Poetry from The Literary Review
Libretto
RICHARD FOREMAN
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1) This is Madeline X who lives in a terrible world one unpleasant world is this world. Such a bad world True, true, that this world can look like an ok world But this is a terrible world and Madeline X lives in this bad world What to wear What to wear in such a bad world (Objects presented) Madeline X lives in a world of lies Here is one of those lies Here is another lie, and another lie Each object is beautiful in such a world Very very beautiful Lies, lies, lies in such a world 2) Madeline X thinks and does think Now that I live in such a bad world What should I wear to protect myself in such a terrible world (One is dressed in panels like armor) But this costume is too big and fat and terrible to wear but this is what I must wear Now that I am in such a bad bad world Oh Madeline X, Oh Madeline X after time passes after a while time passes and you will be comfortable in this costume This costume will turn soft and gentle and your body will turn supple and radiant in this terrible world. Trust time to soften all terrible things Trust time Must I trust time? Time does its work on all things (Torturing people) Help me, help me to forget this bad world! What should I wear? What to wear in such a bad world? Trust time to do its work on all things 3) Madeline X in a terrible world means, does this mean, someone stepped off of the bus at the wrong moment it was the wrong moment to leave the bus bus bus! Passing through a bad neighborhood, Bus, buss in a bad neighborhood What to wear, in this neighborhood—? who chose that moment leaving the bus leaving the bus Because look, look when the door opens why does the sunshine smile? Sunshine like a smile? —Oh, do not trust smiles Because once upon a time smiles kill, smiles do kill in such a world, where there is a second face behind the smile. Look look, the face behind the smile That face is smiling also which means the whole world drowns in such delirious smiling the whole bad world, drowning and drinking from such terrible smiles smiles What should I wear? Who smiles? Who smiles when I wear what I wear? What should I wear? 4) Know this please. Madeline X lives in a terrible world But for this reason inside this world her agenda is perverse A perverse agenda. What is interesting about the agenda of Madeline X is the perversity of this agenda How how in what way is this a perverse agenda No answer is forthcoming (Guns. knives gifts and other things appear. A base drum? Which is beaten with the music?) To reveal answers to such a question Perverse, perverse, why perverse, —would be to reveal terrible secrets about a terrible world where kisses kill and soft gentle caresses kill and gifts of money and power and rewards these also kill. Don't kill, don't kill I will be perverse and I will be protected. What a wonderful way to protect myself. What a pure and radiant way to protect myself Perverse, amongst those who are terrible what kind of people are these and I am amongst them what kind of world is this and I am inside this world What should wear? What should I wear? Oh, so beautiful, so beautiful Oh, so smart and sharp and wise Oh so wonderful, so great and wonderful 5) Madeline X understands now she will not be able to save herself, How do I save myself from certain magic words? Such words are beginning to happen to me words that are never pronounced are now happening. How does Madeline X protect herself against magic words? Words never pronounced. Words never sung, (Vocal sounds, but not words, are sung) They have begun happening and I am in danger I am in great danger I am ready to kill Madeline X by smothering her mind with words, words, words that will blind Madeline X Oh beautiful one, sweet one, desirable one I am ready to release powerful energies inside Madeline X using words to knock knock hard against the doors that hide her mind Oh piece of trash, oh slut, oh worthless piece of shit Shit shit shit 6) Hard to believe Madeline X has come to understand slowly slowly inside her mind there is a second mind. (bring jeweled box) This jeweled box, is the second mind or a substitute for the second mind or a double, a double which is a demonstration trembling from the silence of invisible thunder. This box never opens this box never opens But here is a second box bare of all decoration Rude, plain this second box a representation of the original jeweled container. But this second box is different because it does open, it opens if Madeline X is persistent and clever and meticulous and perverse sufficiently perverse is Madeline X perverse sufficiently perverse? 7) Possibly, just possibly Madeline X has come to understand there is no one who can do without the worship of something called, shall we call it, call it the secret part of their own mind? Worship that. Worship that. Does she locate her own mind Does she decide to use her own mind but most of all does she decide the most secret compartments of her own mind. Careful, careful, because they are secret she is able to reach such secrets only through methods that are secret methods. All secret methods And some secret methods —do they use the human body? Instead of the human mind? But rest assured, please When the body is used, still this is the secret mind at work the secret mind What does the mind wear How does the mind wear what the mind wears? 8) Experts are confused experts are certainly confused by Madeline X and her mind, and her body inside her mind Madeline X is very glad to have her mind analyzed by so many thoughts and voices and such music because only such music enables Madeline X to have wonderful ideas and conversations. Look, look, she says something which makes experts turn to the side of the room where they see an amazing light light light making them hide their eyes, Look what I am wearing and is that beautiful? Oh Madeline X Looking directly into that light Experts are confused Experts are confused Madeline X is beautiful and confused Experts are confused Light light experts are confused |
