Text by Artemis Steakley-Freeman and Eli Van Sickel

Performer 1: This, my heart, may beat better,
harder,
faster,
stronger rhythms.
But I program my mind to change patterns in midsentence,
because it does not really matter what--
Eyes.
I have two eyes, yes,
this is my eye, yes, but every cranny and crevice of mine is always a window into the soul,
be it mine
or thine.

Finite and infinite,
clouded and clear,
largess and miniscule,
the soul is an act of duality,
transality.
Reality and fantasy both
are truth
and truth is the tactic with which to discover the trick,
what trick this is within,
what trick is this betwixt the souls.
I am in control.
I am all that makes my soul and body whole.

Performer 2: This heart beats for more than rhythm.
Muscle and tone drum
inseparable rhyme
Daring to beat faster than the one outstanding drummer.
Beats for this miracle
born into the wild midwest
sparing no backwards glance of sideways thought.
Heart pumps soul into power,
power into words,
words into voice and
voice into action.
Plasma fighting for the widened screen of this never-ending canvas.

This heart beats for choice and change
The choice to
love
hate
fly
sing
dance
discover
live.

Hearts beat for body's connection
For fingers and lips and twisted limbs
For reaching hands
and caring hearts.

Performer 1: This heart beats for my hand on the small of your back
and breath.
Beats for satin skin on silk sheets
And the empty bottle of chardonnay.
Beats for secluded nights wearing nothing but pride.

This heart grows for sudden passion
Desire to be drawn upon with
mind
body
lips
curves
twists
nerves
And those eyes.
Locked in desire and skin
And sealed in this silence is a pact
Only released when we both reach the end.

Performer 2: My heart beats for tender touch and closed doors.
Beats for curves and cradles of caressing blankets and skin
This heart beats for more than rhythm.
Beats for these hands and the fire in my blood
And this heart lights with sparks of every color.
I can light him too,
with tangled legs
and urgent fingers
together we beat faster.
Waste no time.
Breath makes the case for
yes
now
born for this rush
this race
and to see
that we are not alone
but in the touch and sweat,
we are still our own.

Performer 1: Touch of all the senses courses through my veins
Like current through water and grips at my neck
Pulsing,
pounding,
pleading,
repeating,
until the pinnacle moment becomes present and past.

The trick is this:
There is no collar around my neck
I have no lashes on my back
No chains around my wrists
For this moment and forever more

Both: I am in control
Performer 2: I am all that makes my soul and body whole.

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