The wearing of a Brazilian Carnival crown as cure for separation caused by a deficiency of knowledge of others' language and culture

~ Stella Reed


Symptoms:    Inability to stretch beyond the boundary of skin, tongue and ears
                     Lack of sufficient power to dream in another language


Rx:                This helmet fell like a yod
                     from the Tower of Babel
                     when god was lightning
    
                     Worn while sleeping it will imbue
                     the seeker with dreams of old women
                     feeding bread to pigeons in every city
                     in every country in every world.
                     Bread becomes pain, arán, chléb,
                     brood, brot, duona.


                    Worn upon waking it will enable
                    the seeker to hear the voices of pigeons
                    in every city of every country in every world.
                    Cooing becomes dove becomes sparrow becomes
                    crow becomes hawk flying back to dove.


                    Translating the scent of pine, bamboo, oak,
                    eucalyptus, boab, willow, and mahogany
                    will be effortless. 


                    The festive ribbons, held in the mouth
                    (taste of corn, saffron, curry, milk, sour plum)
                    allows the seeker to speak in dialects
                    previously unknown, unbinding the tongue
                    oiling the lips, the ears, eyes, fingers, hinges
                    of the closeted heart will swing open,
                    patience will preside, understanding
                    create equanimity.


                    To further lessen symptoms:
                    feet shall be unshod
                    shoes shed on a Swedish mat
                    (woven mountains of mouths, fanged yet friendly)
                    and left overnight.
                    Upon waking, the seeker shall examine.
                    Have the shoes changed?
                    Place the shoes back on the feet.
                    Do they fit?
                    Walk a mile.
                    What does the seeker feel?
                    Is it right? Left?
                    Circular, ether, above, below
                    betwixt, between?


                    Circumambulate the waters
                    Any waters.
    
                    Do the shoes fit?
                    Wear them.