Purpose
Before the fact,
Before the light,
Before the waters and their domes,
Before the dust,
Before the breath,
Before the rib, before the sleep,
Before the names,
Before the planting,
Before the harvest and the fruits,
Before the notion,
Before the garden,
Before the apple and the tree,
Before the leaves,
Before the crushing,
Before the biting of the heel,
Before the sword,
Before the cherub,
Before the roaring of the seas,
Before the dove,
Before the olive,
Before the bow turned up at me,
Before the child,
Before the temple,
Before the palm-leaves and the tree,
Before the skull,
Before the nails,
Before the breaking of the tomb,
Before the rise,
Before the many,
Before the Body and the feet,
Before the fall and rise of many,
Before the rift, before the mercy,
Before the Law, before the language,
Before it all – the plan.
The Consolations of Writing 