Constance

(Spoken quotation by N1 Xian recorded circa a.d. 1970,

Anecdotes of time by John Constance)

"When perceived correctly, the world is a mirror which, disinterestedly, maintains a current record of our nature and constitution. Within this vast parabolic mirror, we should be able to see clearly the forms our faults have taken--which daily stand in our way. Yet, for the sake of allotting our inadequacies a wide berth and so as to avoid running into them head-on, we have learned to artfully avoid our own reflections. Our most regrettable qualities have successfully overwhelmed our nobility and now the image of a man has become indistinguishable from the form of his fault. Of a man, it can no longer be said that he is as a monkey aping the behavior of angels. For in our avoidance of ourselves, we have given up even on strife.

The purpose of this critique is not to aide in the composition of an epic satire; rather, I would that this knowledge serve as a launching pad. We can correct the human model--there is a method."

Time is an insect. As it emerges it crawls from it's hole

It is crushed under the weight of a heavy boot heel.

The cracking of it's carapace is as all clocks ticking in tandem.

In the sand of this crinkling/crackling ticking, is the sound,

The measure and the rhythm of life's passing.

We count time as stones cast as lots.

Yet, we intone our very own countdown to death.

Into death's embrace we walk, and unto death we shall go.

For we have failed to understand the true nature and structure of time.

The mantra of the clock is the voice of god.

Your clocks merely tick, I shall make them talk.

Here time shall speak.

He is the "man of straw", "the tall man"; HIS NAME: MIEN NIHIL, or

Phantasma, as denotes his function.

He amputates the mind. He compacts the body

Few indeed knowingly evoke The Tall Man, but

HITHER HE COME YE MAY BE CERTAIN.

HERE HE ENCLOSES a world and releases it¹s energy.

HE COMPACTS THE SOMA.

HE AMPUTATES THE PSYCHE.

What time is it?

What time do you say it is?