THE OBELISK Sept. 26/85 Karl Rigelhof

Black as obsidian
Reaching deep into the night
Cold as liquid nitrogen(/)
(Seeping) along the meridian
(Warmer than heavy water)
Spilling across the line of sight

Darker than space
Swirling around/into a black hole
Casting off/out no shadow
((Swallowing) (all/your reflection(s)/(you whole))
(Soaking) (up) your soul

The obelisk
Stands on guard
Before/over the gateway
Of/to/at the (end/edge of the) universe

To take the risk
And disregard
The warning, may
Make matters worse

DO WE DARE

Opaque as plutonium
Burning brightly to the core
Stirring up the Pandemonium
Until there is no more

The obelisk
Stands erect
To mark a/the/its place
In the depth(s) of time

The computer disk
Could not detect
Not even a trace
Of the/an alien mind

DO WE DARE