Rhino 2001 - 8th Annual Member's Show - 8/5/01

Open to the Light
Cecilia Pinto
© 2001

Part I
Deep, deep underwater live electrical creatures. Scientists say
so. It used to be mermaids or squids bigger than frigates. It
used to be druids or pirates returning to us with this information.
Now, scientists say they have seen creatures at the very
bottom of the ocean who illuminate the murky darkness with
beautiful displays of light.

The scientists say it looks like floating fireworks. But the
creatures aren't exploding nor are they really electrical. There is
another explanation. A chemical reaction in the cells of these
creatures produces energy in the form of light.

They are transparent, you could see their bones, if they
had any. there is no word in our language for the shape of
them other than shapeless. And they do this thing, illuminate
the murky darkness in beautiful displays of light, do this
thing to trick other creatures so they can eat them. The other
creatures are drawn in, fascinated, trapped and they succumb.
If there is a story here, it is a cautionary one.

Someone, anyone, could open your chest and touch your
pulsing heart, put their hand in the cavity of your body and
press their fingers to the elastic muscle that keeps you alive.
Knowing this is what makes kissing so good. Close your eyes.
Go down.

Part II
After awhile it no longer matters if you open your eyes, you
stop needing them. Or perhaps you leave them open all the
time becasue it is no longer necessary to blink. You are as open
as you'll ever be. I was as open as I'd ever been and he was,
and she was, and they were and we were and...

After awhile breathing too becomes unnecessary in the old
way. Your mouth becomes unnecessary here, for this. You feel
the water rushing along your sides, or the air, running in and
out through you; like fingers.

After awhile the purpose of movement changes or is lost.
There is floating, drifting, but without intention. Eventually you
lie down or do you fall? Maybe the currents flip you over and
over like pillows and rumpled sheets. You spiral across the
sandy, rippled floor; a sand dollar, a fluted shell, a tooth.

Part III
All of the people are running. Someone, anyone is bombing the
hell out of them with beautiful displays of light. All of the people
are running. Are we killing people who should not be killed?
Who should be killed?
Start running.
It might be that we are electrical creatures attracting them to
our light. Even though we are not really electrical, even though
it may be a trick, a myth, the truth. Is this happening because
we are hungry? Is the light a metaphor for our supremacy? Were
we made this way?

A scientist, a mermaid, a pirate,
my beating heart, a fish.
Before I cut myself my blood is blue. This is a truth I cannot verify.
After, when I am as open as I'll ever be,
and they are and she is and he is, it will be red, it will all be red.

Part IV
And now, let me ask you this;
at any point did you feel perhaps you had been tricked?
Did you find yourself gasping for air?
Were there any flashes of light?
Do you ever wake in the night filled with nameless dread?
Do I? Yeah, I do.
It is not my intention to make you feel foolish. This is scientific.
Looking back, at what point if any, did you succumb?
Pretend this is a map please, show me where.
Trace the path, put your finger there.