I stand and pace from one side of the room to the other, haltingly or smoothly, and in steps that could in one movement be jagged, and in another fluid, or with a gait that seemingly lacks in affectation, alternating and switching, for a duration of longevity or briskness, before I cease and halt in my enclosed peregrinations, and sit cross-legged or with legs apart. My arms will be crossed or at my sides, my back will be slouched or stooped or erect, my eyes will be ahead or up or down or to a side, this will be briefly or for an extended duration, in physical discomfort or seemingly without, before I again rise and stand, before I again continue with the previous movement or again begin anew, in the attempt at physical discovery instead of mental mastication.
I may often stand, or as easily sit, before again standing, or again sitting, or possibly lie, if not sitting or standing, before or after standing or sitting, or possibly pace, if not sitting or lying but always standing, before or after sitting or lying but pacing while standing. It is physically improbable to pace while lying or sitting, but not improbable to lie after pacing, or sit after pacing, or stand after pacing, just as it is not unlikely to stand before pacing, or sit before pacing, or lie before pacing, just as it is not improbable to sit and not stand to pace, lie and not stand to pace, and stand and not pace.
This will alternate following hours or days, where the torso is bent, the elbows are at the waist, the forearms on the legs, and the head is cupped in the hand’s cradle. This will alternate at times following hours or days, where the legs will cross, right over left, and the arms will be self-embracing, with the torso bent and the elbows at the waist, or possibly the legs will be crossed, right over left, and the arms will be self-embracing, with the torso bent back reclining and the elbows resting on the stomach. But it will never be a left leg over the right with the arms self-embracing, the torso bent, and the elbows at the waist or the torso bent and reclined with the elbows on the stomach since the left leg is a bit stiff and won’t cross the right the way the right does the left.
MICHAEL TOUSSAINT is a Denver-based creative who explores the relationship between consciousness and creativity through writing and fine art. His writing is an experimental discourse on the function of writing, storytelling, and consciousness. His art explores ideas of perception, chance operations, and systems, among others. While embracing diversity in his work and between projects, he searches for new forms of expression and representation. His experimental novel Limping to an Intellectual Impasse will be published by Moloko+ in 2025.