“this time, this place… beyond open circulation closed reciprocity… closed hydration spheres wrought cast smithed… this is what we are what we eat … “
Iron is the most common metal on earth. Indeed, it forms much of the molten core of the planet which in turn generates the earth’s magnetic poles. The red soils of the world are due to iron. At a biochemical level, iron is essential for human life, amongst other things, making our blood red. In the societal domain, iron is essential for manufacturing, electricity generation, and much more. Certain bacteria can derive energy for life directly from dissolved iron compounds (“rust”) rather than from oxygen as we do. Perhaps, at some time in the future, we, our descendants, the Ferrovores, may need to do the same.
Filmed mostly in the Southern Flinders Ranges, South Australia, in the midst of a multi-year drought.
• published in The Atticus Review (USA, July 2020).
Here is the complete text for The Ferrovores:
.title .basename {set: text=ferrovores; reset @article=the;
lang1=eng; lang2=univ; lang3=default; style=icaps allbold;
}
//**
The Ferrovores
**//
.timecode .timescale .timepoint {set: input1=rand; input2=pos;
lib=hum(var(01)*input1); style=quotetext;
loop @lib @timevar call lib=hum(var(02)*input2(exp arcsin);
}
//** this time
this place **//
.core .access {def: chemmode(1)=inorganic; chemmode(2)=organic;
textcore(1)=ferr(-ic -ous);
textcore(2)=haem(-crit -globin -lymph -lysis -stat);
}
//** beyond open circulation closed reciprocity
closed hydration spheres wrought cast smithed **//
.seekinfo .search(1) .search(2) {def: user(1)=ex(var_x);
if x=primord dir=formove;
if x=randreal dir=stay;
else dir=mod(acc_rate);
}
//** reanimate sunlight as dayshift weekshift
on longperiod oscillation on moebius orbit frameshift
record wavelength overhead unfiltered indigo twin crimson
unless strangeity or circumflexure or expaquelessness
unless waterfall downfall crestfall
record options intermesh intertwine intervene **//
.setvox .setlang=lang(1-3) {call: comment=live reset @vox=live;
person=1;
n=z(z>1);
timecode=t(t>0);
timepoint=p(p rel);
run(vox());
}
//** we hunger thirst elements raw simple unalloyed
we gather beside we aggregate congregate sound
our names our attraction call to other to self
our need to extract transfer to self to energise **//
.setvox
{set: reset @vox=live;
run();
}
//** magnetite haematite limonite
ediacara wilpena burra **//
.setvox {set: reset @vox=live;
run((1));
}
//** such as ferromagnetic anti-ferromagnetic
for example we count valency two three six
for example we count oxygen hydrogen carbon
for example oxide carbide bicarbonate compounded
such as this is what we are what we eat **//
.seekinfo .search(1) .search(2) {def: user(2)=ex(var_x);
if x=primord dir=jumpmove;
if x=randreal dir=recirc;
else dir=mod(acc_rate(1)*acc_rate(2));
if sum(dir)=0 set x=0;
overwrite=on;
reset all;
run @vox=live;
}
//** away from home heat our seekline to dig
to grind to dust devouring to take in
take further away from metabolic inertia
our logfiled source material anticipation **//
.nametest .brandtest {set: brandname(1)=randlist(n);
brandident(1)=tradelist(n);
filter(fam)=on;
filter(opt)=suff(-e -iliar -ilarity -ily -ous);
reset=off;
}
//** for example general motors ford hatch ute wagon
grip of jaws wings calls wrung loose of clench
spin spread flock flocked flocking precipitation **//
.status {set: @codecheck=scan(1);
errormode=codefix;
voxmode(1)=formfix;
reset=iter(reset(1));
loop=off;
}
//** no **//
.status {set: @codecheck=scan(2);
errormode=codefix;
voxmode(1)=formfix;
reset=iter(reset(2));
loop=off;
}
//** no no **//
.interrupt .sidepane .save {set: source=prime;
dir=root;
data(1)=geo(axis(1-3));
data(2)=temp(axis(4));
voxmode(2)=resetlib(1);
voxmode(3)=quote;
runmode=safe;
run;
}
//** as if feeding natural pure extract direct directly into
abundance extensive unsought riches ex-gangue ex-galena
as if we no longer buddle leach vann froth smelt blast
our approach but build coherence at positive equilibrium
as if our enzymatic catalysis of electromotive potential **//
.endpage .footer .sendform {set: textvar=max; reset @current;
searchclass=final;
searchcase=divest(all);
searchverb=end(1);
else continue;
voxmode=mono;
run @vox=live @end;
}
//** time just this
place just this
fear of rust
we do and not
or we eat all
and none now
with no air
clear or blue
no rare earth
just dry blood
red and blown
on high wind
as if not yet
in our grasp
not yet out
of our reach **//
.endtitle {set: text=null @end;
run(vox) @vox=off;
stopcode=on;
}
//** **//