The Taut Skin

Pull a lacquered drum-skin and let it go. It rings, and gold dust walks onto the nodal lines of its song.

More in Verbs

Rill

Rake a channel through a moonlit sand garden, then let water run it until the pour runs dry.

Rolling Bead

Carve a gilded groove in slate. A bead of mercury rolls it under gravity, and it climbs only as high as it can.

The Gather

Blow up a gather of molten glass, squeeze it into shape, and keep it hot enough to move.