☛ We are inviting submission in the field of literature and literary theory in the form of article, book review, poem, short story, travelogue and interview for our regular April issue (Vol. 6, No. 2). The last date for submission is 31 March, 2025.

SCORE FOR THE AUDIENCE

 


SCORE FOR THE AUDIENCE

 

-         Miriam Sagan (U.S.A.)

 

 

I’d like to compose a piece of music

for the audience:

 

a cough, 3 in a row,

the noise of small random objects

dropping out of a purse or pocket

sighs

and unsilenced cell phones

going off in patterned ring tones—

a bird call, the opening notes of a

Golden Oldie,

chimes, church bells.

 

Add in construction from the street,

the gas company

retro-fitting lines

as noisy as if the road crew

were attempting to excavate Atlantis or

Mycenae but in the wrong location.

 

Now, add in a car alarm.

 

Sounds get wilder and wilder.

The audience applauds

between movements, between notes

while on stage the orchestra

murmurs “bravo!”

in its sleep.

 

 

****