welcome

When the lion enters the room, no one is ready no one knows what to do two women drinking Cointreau ice and water try to ignore him but without realizing it they suddenly wet their pants in the corner a young man seeks to appease it pulls precious gems from his tailored pants and throws them in its path trance yogis flee in wild panic well meaning saints faint a woman aims a small pistol but it misfires the lion surveys the territory.

Language flies apart. The facts demand it. Verbs vanish nouns name nothing everywhere silence appears to swallow the slightest utterance no one is able to say I feel, I believe, I think no syntax will hold metaphors crack open and slide apart.

A few fools seek to welcome the lion their eloquence shatters into stuttering. The lion winks and laughs. The room is empty the room is full of light the room is empty the room is full of light in the vast unfamiliar gaps of their stammers the lion's roar thunders the lion roars flashing fierce white teeth, sensuous brilliant tongue.