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<p><img src="https://i.imgsafe.org/0204c7e34e.png" width="480" height="480"/></p>
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<h1>SEQUENCE OF THE LIBERATRIX</h1>
<p><br></p>
<p>AH! off in a heartbeat, an outbreath, two eyes</p>
<p>in the belly and the worldly mass churns,</p>
<p>ominous and dark, whether former creativities</p>
<p>or post apocalyptic cries: Coyote burns.</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>this void, this spacious gap of no thing</p>
<p>is not a vacuum, because from it springs </p>
<p>heaven, earth, and the morning sun arising,</p>
<p>painting the desert red, connecting all the strings.</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>Coyote comprehends these strings in space</p>
<p>and without fear he laughs his mindlessness aloud.</p>
<p>he sees the old Spinster, attached to a string</p>
<p>and shoots his rifle, cuts in two, Coyote proud</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>falls flat on the ground, breaking leg and limb,</p>
<p>ribs, jowls, vertebrae, if but fragments cast</p>
<p>are set to clarify this body's fib:</p>
<p>Coyote the person cannot hold fast</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>under pressure, even the slightest breeze</p>
<p>now blows patches of fur across the sand.</p>
<p>organs desiccate by day, and by night they freeze </p>
<p>in the post-apocalyptic Coyote &.</p>
<p><br></p>
<p><img src="https://i.imgsafe.org/0244385531.png" width="211" height="145"/></p>
<p><br></p>
<p>per se, and Mouse scuttles up to the corpse</p>
<p>to nudge together again that ruined form,</p>
<p>amalgamations of bone and flesh, distinct, blown</p>
<p>into people, persons, once embodied, sworn</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>to never die again. Coyote swears,</p>
<p>"it's true" as he thanks dear Mikyo Mouse, he too</p>
<p>has pledged to uphold his central figure's wares:</p>
<p>the dude always comes through.</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>then these two do go their separate ways.</p>
<p>Mouse to the homestead, with eyes out for Hawk,</p>
<p>Coyote northeastward, into some new fray: </p>
<p>two lice in his ear bickering the live long day.</p>
<p><br></p>
<p> &</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>day after day in the high desert drought</p>
<p>this one trots trots trots while he dodges traps</p>
<p>and wishes for a creek, some light and cool draught</p>
<p>that would allay this thirst and o! the hunger snaps</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>until Coyote happens upon a town</p>
<p>full of people, and he asks one of them:</p>
<p>"what is the day, the town, and why do none here frown?" </p>
<p>and comes the reply: "we're done here with tedium</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>if for a day at least, for the day is Sunday,</p>
<p>and the place is Boulder, the People's Republic."</p>
<p>"O yes, in Boulder, where to rejoice is the way,</p>
<p>I seem to remember an ever-burning wick," </p>
<p><br></p>
<p>Her Highness whose flame of compassion kind </p>
<p>burns bright in a pool of butter clear,</p>
<p>Her Highness who hosts every Sunday a mind</p>
<p>green with godly speed and motherly care.</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>so Coyote goes there, and expects to find</p>
<p>a morsel to eat and some drink to sup.</p>
<p>not only is he hungry, and in a thirsty bind,</p>
<p>but he needs help with creation, for he's still just a pup.</p>
<p><br></p>
<p> &</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>he arrives at her home, and sure enough,</p>
<p>there at the gate a fierce demonic guard,</p>
<p>metallic and aflame, to weed out the chaff</p>
<p>stops Coyote short and grills him hard:</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>"what have you killed for your breakfast this morn?</p>
<p>is it garlic and onion that I smell on your breath?</p>
<p>Her Highness doesn't want any game forlorn</p>
<p>or guests uninvited by the smell of death.</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>"what have you stolen on your way to here?</p>
<p>you must surely have walked the public street</p>
<p>but I ask, have you paid the pubic fear</p>
<p>besides death, I mean tax, so hard to beat?</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>"what sex have you had since the midnight last</p>
<p>if it was good, I'm glad, but if it were bad,</p>
<p>say, with another's wife, or anal lust,</p>
<p>had you sucked yourself off, if so, so sad.</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>"what lies have you told for the love of gold,</p>
<p>to prop yourself up onto thrones so high </p>
<p>that inferior intellects, befuddled, would be sold</p>
<p>to your own false fruits that bear quick to hells nigh?</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>"what drink have you drunk to get yourself shmacked,</p>
<p>what herb have you smoked to get yourself stoned?</p>
<p>whether upper or downer, odds are stacked</p>
