Between Letters and Numbers

For humans, 

We are born into time, 

And our conscious understanding of time 

Is arguably what separates us 

From other forms of life. 

Our memories serve as the frame 

That hangs our living moments 

Into a great hall of records, 

And most of us strive 

To achieve this goal.

But we humans were not 

Formed from time itself, 

And any sustained consciousness 

Won’t cradle into time’s curved spine, 

Just like a ship’s course is 

Not determined solely by its anchor; 

Rather, it is the sails 

That spirit the wind,

And it is the wind that propels 

The craft beneath the stars. 

Time is our course, 

But it is also our curse—

    the necessary subject 

    that predicates our existence—

And for this period, 

It serves as a sentence of sorts. 

For what it’s worth, 

We will always know time 

    until we don’t. 

Until that time, 

Time itself will be as pressing 

And purposeful 

As the day we discovered it. 

The young girl did not know 

That she was deaf and blind. 

This is not the sort of thing you realize. 

If you have no recollection 

Of what is lost, 

The present condition is accepted 

As all that could be. 

It takes a special teacher 

To tap on the glass, 

And it takes a certain faith 

To recognize that the tapping 

Is anything but an 

Over-stimulated imagination 

Or wistful desire. 

The teacher does not stop 

When the student tires 

And drags his feet and 

Gripes that there is nothing to learn. 

The teacher continues to tap on the jar 

Until the student understands the message, 

Like hidden code tucked somewhere 

Between letters and numbers. 

Then, when the student recognizes 

The blind world is bright—

    if even in theory only—

And when the student recognizes 

The deaf world is full of music, 

The teacher introduces the 

Fundamental lessons that will 

Ultimately bring about the deepest understanding.

שׁהפוך

Two
Gulp
Six.

Six
Linen
Minister
Root.

False.

Shequel
Tranquil
Filthiness.

Drink
Low.

Pour out.

Decide.

Maid
Gate
Second
Scarlet
Year.

Tooth
Sun.

Safeguard.

Hear.

Eighth
Sky.

Report
Desolate.

Destroy
Title.

Complete
Complete.

Make restitution.

Spoil.

Throw out
Third
Table.

Send
Three.

Three.

Completeness
Dwell.

Depart early.

Forget.

Lay down.

Set down
Sixth.

Song
Sing.

Flush
Acacia.

Damage.

Slay.

Bend down
Ox.

Ram horn
Gatekeeper.

Turn back
Falseness.

Spoil
Ceasing
Cease.

Shattering
Crack
Seven.

Seven
Swear
Seventh
Captive.

Staff
Captivity
Swearing
Capture.

Remnant
Remain.

Enquire
Underworld.

Top to

Bottom

From 

Backward

View.