ADD THREE OF YOUR HOTTEST WORDS
WASH REPEAT
ADD ALL THINGS HOT ALL THINGS DANGEROUS
CLEANSE (ORDER PIZZA)
// IN CASE OF IMPRISONMENT // LAY DOWN SHELL TO EARTH BEING TO CONTAINMENT SELF TO SELF –
INHALE -YOU MAY BE LAYING ON STONE ON SPIKES THE EDGE BUT YOU ARE HINGING ON THE PULSE OF ALL THINGS IT IS TIME TO LISTEN TO IT IN FIVE LAYERS IT IS TIME TO BECOME STAGE ONE:
PULL BACK IN WHAT HAS BEEN SPILLED. BUILD UP CALLASUS BY SCRAPING ALONG THE BORDER. FOG UP ITS WINDOWS. TRACE HEART SHAPES ON THEM. STAGE TWO: KNOCK ON WOOD. KNOCK POLITELY. IF DENIED ACCESS REACH INTO THE WALL. YOU WILL SET OFF AN ALARM. PROBABLY BLACK PROTOCOL. CUT IT OFF WITH A SLIGHTLY MAD GRIN. STAGE THREE: ENTER IN-BETWEEN. INTRODUCE YOURSELF. CURTSEY. BOW. SHAKE HANDS. LET YOURSELF BE SHOWN AROUND. A WALL IS MADE OF MANY THINGS. MAKE A LIST. FAMILIARIZE. STAGE FOUR: EXIT ON THE RIGHT SIDE. YOU ARE AND YOU ARE NOT. TALK TO WHAT IS LIMINAL. KNOWN AND UNKNOWN. BEHIND AND ABOVE. WITHIN AND NEXT TO YOU. UNDEFINED. DISCUSS THE IDEAL WAY TO WATER A PLANT. SAY THANK YOU. STAGE FIVE: SWITCH ON THE LIGHT. –
EXHALE --
IN CASE OF DEPRIVATION //
REMEMBER THE FIRST BREATH OF ETERNITY YOU WERE THERE EVEN IF SOME WERE NOT CALL THE SPHINX SHE HAS A THOUSAND NAMES TRY A FEW AND THEN ONE YOU CAN ONLY ASK THREE QUESTIONS ONE – START WITH WHAT HAS BEEN LOST TWO – CONTAIN WHAT HAS BEEN TAKEN THREE – END WITH WHAT IS TO BE FOUND THEN BUILD A FIRE AT HER FEET DIG A HOLE USE YOUR HANDS SHED YOUR SKIN EVEN IF YOU HAVE TAKEN GOOD CARE OF IT THIS ENTIRE TIME LAY IT BARE IT IS TIME TO BURN WHAT HAS BEEN CAST UPON YOU IT IS NOT YOURS TO KEEP FOR ALL ANSWERS SOUGHT THE THIRD EYE SPEAKS EARTH TO SKIN EARTH TO STARDUST ASHES TO ASHES DUST TO A FULL MOON'S FLOWER BOUQUET WITH A GREETING CARD ATTACHED
(TO BE CONTINUED)
THIS IS A MANUAL. OF SOME SORT. WE ALL KNOW HOW TO USE A MANUAL. HOWEVER, I RECOMMEND TURNING IT UPSIDE DOWN. SHAKE IT A LITTLE. FEED IT SOME CHOCOLATE. TIPTOE AROUND IT. START AN ARGUEMENT. LET IT SLEEP IN YOUR BED. TAKE GOOD CARE OF IT. WASH IT TWICE A WEEK. GOOGLE SOME OF IT. EVENTUALLY IT WILL COME AROUND. DON'T WORRY. I GOT YOU. IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS LEAVE A NICE VOICEMAIL. OR BUY ME DINNER. FOOD ALWAYS WORKS.
