In this chapter of Nine Gates, Jane Hirshfield describes what she calls the "threshold state of ambiguity, openness and indeterminacy" that poetry and prose allow for writers - as well as their audiences - to enter into. Throughout the chapter she expounds upon this "state of 'betwixt and between'" and maintains that this threshold period is one in which the writer is made able to understand self and life and all of the components that can be attributed to those two concepts. I chose to share "The veil talks to other colours" written by David Osu because of aura of ambiguity that surrounds this poem which Hirshfield seemingly determines is characteristic of good, well written poetry. This poem, I found, difficult to comprehend. Upon reading it for what felt like a thousand times over I was able to pick up on the scene(s) being described and understand that the poem wasn't meant to comprehended in the typical sense. The story that is being perpetuated seems to be a myriad of stories, all potentially unfolding at the same time, which I believe speaks to this larger idea that Hirshfield mentions of the nature of life, as it is a continuum of events, big and small.