he asked

and the bartender  scarcely raising an eyebrow  gave him exactly what he asked for

a drink

it bit his tongue before he could swallow

a salty taste of blood   its inherent corrosive viscosity   was overwhelming

like getting bit in the mouth by an angry snake

the chill of the icewater chaser was latent 

after pausing   just long enough to be sure his tongue wasnt going to swell and choke

him to death he asked

                                    What the fuck was that

the barkeep smirked  I really ought to call it that  Its what you asked for it yeah

Yah  Though typically everyone falls short

Save the flattery  If you really mean it I prefer a fat tip

there  that was the direct and honest transaction he loved which were falling away 

that the glib and cheap have threatened 

that ciphered the line between who he preferred to share his time

                                                                                            

                                                                                             he was less and less in public

because the public was less and less worthwhile or intriguing

he was holding out

                                holding out for the Whitmanesque   the passionate fullbloodied Men 

and Women

whose audacious minds and bodies were like swollen fall melons cradled in the warm

earth  trembling to explode

the public  now surly  drifting round and round him like motes or seeds  were emaciated 

sucked dry

tinder  waiting on a spark that would bond them in flame or turn them to black

withered ash

it seemed though to-day  ash was more imminent

however   his mind countered hopefully   ash is requisite for good mortar to erect new

edifices 

                                                                                          to what     remains unanswered

he spider-holed up  (appropriating their language)  and watched and worked diligently

deliberately 

                     when someone chose to obfuscate a simple matter he challenged them

he used their talking points discretely 

                                                               he cobbled them to other like talking points and

revealing those sources he garishly exposed them along thoroughfares and at

intersections on the ends of tall pikes as History had advised him

his hope  

                     people would be revolted by their presence

it was dirty work

an honest salt-of-the-earth work which could not be bought off

                                                                    it was the embrace   the realization   that fear  

had no purchase or Providence

it was as refreshing as an icecold sock in the mouth

inside out

1348,  Tuesday,  20  8. 13