// IN CASE OF HEART – BREAK //
COLLECT A PIECE
EVERYDAY
BEGIN WITH THE TINIEST THE ONE YOUR BARE EYES MIGHT NOT EVEN SEE CAREFULLY FOLD THOSE PIECES INTO YOUR SOFTEST CLOTH WAIT FOR FULL MOON BATH
NAKED
IN MOONLIGHT
SPEAK TO THE ROOTS OF THE GRANDEST TREE SPEAK INTO THE EARTH EXCHANGE STORIES DO IT UNTIL YOU HAVE LEARNED THE WAYS OF THE FULL MOON LET THE NEW MOON COME TALK TO THE LEAVES THIS TIME THEY SPEAK IN WINDY TONGUES START A FIRE
INVITE THE SMALL FOLK
THEY DANCE CLEVERLY
MOLD YOURSELF A HEART OF ROOTS OF LEAVES OF FIRE AND MOONSHINE FILL IT WITH THE SONGS OF MIDNIGHT NATURE
RISE WITH THE SUN
// IN CASE OF DISPERSION //
FOLD YOURSELF TOWARD YOURSELF INWARD DO NOT CUBE YOURSELF WE DO NOT NEED EDGES INSTEAD MOVE IN CIRCLES FALL BACKWARDS RAISE YOURSELF ONTO TIPTOES WHILE HANGING FROM THE NEXT BEST CEILING ARE YOU STRAIGHT YET CURVE IN WAVES RAISE YOUR VOICE IN TWIRLS TO THOSE SHADOW-HANDED BIRDS ON THE WALL HOWEVER DO NOT FRIGHTEN THEM AWAY MAKE RIMES THAT WRAP AROUND A WALNUT BRANCH A BALL OF WOOL A GLASS MARBLE A BUTTERFLY ONLY A KNOWING HAND CAN UNFOLD FROM SOFTNESS IT WILL SHOW YOU THE WAY
// IN CASE OF NEGLECT //
LOOK UP SEARCH FOR THE FARTHEST POINT ON THE HORIZON PUT IT BETWEEN YOUR THUMB AND FOREFINGER PLUG IT FROM THE SKY CRADLE IT IN YOUR ARMS FOR TWENTY MINUTES YOU WILL HAVE TO PUT IT SOMEPLACE ELSE SOON BUT FIRST THE HORIZON MUST GROW AND YOU MUST GROW WITH IT FROM NOW ON CARRY A RULER WITH YOU – FOR MEASUREMENT A WATER LEVEL – FOR BALANCE AND SPINE NOW DIG A HOLE INTO THE SOFTEST SPOT OF EARTH IT MAY BE IN YOUR BACKYARD NEXT TO YOUR BED UNDERNEATH A PILE OF CLOTHES RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE HORIZON DIG EQUALLY IN WIDTH AND DEPTH ABOUT THIS MUCH LAY THE FARTHEST POINT ON THE HORIZON DOWN INTO WHAT IS WHOLE POUR: CLEAREST WATER OUT OF CRYSTAL CAVES COAX: WITH THICKEST FOREST WINDS COVER: IN LIGHTEST DESERT SANDS SPRNKLE WITH ESSENTIAL LOVE LET TAKE ROOT WITHIN
RETURN SEEDLINGS TO THE WILD ONCE A MONTH
IN CASE OF DISCRIMINATION //
YOU WILL NEED A BAG OF USEFUL THINGS: A POLAROID CAMERA – A PERMANENT MARKER – THREE MATCHES – A YELLOW FLOWER – A COZY PULLOVER – A PUPPY • FIND A RIVER THAT IS FULL OF WILL AND PURPOSE QUESTION IT THOROUGHLY NOT ALL RIVERS FLOW WITH AN EDGE WADE INTO SAID RIVER FIND A LOOP IN TIME YOU MIGHT WANT TO WEAR YOUR PULLOVER BEFORE ENTERING IT WILL BE VERY COLD LOOK THROUGH ALL THE WINDOWS INSIDE THE LOOP (IF THERE ARE NO WINDOWS TRY AGAIN THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT LOOPS) FIND THE WINDOW WITH DEMONS BEHIND IT TAKE A PICTURE THEY WILL GRIN LET THE RIVER PULL YOU BACK DOUSE THE POLAROID IN RIVER WATER IMMEDIATELY LET SOAK LET DRY IN THE SUN LET BLEACH ONCE DRIED DRAW THE FOLLOWING THINGS ON IT: A BOY WITH FLOWERS IN HIS HAIR A DRAGON-FIGHTING PRINCESS A FAIRY OF DARK MATTER AND STARDUST WITH A SHY SMILE (MAYBE THAT WEIRD FLUFFY THING YOU ONCE SAW) A ONE-MAN BAND A CIRCLE TO DANCE IN NOW SET FIRE TO THE PHOTOGRAPH THREE KINDS OF FIRE BURN TO ASHES THEN TUCK YOUR FLOWER BEHIND YOUR EAR PICK UP THE PUPPY GATHER THE ASHES JUMP INTO THE RIVER AT A RUN IT IS FULL OF WILL AND PURPOSE IT WILL TELL YOU THREE TIMES:
GOD IS NOT A MAN.
