Poplar (Ongoing Series)
Play Performed at A Stand of New Black Poplar Trees : IN 33 ACTS
ACT I
The Arrival
Everything is constructed to slope downwards and drain to one point.
ACT II
A man decides that it is too old and an opening should be made.
ACT III
When it rains, the water drains to one point. Little things are picked up and carried with the water. They are too large to pass through and must be changed.
ACT IV
The water eats away at it.
ACT V
Less important men arrive because they have been told that an opening must be made.
ACT VI
They see where the water has eaten away at it, and start there. Little things know that they may be able to pass through soon.
ACT VII
They construct a table so that they may eat.
ACT VIII
The men make a line around the place where everything drains to one point. Machines are brought in and they do not see anything. They wait around the table until they are told to eat.
ACT IX
Something will happen now.
ACT X
The Descent
A man enters one of the machines and makes it see something. Everything above ground is always something of a mockery.
ACT XI
It is told to eat and the dust makes everything blurry.
ACT XII
Steps are constructed leading down.
ACT XIII
A river forms near where the water is draining. Dust is carried along; it gathers around the edges.
ACT XIV
Some of the men look backwards at it. It emanates.
ACT XV
Some of the men are threatened, perhaps only because it might cross over.
ACT XVI
The Envoy
One of them trips. He follows the water and the little things being carried and goes downwards.
ACT XVII
The machine is empty so it watches from the margins. A great hound guards the new river.
ACT XVIII
No ferry. He has to scrape at it. It might enter here.
ACT XIX
The gate is open so he goes through it.
ACT XX
He sits with the little things and the water at the table.
ACT XXI
Moisture comes up and into him.
Don’t you know that God Is All Mouth?
ACT XXII
This way he can be made to look at it.
ACT XXIII
Twin headlamp kiss with Gneiss Black Shale in front of all the little things. We’ll need to think about this.
ACT XXIV
Some of them take off their soft coats and put them in the river.
ACT XXVI
The Ascent
Enough has been cleared away so he is full of knowing and without understanding.
ACT XXVII
No ferry so he calls the great hound waiting at the margins. He bounds down into where it has been scraped out by the man, the river, the little things, Blackdamp, and Gneiss Black Shale Heavy Earthrock.
ACT XXVIII
Elevation & Abasement.
ACT XXIX
The Cluster of New Black Poplar Trees, Events That Will Happen In The Grove
Everything above is always something of a mockery.
ACT XXX
He tells the other men what he knows and does not understand. They fill in the pit and trap the Flake Mica SilverSkin with big truckloads of something caustic and white.
ACT XXXI
He goes back to it when the job is done.
ACT XXXII
There’s a sort of wetness at the edges of it. He puts up a fence to keep us out of the pit.
ACT XXXIII
A stand of New Black Poplar Trees. You might stay with them.
Play Performed at A Stand of New Black Poplar Trees : IN 33 ACTS
ACT I
The Arrival
Everything is constructed to slope downwards and drain to one point.
ACT II
A man decides that it is too old and an opening should be made.
ACT III
When it rains, the water drains to one point. Little things are picked up and carried with the water. They are too large to pass through and must be changed.
ACT IV
The water eats away at it.
ACT V
Less important men arrive because they have been told that an opening must be made.
ACT VI
They see where the water has eaten away at it, and start there. Little things know that they may be able to pass through soon.
ACT VII
They construct a table so that they may eat.
ACT VIII
The men make a line around the place where everything drains to one point. Machines are brought in and they do not see anything. They wait around the table until they are told to eat.
ACT IX
Something will happen now.
ACT X
The Descent
A man enters one of the machines and makes it see something. Everything above ground is always something of a mockery.
ACT XI
It is told to eat and the dust makes everything blurry.
ACT XII
Steps are constructed leading down.
ACT XIII
A river forms near where the water is draining. Dust is carried along; it gathers around the edges.
ACT XIV
Some of the men look backwards at it. It emanates.
ACT XV
Some of the men are threatened, perhaps only because it might cross over.
ACT XVI
The Envoy
One of them trips. He follows the water and the little things being carried and goes downwards.
ACT XVII
The machine is empty so it watches from the margins. A great hound guards the new river.
ACT XVIII
No ferry. He has to scrape at it. It might enter here.
ACT XIX
The gate is open so he goes through it.
ACT XX
He sits with the little things and the water at the table.
ACT XXI
Moisture comes up and into him.
Don’t you know that God Is All Mouth?
ACT XXII
This way he can be made to look at it.
ACT XXIII
Twin headlamp kiss with Gneiss Black Shale in front of all the little things. We’ll need to think about this.
ACT XXIV
Some of them take off their soft coats and put them in the river.
ACT XXVI
The Ascent
Enough has been cleared away so he is full of knowing and without understanding.
ACT XXVII
No ferry so he calls the great hound waiting at the margins. He bounds down into where it has been scraped out by the man, the river, the little things, Blackdamp, and Gneiss Black Shale Heavy Earthrock.
ACT XXVIII
Elevation & Abasement.
ACT XXIX
The Cluster of New Black Poplar Trees, Events That Will Happen In The Grove
Everything above is always something of a mockery.
ACT XXX
He tells the other men what he knows and does not understand. They fill in the pit and trap the Flake Mica SilverSkin with big truckloads of something caustic and white.
ACT XXXI
He goes back to it when the job is done.
ACT XXXII
There’s a sort of wetness at the edges of it. He puts up a fence to keep us out of the pit.
ACT XXXIII
A stand of New Black Poplar Trees. You might stay with them.