The Bird in the Gravel
THE MASTER:
I was dreaming in the steam room
Everything was so clear for a minute
And I thought ...
And the dripping tiles and ...
And I said “I’ll confess everything
Yes. I own this land
I own these forests surrounding my
... My estate
This is my tea coming
Everything I can – I confess”
THE SERVANT:
Bend
Now I have the bend
The best I ever
Place the tea just so
Then release and turn
Oh no not yet
Then release and turn
Turn away then go
Better try again
Looking at me he’s
Wait ‘til tomorrow
Don’t want him to know
Next time he orders tea
Release and turn
Turn and limp away
Turn and limp away
THE MAID:
I was walking through the forest
On my break today
I had this funny feeling
Something was going to change
I was walking through the dry leaves
It was very strange
They hadn’t changed their colour
All the leaves were green
I don’t mind when it’s over
I don’t mind when it’s all done
It’s just the moments in between
Just before it’s gone
Something’s going to happen
Something’s going to change
I know I know I know ...
THE PANTRY:
And when autumn comes
Well, there’s lots of work to do
Bill – that means you
Time to clean the kettles
And the pots on the wall
Pickling and preserving
All the vegetables
Stop kicking the apples
Are we pickling this year?
Yes – you know we are
And when autumn comes
Well, there’s lots of work to do
Bill – that means you
Time to get the twigs up
You know, all those stick things
Time to trim back the roses
So next year even more grow
Does it hurt them to do that?
Does it hurt them? No
(Francesco the truck driver arrives)
And when autumn comes
Well, deliveries start to go
Here he is now
Down into the valley
To the market he goes
Down along the tiny roads
That wind along the vineyards
And people lean on their rakes
And they say hello
Hello there Francesco!
Francesco there, hello!
THE BIRD:
(high sustain)
A BOY COMING HOME
FROM PIANO LESSON:
(arpeggios)
ANOTHER BOY:
And those are my swans
Believe me ...
There’s no light
And there isn’t because ...
It’s so dark
Because it’s so dark
Because it’s so dark
THE MAID:
I was walking through the dry leaves
It was very strange
The leaves fell without changing
No yellows and no reds
Something’s going to happen
Something’s going to change
And just then as I looked up
I remembered what you said
I’m crying because I love you
I know that things must change
I can’t be there when you leave
What if you’re afraid?
You said something about the leaving
The moments in between
The yawning when the world shifts
The clanging of the trains
And a dog sits up and growls
And a cow begins to bawl
And a nun nearby stops to listen
Cross herself and then move on
I was laughing in the forest
I fell down in the leaves
And I watched the trees above me
Crossing in the breeze
I love the bare branches
I love the healing bells
The bareness in the last sun
The greyness and the gold
And a flock of geese flew over
And I laughed harder still
I laughed ‘til I was heaving
Then everything was still
THE SERVANT:
Bend
Now I have the bend
Place the tea just so
Then release and turn
Oh not yet
Turn away then go
Better try again
He’s looking at me
Wait until tomorrow
Don’t want him to know
Next time ...
Time he orders tea
Release and turn
Turn and limp away ...
Limp away, just go
Turn away, just go
Just go ... just go ...
Just go ...