IN CASE OF BETRAYAL //
SPIT INTO A BOWL
ADD THREE OF YOUR HOTTEST TEARS LEMON JUICE MAYBE SOME COCONUT OIL IT IS GOOD FOR EVERYTHING (BETTER YET YONI OIL) CLEAN THE BOWL
SPIT INTO THE BOWL TWO TIMES ADD THREE OF YOUR HOTTEST WORDS
WASH REPEAT
ADD ALL THINGS HOT ALL THINGS DANGEROUS
CLEANSE (ORDER PIZZA)
// IN CASE OF IMPRISONMENT // LAY DOWN SHELL TO EARTH BEING TO CONTAINMENT SELF TO SELF –
INHALE -YOU MAY BE LAYING ON STONE ON SPIKES THE EDGE BUT YOU ARE HINGING ON THE PULSE OF ALL THINGS IT IS TIME TO LISTEN TO IT IN FIVE LAYERS IT IS TIME TO BECOME STAGE ONE:
PULL BACK IN WHAT HAS BEEN SPILLED. BUILD UP CALLASUS BY SCRAPING ALONG THE BORDER. FOG UP ITS WINDOWS. TRACE HEART SHAPES ON THEM. STAGE TWO: KNOCK ON WOOD. KNOCK POLITELY. IF DENIED ACCESS REACH INTO THE WALL. YOU WILL SET OFF AN ALARM. PROBABLY BLACK PROTOCOL. CUT IT OFF WITH A SLIGHTLY MAD GRIN. STAGE THREE: ENTER IN-BETWEEN. INTRODUCE YOURSELF. CURTSEY. BOW. SHAKE HANDS. LET YOURSELF BE SHOWN AROUND. A WALL IS MADE OF MANY THINGS. MAKE A LIST. FAMILIARIZE. STAGE FOUR: EXIT ON THE RIGHT SIDE. YOU ARE AND YOU ARE NOT. TALK TO WHAT IS LIMINAL. KNOWN AND UNKNOWN. BEHIND AND ABOVE. WITHIN AND NEXT TO YOU. UNDEFINED. DISCUSS THE IDEAL WAY TO WATER A PLANT. SAY THANK YOU. STAGE FIVE: SWITCH ON THE LIGHT. –
EXHALE --
IN CASE OF DEPRIVATION //
REMEMBER THE FIRST BREATH OF ETERNITY YOU WERE THERE EVEN IF SOME WERE NOT CALL THE SPHINX SHE HAS A THOUSAND NAMES TRY A FEW AND THEN ONE YOU CAN ONLY ASK THREE QUESTIONS ONE – START WITH WHAT HAS BEEN LOST TWO – CONTAIN WHAT HAS BEEN TAKEN THREE – END WITH WHAT IS TO BE FOUND THEN BUILD A FIRE AT HER FEET DIG A HOLE USE YOUR HANDS SHED YOUR SKIN EVEN IF YOU HAVE TAKEN GOOD CARE OF IT THIS ENTIRE TIME LAY IT BARE IT IS TIME TO BURN WHAT HAS BEEN CAST UPON YOU IT IS NOT YOURS TO KEEP FOR ALL ANSWERS SOUGHT THE THIRD EYE SPEAKS EARTH TO SKIN EARTH TO STARDUST ASHES TO ASHES DUST TO A FULL MOON'S FLOWER BOUQUET WITH A GREETING CARD ATTACHED
(TO BE CONTINUED)
