There’s a deepness and a darkness and theDarkness goesDeepThere’s a winner and a loserAnd awakeness and a sleepDreaming and I’m seeing and I’m losing myPlaceFace it little honey all the volume’s gone dimA shimmy and a shaking And a singing that hymnIt’s like a song I can’t remember but it’s stuck in myBrainAnd the rain it washes overAnd my body goes humAnd the pain goes sloshAnd the feeling goes numbAnd I reach for your handAnd the sand runs quickAnd it’s almost over nowAnd they lay it on thickAnd the drops run downAnd they dropdripDropAnd the go gets grabby and I stopSlipstop.

And I can’t see you nowAnd I guess I never willThe room’s done spinning honeyStill.

***

Welcome to The ALIVE hour.

Illustration: Shannon ColónAudio mixing + music: Chloe RileyNarrative: Molly Dunn, via an upcoming memoir

Things found in real life

* This house in a moon:

* This shadow of myself:

Things found on the internet

* This interview with philosopher / soothsayer / keen observer of humanity Cornel West. Much good in here, but specifically this:

You preserve your moral integrity and tell the truth. And then the worms get you. Because they going to get you one way or the other anyway. Might as well go with some integrity and with style. Right?

* This found bag, posted by cartoonist Roz Chast:

* This essay from The ALIVE hour illustrator Shannon Colón:

I’m inspired by how explicit my dog is with what she wants. I’m moved by her present and persistent nature. It seems so easy for her to express what’s on her mind. I want to feel comfortable sharing my needs too, and sometimes I don’t even know what they are.

Instead of creating excuses, what if I’m the one stretching by the door? What would my dramatic yawn sound like?

***

What is the soundOf your dramatic yawn?

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thealivehour.substack.com