Notations

1.

[Relax. Take a deep breath, and read this one

as slowly as possible. Go back to the beginning

and read it again even more slowly, but, this time,

without a sound, without moving your lips,

listening only to the sounds in your inner ear,

your head if you have one. Done? Go back

to the beginning, reading even more

slowly, more silently, more prayerfully

if you care to go that route. Turn down the volume

in your head, in your inner ears. Listen, if you can,

to only the silences there, the silences among,

between the words, the words you almost can now hear.]

2.

[Go back to the beginning. Breathe slowly, deeply.

The sounds in your head have something to say. Some

thing of value to no one but you. Pray (or prey) if you

care to. Turn down the volume a tad. Breathe in

through your nose, out through your ears. Take your

time now. Listen, if you can, as slowly as possible.

The words, the words--they are always with us,

like poor folks. Back at the beginning, you never thought

you'd even get this far. Live now more silently

than ever, more slowly. Turn your head down until

your chin hits your chest. Take your time gently.

Begin reading, begin reading again--and again.]