Welcome To The Retablo Factory

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RETABLO I — THE SIGNED FOREST

This forest was signed into existence.
Before the signature, the trees were confused.
Afterward, they became obedient but still forgot things.

Animals from incorrect centuries wandered through the paint.
Camels looked ashamed.
Horses with too many toes pretended not to notice.

A wooden sign read 1½ MILES.
The half was painted smaller, like it was embarrassed.

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RETABLO II — THE GREEN MAN & THE WINE

A man dressed entirely in green stood beside his green car.
His hat was green.
His silence was green.

A wine bottle stuck out of his pocket like a sermon gone wrong.

We asked how far it was to Spirit Prison.
He said, “Halfway.”

Halfway is a word used by men who will not be responsible later.

Behind him, a woman rolled her dress down as if pulling a curtain over a thought.

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RETABLO III — THE BABY & THE SNOW

The baby ate snow.
Snow did not object.

A justice from a book wagged his finger invisibly.
The baby ignored precedent.

I said, “Stop.”
The baby considered it briefly and continued being a baby.

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RETABLO IV — THE VANISHING PATH

The path stopped participating.

It ended at a creek and refused to go farther.
We looked for it like people searching for faith after lunch.

It had gone elsewhere.
Possibly to the afterlife.
Possibly to avoid us.

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RETABLO V — SPIRIT PRISON (UNVISITED)

Spirit Prison had no walls, only labels.
Catholic. Buddhist. Jew. Thief.

It was full of people who followed instructions incorrectly.

We did not arrive.
Being alive complicated things.

The baby reached for snow again, crying for lost jurisdiction.

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RETABLO VI — SOCK GUARANTEE

These socks were guaranteed.

The guarantee was lost.
Therefore the socks became mortal.

They would not be inherited.
They would not return from the dead in a package with my name on it.

All future feet were on their own.

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RETABLO VII — THREATS & SHEEP

Fishing here would result in violence.
We believed the sign.

Sheep clustered like clouds.
The baby made one sound for sheep
and the same sound for us naked.

This suggested a theory we did not pursue.

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RETABLO VIII — STANLEY & FLOUR

Stanley was dry, despite prophecy.

A woman suggested death instead of fishing advice.
I kept the receipt for taxes.

A man folded overalls as if folding time itself.

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RETABLO IX — MOSQUITO TEMPLE

At the temple, a mosquito arrived on schedule.

The wrist swelled.
Then the whole body swelled.

Embarrassment became a balloon one must walk around inside.

God did not comment.