Victoria Lau
MASTER PADLOCK SESTINA
IMAGE DESCRIPTION: The image looks like a an Excel table or a master padlock with an ivory background and beige boxes around the row and column headings. The following words appear above the table or padlock:
What is born each night and dies each dawn? / What flickers warm and red like a flame, but is not fire? / What is like ice, but burns like fire? / Turandot’s three riddles from Turandot by Giacomo Puccini (1926).
The table or padlock itself includes 6 columns headed LINE 1 - LINE 6 and seven rows titled STANZA I – STANZA VI and ENVOI.
STANZA I has a pale brown background. From left to right, this row says: Open / says / Me. / Password? / Locked / heart?
STANZA II reads: What is like ice, but burns like fire? (You: your heart.) / The riddle will not be cracked open. / No skeleton key to this master padlock. / There is nothing you can say, / no magical password / that can get to me.
STANZA III says: You think you know me? / What flickers red and warm like a flame, but is not fire? (blood: your heart.) / Pass the word / along: all who fail will meet their end in an open / casket: have your pick, I say: / lead, silver or gold? Your fate is locked.
STANZA IV says: Reading John Locke / is hard, like trying to unlock me. / There is nothing more to say. / What is born each night and dies each dawn? (hope: your heart) / I know your kind like an open / book. Your passes and sticky-honeyed words.
STANZA V also has a light brown background. It says: But if I pass, do I have your word / sealed with a kiss: lip-lock / mouth open? / Just you and me. / Have a change of heart. / What do you say?
STANZA VI reads: Listen to what I have to say. / There is no password / into a broken heart. / My choice to not be locked into wedlock. / I choose me. / My eyes: wide open.
The ENVOI says: I have the last say. Don’t say you love me: Open fire. / Open sesame: the cave to the treasure chest: a heart locket, / the queen of hearts: Off with your head. No passes. Any last words?