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Labyrinth

Poem “fault line” by Ryan Kegley · Labyrinth: The Undergraduate Literary Magazine of the Indiana University Honors Division · Fall 1993

fault line

sit in stiff chair and pluck two teeth

spoken words unfair i never know to turn

toes curled up into fists throwing sweet lies

wrap myself up disguised under curls

face arranged and everything in place

switch positions with a leg beside heads

ears twitch as silent sounds come around

sampling lean fingers wet from mouth's delight

come down from lofty airs tonight

stop turning around stiff back awaits fate

lately the steps down move another disguise

smells debating and carry new symptoms

saliva runs through eyes low and beady

bent over straight to know where it burns

back in pockets closed fists rotate

nosing back door bitterness with dirty genes

nothing is enough to contain free deployment

heart's desire longs for the easy end anyhow

Ryan Kegley's logo, type set in New Spirit Semibold and featuring an illustration of a lesser prairie chicken wearing a crown

©2026 Ryan Kegley. All rights reserved.

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