Labyrinth (for William Burroughs)

There are no mirrors in the labyrinth,

you have to bring your own... but there

are bus stops. One thing you notice in

the labyrinth is that many in there seem

to think they know where they are, when,

in fact, they're lost. It's probably the 

repetitious posters on the walls that give

them a sense of familiarity and stability.

Everyone knows the labyrinth has a center,

a goal, a source. That's why they're in it 

in the first place. In fact, they intuitively

have a sense of where it is...but the twists

and turns, the fascinating alcoves, the

surprise of finding oneself at a dead end,

all contribute to forgetting the point of being

there in the first place: to find the center.

The labyrinth began as someone's good 

intention...the intention turned into an idea

and the idea into a plan.Somewhere along 

the line, the intention got lost in translation

to action. Compromises were made to

accommodate practicality, but the intention,

the center, the starting point, always 

remained where it was. 

It wasn't enough to have a center...not

entertaining enough. So walls were built,

mazes made, out of sheer nervous 

boredom. Then, when the labyrinth was 

well along in construction, some individuals

took the job as guides....sold pamphlets and

tracts that claimed to explain the labyrinth,

handing them out at the entrance knowing

they wouldn't have to worry about 

dissatisfied customers...once they entered

they would never leave.

One trouble maker tried to warn people that 

were about to enter it. He told them that the 

center they were looking for was not just in 

labyrinth...it was outside of it too, in fact, it

was everywhere. Some listened. Others 

were too jived by the hucksters to pay much

attention. Finally, the man was taken away 

by the soldiers, hired by the vendors, that guard 
the labyrinth.