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published September 2009

Rachel Lim is an undergraduate student at the University of Virginia, where she interns at the University of Virginia Press and writes a weekly book column for the school newspaper. She plans on double-majoring in English and East Asian Studies.

Urtext Edition

by

Rule 1: No Facsimiles

I always ache around the eye. It cramps at you and that is all it is. You feel it and now here it is (I know) and that is all. Sometimes the notes do that. They think their lines are water and they jump.

Rule 2: My Name is a Four Letter Word

No, I can’t because I just have to get going or else I will be            , but (I can’t be crazy because) there’s noth­ing wrong with me (all I do is smile all the time) and I can’t say yes (there is noth­ing wrong) and here came and went the urge.

Rule 3: If You See Them I Will Have to Smile

I can think haha how silly this isn’t real. It is real and I have never felt some­thing (no that is a lie) does it have to do with him (!) I feel it should but I have some­thing to do with god and some­thing to do with grape­fruit. Boy does it feel good.

Rule 4: No More Whale Riding

Whales are never white and some­times they are pink inside. So is grape­fruit and so is morn­ing (every­thing is dark) until the lamp turns on.

Rule 5: White is Not a Color

But I for­give you because he isn’t a color either (because I can’t see him). I named him Chameleon. If you stick around long enough I will be            but there’s noth­ing wrong with me if you want, I will promise with my pinky.