A Taxonomy of Intimacy

Article 1. Paperback
Medium: Dead woman’s copy of George Orwell’s Down And Out in Paris and London, well
worn
Details: Given by 1 to 2 on the eve of 1’s month long trip across the world, along with the
words, “Read it. We’ll talk.”

Article 2. Movie ticket
Medium: Paper and ink
Details: Held aloft by 1 as 2 steps off the escalator into the theatre

Article 3. Balaclava
Medium: Wool (grey)
Details: Lent to 2 by 1 on a day whose bite 2 underestimated, challenged, bowed to

Article 4. Australia
Medium: Photographs, 1 Tim Tam, 2 pots of Vegemite, 1 sesame bar, 1 print
Details: Assembled in a neat pile on 1’s side table (for 2)

Article 5. Blonde maple
Medium: Writing desk
Details: 1’s partner’s, marooned, driven to 2’s apartment to become the home of his poems

Article 6. Lychee shells
Medium: Pericarp, Litchi Chinensis
Details: Discarded in 2’s kitchen sink, sucked empty by 2 and 1, standing naked at the
window

Article 7. Fisherman postcard
Medium: Domestic mail
Details: Halifax to Toronto. Inscription: “ocean the colour of your eyes right now”

Article 8. Corduroy (1 blue, 1 brown)
Medium: Vintage jackets (2)
Details: Abandoned at 1’s by another man, slipped onto 2’s shoulders then into his closet

Article 9. Tulips (yellow)
Medium: Angiosperme, Tulipa Flavum
Details: Held in 1’s mind, pressed to 2’s thigh, eulogizied by 1, photographed by 2

Article 10. 2 men and bedsheets, movement, breathing, purposeful eye contact
Medium: Dance
Details: Unnecessary

Article 11. The Past
Medium: A polaroid
Details: 1’s cock errect in the musician’s hand, shown to 2 as they lay in expiring light

Article 12A. “I don’t think I believe in love”
Medium: Statement
Details: Delivered by 2 to his hand in the air, 1 still dripping down his chin

Article 12B. “I don’t think I believe in love either”
Medium: Agreement
Details: 1’s response to 12A, arms around 2’s chest

Article 13. 1 man in a pale blue tshirt urinating, 1 man showering with the curtain open, their
tangled voices
Medium: Vignette
Details: Obscured by steam

Article 14. 2 men eating food (various) sharing 1 restaurant booth (various) writing stories
(various) of other patrons (various)
Medium: Film projected onto gallery wall
Details: Replayed on loop into infinitum

Article 15. “[redacted]”
Medium: Admission
Details: Resists qualification