was the metaphor—
transformation
as second nature.
But somewhere along the line,
we confused
a red delicious
with the furious counterpoint
of everyday experience;
we got duped
by a bugbear
with a sibilant attack
into
trading in truth
for the magic beans
of facts.
We were ends
transmogrified solely
into means
not by
the licking tongues
of sword flames
but the flicking tails
at the ends
on our genes.
