Still Life by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview

Still Life

Page 227

The Kitchen of Commentary Wit, Domestic Ritual Responds only to shared laughter. Commentary becomes choreography when performed together.

Each room is tuned not to sound, but to gesture. Susie and Finn don’t just hear; they perceive the castle’s response to their presence. A sigh in the nursery might be mistaken for wind, but it’s actually the castle refusing to explain absence. A laugh in the kitchen becomes a sacred recipe.

Poor Jud Is Dead

Gordon MacRae and Rod Steiger

[CURLY]

Pore Jud is daid

Pore Jud Fry is daid

All gather 'round his coffin now and cry

He had a heart of gold

And he wasn't very old—

Oh why did such a feller hive to dee?

Pore Jud is daid

Pore Jud Fry is daid

He's lookin' oh so peaceful and serene—

[JUD]

And serene!

[CURLY]

He's all laid out to rest

Wid his hands acrost him chest

Him fingernails have never been so clean!

(spoken)

Then the preacher'd get up and he'd say

"Folks, we are gathered here to moan and groan over our brother

Jud Fry, who hung hisself up by a rope in his smokehouse"

Then there'd be weepin' and wailin' from some of those women

Then he'd say