Look at this piece of pottery, an
artifact—rare. a thing made by art,
an artificial product. Artifex; (L.f. arti-
art + fex, -fec-em
maker, f. fac-ere
to make.) Artificer.
Artifice : the action of an artificer, the
making of anything
by art, construction, work-
manship. Artificer : one who makes
by art or skill. Artificial : made by
or resulting from art or artifice; contrived,
compassed, or brought about
by constructive skill, and not
spontaneously; not natural.
a. artificial in result as well as process.
This shard speaks in fragments.
Look inscribed here,
a language naturally.
And what does it say?
What dreams forced it onto clay?
(from “if this is a comedy, then why ain’t laughing,” 1993)
subtext 