story time

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    1109

    a story has an arc, the teacher told us
    and drew a line like a colorless rainbow
    on the blackboard — you remember, right?

    exposition, rising action — fueled by conflict
    the climax at the top, and then falling action
    falling so far that we spoke French: denouement

    resolution to you and me and I wondered what
    would happen if I changed one letter: arc to ark
    and the story became a journey rather than a

    rollercoaster, crammed full of critters and no map
    there might still be conflict, but everything would
    rise and fall on how well we learned to live together

    whose turn is was to row – and to cook, how long
    the doves would be gone and, without a doubt,
    what we would do if the hippos got restless

    Peace,
    Milton

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