The Screaming Silence
Published 1 year, 4 months ago in My life.I was just going through some of my past work and thought I would post this. It is the script from a show I put together in Amsterdam in 2001. The Work was inspired by the Picasso masterpiece “Guernica.”
The bombing of Guernica was the first time civilians had been deliberately targeted in a war.
Why
Never again. This.
What is this?
Always
Never again,again,again, always
Fail worse
Fail better
Back to the beginning
A horse
galloping
made of iron
a great wind
children running
a woman in pain
windows
doors
open,
shut,
lit,
dark
A figure leaps.
From a window?
A figure,
made of newspaper,
cries.
Listen
Time passes
Is this how we are?
Is this how it could be?
How?
Could be.
What is this?
Do we have courage?
Listen
Is this light enough to see by?
Shhhhhh
Are we here now?
Why
Never again. This
What is this?
Always
Never again,again,again, always
Fail worse
Fail better
Back to the beginning
A window
smell of cooking
It is good
Figure
made of newspaper
dancing.
His joints have eyes.
Figures
newsprint figures.
Dance
Listen
Time passes
See
Why
Never again. This
What is this?
Always
Never again,again,again, always
Fail worse
Fail better
Back to the beginning
A window
A woman painting
Four brushes
made from her hair.
She stops
Where?
Where he is.
He?
He.
Can you have two things in the same place?
Listen
They speak
in the language of eyes
Why
Never again. This
What is this?
Why?
Always
Never again,again,again, always
Fail worse
Fail better
Back to the beginning
But not the same place.
Change.
Movement is change.
Listen
Wind roaring
blast after blast
blast after blast
Standing
Falling
Failing
Power
Back to the beginning
Where to stop
When to stop
Why to stop
Not to stop
The first bell rings
Ding a ling a ling a ling
Stay with me
Singing
I’m gonna stay on the battlefield
I’m gonna stay on the battlefield
I’m gonna stay on the battlefield
“Til I die
What is this?
Bombardment
red impenetrable debris
Listen
How long is fifteen minutes?
A life
Listen
How long is a second
Back to the beginning
Last night
a window
left open.
Blinding electric light.
Shocking
A woman with a lamp
Mother?
A climbing figure
A fallen warrior
Run woman Run
fight or die
music from the horse’s mouth
A bull stare
Listen
Back to the beginning
In the beginning
Words
Movement
Music
See?
In the beginning
Light.
4 Responses to “The Screaming Silence”
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Quite thought provoking gold, an ethereal prosaic representaion, like the picture it is slightly ambiguous and symbolic and open for the reader/listener to interpret. At least thats my view.
Goldie, do you have a garret, are you impoverished, and have you paid dearly for your art?
I would post a pic of my garret, but the health dpt may see it, and then seious ramifications might ensue.
cheerio
shadowmaster
This is poignant Goldy, particularly in a day and age when civilians are targeted daily - by us, them and everyone else. Was it written pre or post the twin towers? September 11, I think, crystallised these questions in many of our minds.
Is this how we are?
Is this how it could be?
How?
Could be.
What is this?
Do we have courage?
Listen
Is this light enough to see by?
Shhhhhh
Are we here now?
Not pretty, but beautiful nonetheless.
I’m going to read this a few more times, before I comment.