|
Pas de cinq mille, in B minor.
(The stage will be crowded.)
Instruments: violin, cello, blue guitar, tambourine.
~ ~ ~
I
Scene: MIDNIGHT all day. Bleak December. A chiaroscuro, snowing blackbirds.
II
Swirling FLIGHT. [Andantino > vivace > agito > furioso ffff]
III
Action: NO ONE hears them cry out – in this un-startled ear of night. At least, no one admits it, afterwards.
IV
Always there are shadows, ghosts rise and fall. It happens all the time. This is only a part of the PANTOMIME.
V
Primary characters: an INNUENDO, perhaps: being slight of brain, they follow the wrong leader. Or, not understanding signals, they mistake the red beacon and fly against a GREEN LIGHT.
VI
Costume: Extravagant black plumage, with RED-tipped wings.
VII
Secondary characters: the THIN MEN, who prefer golden birds. To embrace the beauty of light or the beauty of dark, this was never their question.
VIII
Pre-Scene: Beebe was already knee-deep in BIRD SHIT. (Hm, recreate or not?)
IX
Abruptly: in a denser air, between issue and return, not a FEATHER flutters. Sudden, utter stillness. [Mysterioso]
X
Now, five thousand: plummeting. Keeping time, time, time. PLUMMETING, each a singular instant.
XI
The breast, the bone, dashed bodies on stone. Maybe ASPHALT. (In sixes, dancers crash to floor.) [Sforzando piano sfzp]
XII
Easy as EGGSHELLS. Broken beaks, broken bells. Wingless and withered, by the blunt force of earth. Crimson blooms on each breast, spreading. Spreading, until: fade to RED. [Morendo]
XIII
Where do I begin?
|
52|250 A Year of Flash 
fascinating experimental structure. like a puzzle, with each scene giving a slightly different angle. loved this especially: “Always there are shadows, ghosts rise and fall. It happens all the time. This is only a part of the PANTOMIME.”
Dorothee, thank you for reading, and for your responses. Very helpful to hear your puzzle observation – I must know this on some level, because it is a puzzle to me, but not trying to make a puzzle per se. I’m glad you like that paragraph – me too. Happy to have you visit my story!
Pingback: Week #45 – Broken shells | 52|250 A Year of Flash