The Night Sy

The Night Sky

an Opera in Three Acts

Cast:

Fent

, father

Fel

, his son

Wa

, Fel's wife

Scene One

(in which Fel and Wa discuss going to meet Fent; then make love)

Wa

Gentle one all your tongues will turn to water

speak not of withering

Fel

Angels have holy mandate not to wither

have faith!

we have struggled for and with each other

paper love is no substitute for the true thing

we have deepened our bond now

unfettered each other's hearts

so now finally, stronger are we

and I feel

it is time

let me show you half my blood

my complexity owes to him -

in a sense my co-creator

whom you have not met but indeed heard stories

my

pater

Wa

Father Fent

Fel

Most pleased to show him my limbed spouse

newer fevers make him well

a good man you will feel

makes his son yearn

to do him proud

Wa

Before the bough deadens

let eye contact transmit my love for Fel

so that Fent may fall into this fever

and smile at his son

and merry smiles!

Fel

As am I, he may be

we share traits, the same blood

be warned: both he and I are in

accord and express ourselves as father and son

and thus my personality doubled

Wa

My Fel doubled!

then those similarities reflect from him to you

and redouble-- my love for you

shall reflect to father

the same blood and goodfeelings abound

Fel

How pleased am I for your consent

father will be pleased with my wife Wa

we shall spend the night so we can

talk till morn and spend company

with his collection of music

reach human understandings

and new friendships

Wa

Like camels

red memories and white experiences

stored though the long desert of shallow sand and thirst

make we an oasis and cultivate

each other

Fel

Family holds bonds though understanding

blood is heavy and a burden

but we milk its nutrients

lighten the obligations

so blood relations may be borne aloft

misunderstandings are common

so let instinct dictate

expressions of goodwill!

Wa

Make arrangements,

new moon or so

may we wax towards each other

Fel and I, holding hearts

Fel

Holding hands

palm lines deepen as my love does

Wa

Trace this limb

yours: a miracle of nerve and musculature

Castorp was never more accurate

in the midst of sickness concealed under robust chests

but thanks that we are well!

Fel

I can trace a healthy line here

from the lateral rib

to the start of a fullness

just at the juncture of lung and heart

what pointed sensitivity lies here!

blind and aware!

Wa

You have stained me with your lips

intaglio saliva

what lies beneath these threads?

if we touch each other, we may become each other

Fel

How I wish to become another

secrete like them

can this body power such a rapidly beating heart?

Wa

Is this the first time - one of many - I give you

cause to tremble with anticipation: why so?

what unusual tension!

Fel

I wish to make you taste like me

Wa

I wish to violate your limbic system

[lovely violence]

[End scene one]

Scene Two

(in which Fel and We arrive at Fent's house; greet; allude to Fel's mother; and prepare to eat)

Fel

We have come, arrived at the paternal house

pleasant anticipation of the double embrace:

being in the company of both wife and father

Wa

The anticipation is mine

what kind man gives his son such eyes

as have melted mine own?

A slight apprehension at meeting

Fel

Do not quiver

let ease upon your brow stray

beams of light illume my eyes

your beautiful senses will tell

how much I love you

Ah! Here we announce arrival

Fent

Good son!

Buoyant with the knowledge of seeing you again

have I waited for today

The morning passed in exercises of deliberate distraction

Now here you are

Fel

Sir, with the most pleasure

meet you here my companion

my friend on this many branched life

my candle

my wife, Wa

Wa

A pleasure Sir

how well Fel has described you

but yet did not prepare me for the warmth of your smile!

Fent

But for your clear eyes I would ask you not to flatter me

come, I have modest preparations for a table

soon we may break bread

talk of this and that

unfetter the bonds of first meetings

know each other as persons

Fel here knows the value of conversation

but Fel - how long it has been---

perhaps I should not ask---

since I heard word of your mother

I may be impertinent but the imagination wishes to know--

is she well?

