NOH - Material
mask and before
behind it
__________________________________________________________________
We may recognize
two faces shown in one
both
masked
on request
turned outside in
the body of other
previous movements
resting
not active in this play 'till
ancestors reach to
restore
a new home;
signals sent
encounter floor and
ceiling
return to the mouth
recollecting their own
breath
when inhaled
they absorb themselves
in a newly
formed contact
the unknown marches
parallel to this
audience
the mask suggests
I'm the filter, the membrane
that makes you part of
what I see as uninterrupted
performed stillness
stage light may fade
on the actor's painted surface
the expression stays
whether moon light or sun
was here for a while
the drummer
his voice a parable
__________________________________________________________________
He's in a dialogue
sheath-covered fingers hit
the
skin (he licks it soft)
separating night in front
from
night behind a timbre
at attention
as if the owl of a call
looks for a
drummer
to lean on
the scope of this space
a message
calculated or not
predominant
with
its constantly floating
quiver of no-matter
the musician sits
in years behind him
his fast
responding
elbow and wrist
interpreting this
once the pain of a ghost
celebrating
disorder
arrived it echoed
what cat-skin holds to
project
in a dwelling after death
wind flits by little
of our horizontal view
can
beat the vertical
powered intonation
beyond drum and
song
static conveyed
(but not quickened)
__________________________________________________________________
step to no step
seven seconds
his pause
there
was movement
movement was there
the right toe first
separated waiting
slips for
three inches
the planks
the audience shaken
in waving garments
hidden access
excess
folding
shades
in light not folded
war as a pattern
of irregular flowers
striking
silk
spun
in the spinning
her moon glowing
and his mask
burning
off
connectedly speaking
with half a gesture
seasoned
the ritual
on a journey
for the fire
of
one turn a year
Proceed to
Thursday January 15, 1998 .