<p>you're out of control, your gourd is cracked."</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>despite being caught unaware at the sight,</p>
<p>much less by the demon's ferocious quiz,</p>
<p>Coyote stayed his critic of the present plight</p>
<p>and answered staightaway to the demon's biz.</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>"I've not killed a thing, that is, a living being,</p>
<p>in fact I've fasted since I can't think when,</p>
<p>of course I am clear of the downfall of killing, </p>
<p>and breathing deathly smells, to best of ken.</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>"and as thieving as my reputation may preclude</p>
<p>I've not taken a single thing not offered me.</p>
<p>though never have I paid the tax, The Dude1</p>
<p>as well abode not paying the harming fee.2</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>"and as for sex, though I am a wild beast</p>
<p>it's been some time since I've a woman seen.</p>
<p>I've dreamed as much, but since the midnight last </p>
<p>I surely say of sex, and sucking, I am clean.</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>"I've lied to none, not since I'm short of craft,</p>
<p>but because this is the first I've spoken loud</p>
<p>for an amazing span. I've no intent to fool the daft</p>
<p>or even me. Of speech I am sound as well as proud.</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>"of all so far I am quite innocent</p>
<p>of killing, stealing, bad sex, and false leads.</p>
<p>but on the point of intoxicants, I must admit</p>
<p>being drunk on devotion and high on counting beads."</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>the demon guard's reply, "good good, you're in!"</p>
<p>and this one enters Her Highness's yin.</p>
<p><br></p>
<p><img src="https://i.imgsafe.org/0218f8a546.jpg" width="379" height="480"/></p>
<p><br></p>
<p>on Sunday mornings Her Highness cleans house</p>
<p>for weary travelers and bourgeoisies alike</p>
<p>to shed their shoes and relaxation rouse:</p>
<p>Coyote, shoeless, sheds his dirty psych,</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>as if he could, he tries, but spies a cat</p>
<p>black as no moon night whose authority,</p>
<p>so peerless in his realm, so very fat</p>
<p>his puke has power, rain of blessings pee,</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>as long as pee is free of prejudice,</p>
<p>this black cat would be seen for what he is:</p>
<p>a man if his station as diamond guard</p>
<p>would mind the cushions of Her Highness hard.</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>these pillows, soft and homely seats for equipoise</p>
<p>take meditators, felines, and families free</p>
<p>to chant the scriptures, fart and puke, and watch tv.</p>
<p>to Coyote's bum: heavens of the thirty three.</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>her great room, room of life and living high</p>
<p>on love and hollywood royalties: here gods</p>
<p>in rafters throw entire carnations down</p>
<p>when devotees of Liberatrix take delight.</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>devoted women, elderly, liberal, bent</p>
<p>on gathering the cause to birth again</p>
<p>if ever they truly have, are diligent </p>
<p>to sow their seeds within the minds of men.</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>one says to Coyote, she says, "come with me, </p>
<p>you caver, to my cave," the gaze in her eye</p>
<p>obsidian flint, her only weapon save</p>
<p>for empty space, none other than sky.</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>and then there were likes from the free state Texan.</p>
<p>a southerner with real twang, bow drill fire</p>
<p>spark red and yellow wild, "there aint no sin</p>
<p>in born-agains who prep the seeds of peace</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>so dire they greet this Liberatrix meek</p>
<p>in face and strong in arms." silver hair sleek,</p>
<p>she says to Coyote, she says "you look</p>
<p>dusty, come freshen yrself in my shady nook."</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>the sight was plain to see, water pure, clean</p>
<p>for drinking, washing, moons reflecting suns</p>
<p>so vast that this recipient obscene,</p>
<p>even he comes clean of dusty tons.</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>so they all sat there on lily bloom seats:</p>
<p>all the old women and Coyote proud</p>
<p>to praise Liberatrix with upturned feet</p>
<p>on twisted legs, their trunks, tender and sound,</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>done channel Her Highness into the room.</p>
<p>from up atop she comes ambling on down</p>
<p>the stairs until she plops a good loud boom:</p>
<p>one hundred thousand shook the town.</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>Her Highness, she says, "have you heard, His Holiness</p>
<p>within his home was raided quick of currency, </p>
<p>his mountain hours spent in the interest of crime,</p>
<p>though benefactors wished for a better clime.</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>let's chant to refill this merit store, </p>
