Lincoln in the Bardo

by George Saunders

As always at Sun’s rising, the two realms Merg’d, and all that was true in Ours, became true in Theirs: all the Stones, Trees, Shrubs, Hills, Valleys, Streams, Pondlets, Marshes, Patches of Light & Shade, merg’d, and were the same Betwixt the two Environs, and you could not have told one Realm from the other. Much that was New & Strange & Unnerving had occurr’d this night. We Three Bachelors had watched it all unfold from On-High: safe, separate, & Free—the way we liked it. I enjoined my young Charges that we must now beat a hasty Retreat to our Sick-boxes, & get Ourselves within. Within that which Awaited us there. stanley “perfesser” lippert Faugh. gene “rascal” kane We did not like entering those things. jack “malarkey” fuller At all. gene “rascal” kane But that was the Price; we must abide, fully Awake but Inert, within those Foul Things that had once Resembled (aye, had once Been) us (& which we had loved so Dearly) until such time as Night Again fell, at which time, shooting Forth, we would be— stanley “perfesser” lippert Free. gene “rascal” kane Free again. jack “malarkey” fuller Ourselves, truly. gene “rascal” kane All of Bless’d Creation restored to us. stanley “perfesser” lippert Everything again possible. gene “rascal” kane We Three had never Wed, nor truly Lov’d, but, once Night fell again, and if we found ourselves still Resident here, might strike the “never”— stanley “perfesser” lippert For until we are ended, “never” may not be truly said. jack “malarkey” f...