[SFxLA]

speeds.
first gear.
one end of the
grayscale, the start
the split-second of a
deep breath
an inner calm
levitating mid-air
mind and backbones releasing
a long-held tension, a knot tied up
a slow release of air moves
up and out of this cave
the body of my travels
remnants of lost places
it is slower here, you breathe
here more, focus in on the air
here more, standing still really
running through mazes for clouds
an escape, the default play-doh
a break in the running, this is
time temporary, a re-charge

second gear.
the small town compromise
where this body is getting ahead
of itself, evolving past the line of
merely adapting, entering a green
cave, getting lost in the water
dripping off the roof of its mouth
a noticeable phantom leaving
a moving blur disappearing off in
the distance as the lights combust
the rush, the speed evaporating
from your blood stream, content for
the time being trudging along
but this is actually temporary as in
this will not go past a certain age
an expiration date sticker-ed on its
butt

third gear.
default speed of a city
an energy is pulsating
a shift occurs like
when you switch gears
on a quad and it jolts for
a moment and then you’re pushed
forward as you get your bearings
straight, an anxiousness slowly
sinks into your system, any restraints
knotted up from drifting on this
sailboat wheezes out of this box
the box where everything
you end up saying is filtered
in this gear there are less filters
five to three, turtles and squirrels
huddle to ensure the candle doesn’t
burn out and leave a chalk outline
we are under development

fourth gear.
is when the blood is pumping
causing your hearing to invert
last stage of
controlled settings
win or lose
you are now virtually
in a video game
the adrenaline is beginning
to settle in
can you control it
up and down those hills
those orange brown canyons
crashes may be included

fifth gear and reverse.
where are you
can you hear me
or do these words echo
far away from where you are
officially a blur
the wind is whipping your face
air needles sinking into your nerves
will the rush overflow from your fingertips
stop and go, stop and go
please notify the manufacturers
if and when these circuits overheat
combust into any dark caves
where doors are shutting
slamming and the blocks are
formulating its grey colors again
this is
not a sustaining cruise mode.