Compulsion in Theory and Practice:
Principles and Controversies

Psycho-sexual memories coalesce into a complex fear—

I want, I am opposed to—every contrary desire becoming 
equally evident.

Transference might be a masochistic shame-kiss signifier,
or some sort of extreme narcissistic need.

A normal form of defense could lead to a state of rage.

Affective states could be performed on stage.

Chaos could be suggested by something as humble, and
as theatrical, as breaking glass.

A human—face painted, dressed as a clock—could race
time back to a start line

and then be made to stand, face against the wall, and
think and think and think: I am, I never will not be.




From The Last Two Seconds (Graywolf Press, 2015). Reprinted with the permission of the author.