Wa

Better to imagine healthy days and sunshine

wishing her good

than bringing to words the truth of the matter

Fel

I confess a reluctance to process the matter

Indigestion results from chewing bad food

verbiage might help empty these thoughts;

I see myself of many years ago:

I could not have imagined a better ally then,

Confidences and the worries of a young child

she made me her everything

and herself everything to me

soothed the frightful afterimages of bullies

and arranged for my incipient naiveté

children believe those they trust

told of enemies in sight

how my father Fent contrived to hurt

an unstable queen with her brood

now I have grown and cast off the trappings of juvenility

and she still yearns for simplicity; those years of shared time with son

conspiring against a father who knew only his family was distant

(know father I have grown and have always loved you)

she has fallen into a vast and simple nostalgia:

one who arranges for dependence upon a simple child

--the child is now grown, with vision in both eyes

such a desperate one

finds satisfaction only in harsh gestures

beating at the riverbed till the water becomes cloudy

must she obstruct her own clarity

though infinite peace beckons

trials should force one to become strong

how mighty the human soul!

how strange and brutal the need to suffer!

it is her wont

and I find it easier to stay true and cultivate new plants

not lashed to the masts of a ship blowing towards self destruction

I hope she alters course

but I, with my wife Wa

find a beautiful openness with each other

I stand on two feet, sea-legs strengthened

by salt and grime

Father whole and in my life at this juncture

and how I express thanks to your humanism!

Fent

I am sorry for my strange question

but most happy am I that Fel

whom I thought was drowning

has become such a strong swimmer

and the aid of clear-eyed Wa to navigate--

no murky rivers in her eyes

most excellent!

Wa

You are too eloquent

Fel and I share a kindness and optimism

he is strong not only because of tribulation

but Sir, your gentle influence and smile

have made him who he is

my intuition tells me so

Fel

With what impunity you discuss

my personality! Glad am I for your words

can we not focus discussion on other topics than myself?

I suffer from an excess of goodwill towards

father and Wa

Wa

Your gloom fades as your pride flushes!

glad to witness this change am I

Fent

We must speak of other topics

if only so we may draw out personalities

deep into the night- with music we may grow

fearless of the void and create new life!

friendship and family!

but now: dinner is ready

a toast to our health!

Wa and Fel

Our health!

Scene Three

(late night post dinner conversation. Fent confesses his troubles; Fel leaves and Fent and Wa engage in eroticism; Fel reenters and a threesome is had; as penetration begins, so does poetry and the love elegy)

Fel

A wonderful repast

desert wines tickle the palate

the soft glow of shaded lamps upon the scene;

stars brilliant in windows

Fent

Fortunate are we who gleam beneath

midnight skies a roof sturdy

you have spoken whitely about your passions

and your daily bread

and so I beg Wa:

how spend you the circular?

you too gather the sun's shadows in movement?

Wa

Sir, I spend my days in the company of orchids

helping most petals moisten and pistils form:

my lively-hood is assisting beauty reveal itself;

helping lovers and sensitive bond

cultivation

and I too feel a kind of bloom in my breasts

in tending virditas for a living

Fent

Virditas the metaphor for continuance

the desire to reach up and out

grow teach and share

Most excellent an occupation!

Plants that reach upwards

greening passions and budding

life!

Yet those inks do not dye

these open eyes:

I confess my melancholy

rust tinged bitterness at the mention--

eyes that shade darkly when

my own internal chemicals burn

are met with an endless night

and not my strivings held

But why pass precious seconds

fingering the worries of an old man's dim candle?

Speak of pleasant colours

remind me not of foundering needs

Smile! and turn to other phrases

Fel

I ask your dark eyes

speak more of this melancholy!

As son I would like to know your soul

help the grasping fingers un-cramp

Wa and I may be your potentates

do not hide from our carefully listening ears

unburden yourself easily

Wa

Trust that Fel and I mean well

speak not if you feel such strain

Fent

I wish not to display my decaying retinas

a terrific monster whose instinct is only tempered

by a honed acumen: I know all too well that I must be alone

with this creature; well seasoned am I in rejection and

stern recrimination

golden leaves, the grasping at warmth

to become another human though the medium of touch

wonderful bright!

Towers my desire which obstructs and shadows fall

soil untilled in a cold shade

I confess a desire to warm an other

limbic systems alight with anticipation

but how black the night!

the seed falls useless into my own hands

my chemicals bring no one light

while others smile in bliss!

