PHOTOS: Salesman, Baker Family, End Wave, Noise Revival Orchestra

STORY OF THE SNAKE

THE SNAKE LIKE A GOD DRINKS FROM A POOL IN THE ROOT OF THE CAROB TREE, AND LIKE A GOD LIFTS HIS HEAD FROM DRINKING TO SLIP HIS GOLDEN SHOULDERS BETWEEN ROCKS UP A HOT ROPE. HIS TAIL IS WET. THE BODIES OF THE DEAD ARE ALREADY SMOKE. THE YELLOW SUN IS UP AND THE PURPLE EARTH IS UNDER HIM AND HE DRINKS WATER TO PUT OUT FIRES. ON THE WIND IS SMOKE OF MADRID AND BASTROP AND TONTO AND FOUNTAIN GREEN AND ANTELOPE AND FIGUERO DE VINHOS AND WALDO CANYON AND FAR OFF THERE ARE MEN'S VOICES CALLING FOR THEIRS WHO HAVE DIED AND ARE GONE AND WILL NOT HEAR THEIR NAMES BLACKENED BY SHOUTING OR BURNT BY DESPAIR. THE BODIES OF THE DEAD ARE ALREADY SMOKE. THE MEMORIES OF THE DEAD ARE ALREADY SMOKE. THE VOICES OF THE LIVING ARE ALREADY SMOKE. FRESH AIR MOVES THE VOICES AWAY OVER A BLACK HILL. ASH BLOWS AND SETTLES. THERE ARE RIPPLES IN THE POOL AND THE STURDY CAROB SHADES ITSELF WITH HALF ITS LEAVES. THE GOLDEN SNAKE IS SLOW LIKE A GOD OR A COW. HE DRIPS BECAUSE HE IS WET AS A PUT-OUT FIRE. HE TURNS HIS HEAD TO THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT AND WHERE HE LOOKS NEW GREEN SPROUTS. FOR HIM LIKE A GOD OR A COW THERE IS NO LONGER BURNING OR SEARCHING OR SUFFERING, NO SMOKE OF THE DEAD, ONLY BREATH, JOY, CLIMBING, TRAIL OF WET SNAKE, SOFT HISS OF LIFE, NEW YELLOW HONEY OF SUN DOWN HIS LENGTH, RUMBLE OF THUNDER BRINGING RAIN TO DRY PLACES, SOFT BELLY TRADING SHAPE WITH WARM ROCKS, CURLING FOR AIR, CLICK OF COOL WATER IN A HINGED MOUTH, MUSIC OF A BODY MOVING ITS OWN DIRECTION, LONG CLIMB INTO AN ENDLESS SKY, EYES OF COTTON AND INNARDS OF VELVET, AND THE HUM OF OLD GOLDEN SNAKE BLOOD IN THE TEMPLES. THE SNAKE LIKE A GOD DRINKS NEW LIFE FROM A POOL AND LIKE A GOD RETURNS UP A ROPE OF SUN TO THE SUN.