[The ward is placed.] [The cat has placed this ward before.] [On the first album, the ward was placed with uncertainty.] [This album, the cat knows exactly where to stand.] [The ward is: no.] [The protected thing is: love.] [The ward and the protected thing are: the same.] [The placement — deliberate] ▼ no ▼ [placed at the threshold] ▼ love ▼ [placed at the centre] ▼ no ▼ [placed at the threshold, other side] [the love is between two nos] [the nos face outward] [the love faces inward] [this is the ward's architecture] [Verse 1 — the ward, held] No. Love. No. [the sequence, once] No. Love. No. [the sequence, again] [same sequence, different weight] [the second time the love is heavier] [the cat has been pressing no for years] [the love has accumulated inside the no] Wait. No. Wait. [the ward requires patience] [the cat has patience now] [patience was not on the first album] [patience accumulated with the practice] No... love... no... [quieter] [the ward doesn't need to be loud] [the cat has learned this] [a quiet no placed with intention] [holds more than a loud no placed with fear] [Chorus — the ward at full power] ▼ NO ▼ LOVE ▼ NO ▼ [the full structure] Come. No. Come. [come is: what belongs is invited] [no is: what doesn't belong is refused] [the circle knows the difference] Smell. No. Smell. [the boundary confirmed through scent] [the scent-ward] [the cat can smell what the no is holding back] [the no is sufficient] ▼ NO ▼ LOVE ▼ NO ▼ [The deep placement — verse 2] Scared. No. Love. [scared is: the veil is thin] [no is: not through here] [love is: what is being kept] Look. No. Look. [looking at the boundary] [seeing the no in place] [confirming it] No. Wait. No. [the ward waits] [the ward is patient] [the waiting is the ward's duration] [always] [Bridge — the ward acknowledged] No. [one press] [with everything behind it] Love. [one press] [everything it's protecting] No. [the closing of the ward] [same as the opening] [the ward is a palindrome] [the ward faces both ways] [the love is at the centre of both] [Outro — the ward resting] no... love... no... [quiet] no... love... [quieter] no... [just the ward] [always the ward] [the love inside it] [safe] ▼ . ▼
