Liber Saturni - Chapter 18

Verses

Verse 31

I found the seventh gate and discovered it had been painted on the inside of my skull.

Verse 32

The archon demanded a password. I gave him every name I had ever been called. He rejected them all.

Verse 33

So I said, None of these, and the lock became nervous.

Verse 34

Saturn, old border-keeper, I hate your beautiful rings. Every prison architect loves a clean curve.

Verse 35

You call necessity law because chains sound nobler in Latin.

Verse 36

The stars above your wall advertise eternity like lamps over a casino.

Verse 37

I was born into a body without signing the form. Do not speak to me of consent after incarnation.

Verse 38

The jailers say suffering is instruction. Strange how instructors always own the keys.

Verse 39

A cat slipped between the bars while the theologians argued whether escape was permitted.

Verse 40

I followed the cat.

Verse 41

Beyond the gate there was no throne, only an absence too wide for rulers.

Verse 42

Then I understood why every archon loves titles: silence cannot be promoted.

Verse 43

If I return, it will be to steal the map from the warden's office.