By Wes Civilz

This human is making something, he is placing
garlic, dill, peppercorns, salt, and a splash
of vinegar into a type of jar he refers
to as a “Mason jar,” although

it is made of glass, not stone. Later research
reveals “Mason” to be a surname, not a material.
Specimen closes jar and shakes briskly
and vinegar covers all

and jar is left to ferment at room temperature
for an hour before sliced, salt-cured cucumbers
are added. Now a vinegar brine is mixed and heated
and poured in up to just under the jar’s lip.

Jar goes in refrigerator for three days.
Important to seal well.
Requires a hermetic seal.
Could be full of sickness

from tiny invisible squirming micro-beings
and all their bad intentions. But vinegar
is toxic to these tiny scary squirmers.
Also vinegar adds deep flavor.

Over three days the cucumbers become “pickles”
and evoke great joy upon their consumption.
Wide smile on the chewing, swallowing specimen.
Wildly happy, he views the cucumbers

as greatly enhanced by the vinegar, salt, and herbs.
He views pickles as better than cucumbers.
Feels happy simply looking at the jar.
Naps after eating large portion, a deep sleep

posing as death. The specimen wakes
in a mood of Value and Joy
and he focuses this Value-Joy feeling
back onto the jar in a feedback loop

evoking Goodness and Calm.
The specimen experiences the jar
as a Perfect Made Thing that enables
him to be a passable, okay self

moving forward through time
for a limited time
without significant negative emotion.
With what might be called non-sadness.

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