<p>to stop the pipeline, put an end to frack,</p>
<p>to grant the right to choose to crown kings of yore.</p>
<p>go: chant yourself yellow, green, red, blue and black."</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>their speech went henceforth pure and white as day.</p>
<p><br></p>
<p> &</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>"worlds and inhabitants, praise after praise</p>
<p>we offer to the mother green to go </p>
<p>as lightning feet quick with the cure of saints</p>
<p>comingling matrixes incognito!</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>"worlds and inhabitants, praise after praise</p>
<p>we offer to the frowning face of she</p>
<p>who deals blows to crooked premises,</p>
<p>and stamps them to dust and smithereens!</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>"worlds and inhabitants, praise after praise</p>
<p>we offer to her spirit tsunami</p>
<p>the moment after ego loses hold</p>
<p>to swim in blissful seas, saltwaters void!"</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>this perfect creation for people save</p>
<p>to live on light unlimited and rich,</p>
<p>for babies, good dreams, religion enclave</p>
<p>where no one goes hungry...Coyote twitch:</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>Coyote has the thought to have a bite to eat.</p>
<p>"I wonder what it is that we will eat so soon?</p>
<p>to be sure, we'll have tea. o could there be a treat</p>
<p>such like macaroons or cake, ice cream with a spoon?"</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>then thereupon the pious stop their speech.</p>
<p>they promptly turn their gaze soft straight ahead.</p>
<p>the devotees gaze straight ahead to such:</p>
<p>the emptiness of bellows, just waiting to be fed.</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>"long life to His Holiness, </p>
<p>Her Highness and the rest!"</p>
<p><br></p>
<p> &</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>"thank you, thank you kindly," the host replies</p>
<p>"and now it's time for tea, so come to dine.</p>
<p>we've plenty of chairs for everyone, so rise</p>
<p>and come with me." the women were benign</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>but Coyote couldn't help but unfold his legs</p>
<p>and stagger fast to sup some tea and morsel eat.</p>
<p>all the sugar and fat and caffeination begs</p>
<p>this diabetic dog slow down, but twitching feet</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>don't stop on account of the kind and kempt.</p>
<p>contrarywise, despite no small attempt</p>
<p>to look cool, Coyote crams a mouthful</p>
<p>while women sit around and yak an earful</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>"conservatives are out of line to say</p>
<p>a woman could reject a load of sperm."</p>
<p>"it's a load of fertilizer, and all the same</p>
<p>they aim to cut abortions, no matter the term."</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>then in between a bite of cake and fruit</p>
<p>this one ventures a shot from the hip,</p>
<p>"I see your line dividing red and blue,</p>
<p>but drops red and white do life equip</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>"and when there's life there's a person, no?</p>
<p>don't liberal folk too seek for life to grow?"</p>
<p>but Coyote was alone on this gangly point.</p>
<p>Her Highness then went on to deal the blow:</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>"you look like a person yourself, but in fact</p>
<p>your nature is none other than a dog.</p>
<p>you show up for Liberatrix sacrosanct</p>
<p>and think only of food, hardly analog</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>"compared with our devout proceedings here,</p>
<p>you are no more than a beggar hobo,</p>
<p>a dharma bum whose true face is Coyote.</p>
<p>we know who you are, so scram! get! go!"</p>
<p><br></p>
<p>but not before he could cram in his mouth</p>
<p>some nuts and another sup of tea.</p>
<p>as well as his mouth, Coyote stuffs cake</p>
<p>down yonder nadir south beneath his tail. </p>
<p><br></p>
<p>his secret pocket full, and with beads in his pouch</p>
<p>Coyote politely excuses himself.</p>
<p>"thank you, my ladies, now I'll be leaving,"</p>
<p>and off he went into the hills, aloof.</p>
<p><br></p>
<p> <img src="https://i.imgsafe.org/023c380a93.jpg" width="600" height="450"/></p>
<p><br></p>
<blockquote>This excerpt being the first verses of "Illusory Bodies", a mock western epic of mythic proportions, was composed by Steven R.A. Johnson in Boulder, CO, 2014, in the intersection and union of indigenous North American story-line with Indo-Tibetan "mandala principle". </blockquote>
<p><br></p>
<p> &&&</p>
<p><br></p>
<p><img src="https://i.imgsafe.org/01fb368c8c.jpg" width="810" height="1080"/></p>
<blockquote><em>The author, and performer, Steven RA Johnson, reading some old Coyote lines, at No Ropes Universal poetry reading, Trident Bookstore and Cafe, Boulder, CO, Summer 2013</em>. </blockquote>
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