Even-Steven, v.
When extremes
beget extremes,
precedent’s preserved
yet perverted,
deterrence
deferred yet
meted: verges
tested, the bent’s re-
erected; never’s
evered, whether,
whened; bet
sees bet—the keep
sweetens, then
the better’s
bested, the levee
leveled then
crested; deserts
reseed, swells
recede, vessels
leeched, elms
beeched: the keel’s
evened—never-
theless, the lengths
deepen.