Chapter 40
Polynesian Drama
(Ships are in the Chieftain’s harbor and the sailors are betting and trading on the beach)
NARRATOR
The Two Wives in a Polynesian drama.
A drama of a brave pirate sailor
and a scary fellow unwisely staring;
threatening the two women like a big hungry snake.
But first, the Two Wives are performing the fabulous Rope Trick
while dancing over a line of coins
that are descending in value.
The fabulous Rope Trick is full of knots
that they undo
as they lift and dance over
the march of coins on the table.
Their naked feet lightly touch those coins.
They just lightly - barely - brush against them;
just barely tapping upon them,
brushing their toes underneath
as they lift up their skirts and hike along, aloft,
over the coins - as if suspended
as on the spars, mizzens and mainmasts of the boats -
as on the intricate riggings above
and around the sails -
like sailors hanging and climbing -
they are that nimble on the ropes!
By pulling and tugging they
unloose the knots and continue along,
holding up above the coins,
whose silver glints
and rays against the sun
blink and temporarily blind them -
but no matter!
This way they get along the table
and inch toward the Captain’s bounty
and all the sailors can collect their dues;
because, if the two Ladies win this contest,
the sailors so benefit
that they shout a grand hurrah!
But, today, for the Two Wives
a tropically warm drama ensues
and sharpens their nerves
like an unfriendly tonic
(that terrible tonic always next to them on the table
that the Captain used - whatever it was?).
Some guy with a huge head
and a most threatening face
that’s mean and darkened,
paralyzed in anger like a jungle viper,
and ready to strike,
is sort of licking his lips over the girls
doing their trick
(looking almost ready to eat).
So, ‘Blasphemous’, the worst pirate,
pulls out that old pistol
and is going to blow him down before
he can even begin to bother those girls…
And why would this despicable creature
with the big head and fearful visage
begin to bother the girls?
I ask: what rare disability, or inability,
does he have to appreciate them?
and, rather does he seek to undo them;
as they so successfully
can undo those ropey knots
over the money
as they lurch along
above the rows -
above all the sailors’ banking capital
(which has been offered
and soon is to be gained back for them
by the girls).
The weird snake-faced Canadian
won’t let them have that.
He’ll interrupt the Wives
and spin them around like tops
building a huge nestiness of ropes,
all entangling
and strangling…
And he whippersnaps them
‘til their down…
ONLOOKER
Then he takes the money?
NARRATOR
No. Then, before that, he gets plugged.
Or, at least, stopped before he can get plugged
by the ugly retarded old-fashioned sailor
who’s followed him there
and who shouts up…
'BLASPHEMOUS', an old-fashioned sailor
Don’t, lackey! Spaniard!
Dastard! Canadian!
Defunct, depravious missionary!
Solemn loser, don’t get near the winning women!
Don’t get near the lucky bank
with its unending rows of coins
of every color (but mostly silver and gold).
I can’t say what you’re doing here
but I’m here too, now,
and command you, by my
fire-arm cocked, to stop!
Stop your unearned intentions
toward those girls
and their singing money,
their super row of finance:
growing coins
of all colors
over and over
rolling up, laying down flat and accumulating.
CANADIAN MISSIONARY
Oh, come on!
I’m just ogling that,
and have no need to consume
or flirt unfair.
No need to touch or move;
to collect or spend.
I am just a fearful visage of unfairness,
a face of woe,
that you’ve found sick and watching
this contest.
(Nothing happens after this - the drama is ended)
Chapter 41
A Horse Comes In
NARRATOR
I’m so embarrassed that I showed
the Horse that way in Mexico!
I didn’t mean to show it!
I was just practicing. And he turned out so…
Silly, I guess. Or sweet? Or dumb!
Well, there he is; and, supposedly, on
the walls of the sacred Women’s Club
inside the mountain - seen that way!
And I have permitted it! - even to be
on the cover of this book.
And, I have now become embarrassed about it.
(Pause)
But what do the Women of the Club think
about the Horse?
(End of Chapters 40 & 41)
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