Kryptobiose by Jan Vahl

Bell.

One deep breath.
You are below sea level.
There's water in your lungs now.
But it's fine, it's fine. Do not worry,
focus on the oxygen that's left in you.
Get involved with the ocean slowly.

Body is a bloody temple, you got to grow.
Make sure to keep your temperature stable.
Try to breathe roughly 6.66666 times a minute.
Practice 9 counts each period of breath.

3 inhale, 3 hold, 3 exhale.
Search for pain, get in contact with it.
Scale yourself to the size of a cow.

How many human sized legs would a whale need to travel dry territory again?
Life is at stake.

My stake?

- We are a Craseonycteris thonglongyai,
hanging inside the whale's abdomen.

Is there any audience?
Will you have to think
about how to bow in applause?

No.

/* A shrimp is joining the scene. */

See the ocean,
in between the shrimps' antennae.
See you in this ocean, too.
You, the whale,
containing you.

🗣️ hɪɹ.ɪŋ

HRNG is a publication practice.