Poem by Ruthie Aguilar, pictures by Roman Grachev and Ibrahim Rifath, collage by Mallika Sunder

Finding the line of something unyielding and rigid is not effortlessly done

The occurrence of locating the line rarely happens.

When do we cease to terminate our goal?

Is the task satisfying to complete or should we quit while we're ahead?

Why not reach past convenience to accomplish something so prominent?

Is easy too common in our vocabulary?

Should we stress the function of completion or simply give in?

Where is the line that we cross?

Has anyone found where it lies?

If we find it, will we listen to it, or even be able to identify it?

If our desire exceeds our strength, do we persist?

We dispute within ourselves that some things are out of our realm.

Is a laborious duty toxic to the brain or does it open a door of perception that was locked before?

Experience is key to finding the line.

We may progress through life never locating it.

But if we find it,

many doors will open