On the Existence of Magic Circles
by Richard Stoltzfoos
It’s possible that there’s a world—
God only could imagine such—
Where one may step into a Ring
Away from ordinary touch—
A magic Ring—where everything
One does is bounded in a Line—
And nothing done within the Ring
Can—ever—spill across its Line—
And in the circle one can lie—
Or steal—or kill—or fornicate—
And no more strong without will be
One’s urge to lust—or even hate—
But our world is not such, and all
I think or say or do shall bleed
From my pretending Heart to yours—
With horrifying speed—
Richard Stoltzfoos is the son of Adin,
son of Wilmer,
son of Elam,
son of Moses,
son of Samuel,
son of John,
son of Christian,
son of Nicholas Stoltzfus,
who in the year 1766 emigrated from Europe,
being born of Christian Gottlieb Stoltzfus,
of the Saxon line of that name
which began in the year of our Lord 400,
by the provision of God, in German Saxony.
Photography by Kenneth Godoy