Long way home

(The stylised language is a bit of an experiment)      Main Characters;   Raven: A student recently returned from a tour of South America.   Steve: A student of art, Raven's Friend.   Andy: A student of philosophy, Raven's Friend.   Lisa: A girl.   Felix: Lisa's Father.   Torix: Lisa's Brother.   Chorus.     Act 1 Scene 1   A wine-bar in Cheltenham (UK), Raven, Steve and Andy are sat on two large sofas near the door holding pints of beer and talking. Chorus is sat at the bar facing the audience.   Chorus ( addressing audience ) : How could I then kindle in your eyes such appetite to see unfold these lives? Or how entreat the hungers of your mind with, “stay! Sup here awhile”   For what burdens carry all of broken-hearted youth? Of promise turned to weakest crumbling lies. So then let not your eye turn from a little truth, and these few simple hearts do not despise.   O back! Back! You tensions and you tears....

Frankly the suicide of Werter was the act of an egocentric narcissist cheated of the central role in his own little drama. He was the aesthetic Victorian treasure hunter who's rival got there first. He was unable to bare the third spot in the love triangle and constructed his own demise as a way of returning to the top of the bill.   He was undoubtedly in love, not with the fräulein but with what she could do to enhance him. If he had truly loved her he would not have killed himself while she lived. It is a great pity this story influenced a whole generation's worth of pointless romantic posturing when the cause of love would have been better served by a more genuinely selfless conceptualisation of heroism.

Don't stand in front of me With empty hearts and reasoning Of dried out joints With eyes painted on and Measure man in feeble quantities And degrees of utter senselessness From ages gone you stored up for me Broken bones and misery A silent, shameful sword ready to slide Secretly into me I handed over plans, solutions, inventions Into your slowly closing fist Your celebrations expressed in Casual destructions Chilled, broken what peace would come? The peace of a bird Under the whispering leaves of her breath. Life cornered, detained In constant company with Fear of loss.

Your words, seemingly soft Have no fluid  And no cartilage between them A feeling behind them not Harmonious with them Forget your audience, imposter Crawl away unseen Go alone into the wilderness Shed your armour  Piece by piece Stretch yourself out Naked upon a crag.