Fel

Still unrecognized as dimension by most

the human tropism and arabesque

for limbs vivid and deep eyes;

your shade will be the fertilizer for growth

potential always springs new

though the eyes blind wander uncertain

tides ebb and flow with natural ease

Fent

The creature's impatience brooks no

patient cultivation and natural ease

unnatural colours abound and bind

and thus a vicious serpent

my tail in my mouth

my mouth in my tail

the act of an aged and preposterous man!

forgive me

a shame to be negative at this joyous reunion

thanks for your kaleidoscopic optimisms

I prefer to change the focus from myself

show me more evidences of your effort

what kinds of filigreed art do you create?

have you not images?

Fel

Images are imperfect but might nonetheless

impress you with the essence of my creative acts

they exist in time, and move quickly in and out of memory

so I have captured a few instances with photographic arts

let me fetch them from below

[Fel exits]

Wa

Fel's enthusiasm is only matched by his need for appreciation

but he lives well with obscurity for his imagination strives

he is both more sturdy and more fragile than he seems

Fent

You are finely devoted to him

I hope that he too makes you shine

and keeps your palette fresh

Wa

In a masculine world garish bright

the two of us hold freedom and trust

as fantastic rewards for struggling

one then the other selfish and alone

we have learned to hold hands

so that fireflys may glitter unceasingly

even in the winters when we shiver

and thus we glow in all seasons

Fent

It is the two of you who illume this evening

lanterns who stray into this garden and keep me company

you sway and beckon so well

I spoke of forbidden matters

what comfortable souls you have!

to make me bare my cavities

Wa

First evening light

trust makes us beautiful

no less you for your feelings

Fent

the stewardship of flora

must bring you tenderness

your words heal

Wa

If only you realized

how much your Fel loves you

and thus I,

you would not fret so

but clasp my hands in soft

brings touch gold to the heart

Fent

[clasps Wa's hands in his own]

You the flower girl

who presses fresh plantlings into my hands!

your temperature and heartbeat flowing

Wa

With Fel you share blood

with me you share touch

Fent

Exercises of threads pull

weaving complexities

you fill me to the brim

inappropriate

Wa

My ways are not red and black

no insectile calculation

When you pass this life bye

meaningful embraces will not regret

Fel too knows the value

come, make me beautiful

Fent

Instinct is much the brighter

than reflexive consciousness

what form and virditas!

your upper lip reveals your nature

flower mouth

Wa

mmm

[Enter Fel]

Fent

You spoke of the bloom in your breasts

bloom and nurture at once the same

Fel

This is beautiful, to

give suckle to friend and father of mine!

Father at the breast

you nurse you

here I kneel, touch your faces

[...]

You have two breasts!

double harmony, miracle of form!

Fent and Fel transmit through you

ecstasy your body gives you to feel

pleasure love and peace

Wa

The two of you,

levo and dextro at each nipple

orient in twin tongues and genetics

somatic mirroring

I feel ember and moist

[...]

Yes kiss so that salivas may mingle to one

[...]

ember and moist

[...]

Fel your Fent deserves more

Fel

I have always confessed desirous curiosity

how similar in form?

Fel will undress father

an instrument revealed

Wa

What candor!

this tastes [...] more paternal than Fel

the source vibrant still

Fel

Let me join Wa and bring

still more feeling and wetness

to that which so vital to my making

here before my eyes

Fent

Every act is a gift

every act

Fel

[...]

Wa and I trade kiss and converse

this current a medium between us

[...]

Fent

Come Wa

[...] what sensitivities you must feel

the attentions of father and son

[...]

what dimorphic secrets here lie

to kiss you on the lips

what want you betray!

[...]

Fel

Wa recieves the act she so trustingly performed

[...]

I know the scent the construction

of Wa's fragrant red-rimmed

so receptive to Fent clean mouth

[...]

Fent

nectar and pollen

Wa

Pistils and stamen

Fel

Chlorophyll and skin

Fent

What sensations sex gives birth to!

Wa

I cannot conceive anything other than

gasp and light

so don't worry your seeds bloom in the heart

between three of us we bear a child

called art

human art

Fent

Breathless beautiful ribcage

a billion years ago crystal and inorganic

each of us us a genius

to see beauty in human form

Wa

We are divinity

Fel

Beautiful miracles of personality,

the sublime organizations of nature organic,

creations of being, consciousness, light and mineral:

the flesh is a miracle!

[Fade lights as sex continues]

END