Sloth Time

At night, in a dream, I’m sitting on a curb watching a passing parade. I see a tree walking by with a sloth hanging from one of its limbs. During the day, at work, while looking around, I see her outside the circle, shuffling her feet. I say, “What are you doing?” and she says, “I’m a sloth.”

Picture this: your hands are twice as long, given the length of your claws. Your limbs, particularly your arms, are sprawling. Your furry body is home to all manner of creatures. You carry worlds on your back. You embrace trees. You see with your hands and feet, with the whole of your body, as you move across the surface of things.

Here’s the movement score:

Having found an open space that you can move across, you begin

yielding to gravity, making a slow descent

from vertical to fully prone.

Down to all fours and then down to your belly.

One hand begins reaching, while the opposite knee draws in.

You begin to push with your foot and pull with your hand,

your spine curves as your soft eyes move your head toward your pushing knee.

You repeat this with the opposite hand and foot.

You take your time.

You have plenty of time.