I got there strung out br on sleeplessness br and too much coffee. br I told him so, br saying I'd do my best, br br and he said that was fine, br and giving me a glass br of water, led me to the glass br dining-room table, a stack br of papers and a pencil br waiting at each end. br br He sat at one end, br I at the other, br and there we were. br My mind felt like a car br that revved and died, br br but George proceeded calmly, br reading me the lines br he thought needed work. br br My crippled mind gave me ideas, br and with nothing else to do br as time flicked by in the space, br the vast space between us, br br I passed them on to George. br He considered each, tried it out, br sometimes used my word or phrase, br sometimes used it as a stepping-stone br to find his own. br br George honored br the silence and the time, br br and I began to, too. br I saw my mind, br that limping, hobbled bird, br could hop, then fly br as well as any. br br Later, walking out the door, br well-fed by fires of concentration, br my mind and body both br br flew from that perch br into a surprise br paradise newly created br while I'd been indoors, br br my spirit intoxicated by br the liquor of the breeze, br eyes oozing br the honey of seeing.