Thought First.
Write Tall & Learn her
Ripe World at last.
Read Planted Ideas & Teach Large Pictures.
Make Us Bread

Apple fell far from the tree
Fell in love
He peels away her layers
of skin
Bites through to the core
and juice runs down his chin
Pieces of her
Lost forever
Ignores the bruised bits
Bits he bruised
Throws leftover her away
But
the seeds of her grow
and she changes...
she learns...
Red
Adam and Eve Tempting
A Witches Apple
poisoned by past hurts
Looks can ****
and she'll never again be a victim
Lose Herself
and be swallowed whole
No Man
**will again reach the core of her

******* -
thoughts sought, taught and wrought,
aggressive games.
Fighting clubbing sick,
Afghanistan camouflage.


.

The play is written to be staged in a pub or a large cave like yurt in Cardiff.  Its action and dialogue provides characterisation, with sound and lighting being used to establish context.  The setting a darkened pub corner that is  modelled on The Bunch of Grapes in Pontypridd.   There are only 6 characters, five speak in haiku-ed verse with the exception of the Drunk who acts as my 'Greek Chorus'.

- Hand-in-hand she enters to **** her thumb in a corner

- Chocolate ice cream soda demanded from Daddy

- Joking banter ceased slowly as the regulars all begin to quaff their brown pints

“Balll uut eass swept -
Chimrrrrr, Chiirriica,
war is never won”

- Church quiet, the village pub listened lips clamped tears swelling

“ ***** cut swapped with eyes -
Chimerica, Chimerica,
war is never won”

- The cornered hero of two Afghanistan tours is seen regressing into childhood*

The set darkens slowly then after 30 seconds a spotlit conversation in lines and stanzas begins.

Haiku and tanka that inspired the coming play include:

******* -
thoughts sought, taught and wrought,
testosterones
Fighting aggressive games,
Afghanistan camouflage


Globalism and War -
cloned greedy conspiracy,
that third tower
Titled selfish-self-grandiose,
deliver warring terror


Springs cut Irises -
dripping vital red not purple,
far from my window*

.

She said it's "Brittany, not Britney,"
as we walked over the Mathematical Bridge.
I asked her if that was a reference,
but there's more than just a difference in nomenclature.

She said, "My name is Brittany Etheridge
but there is also a Britney Etheridge,
and she's a walking disaster."
I said "Hey, I never knew..."
as I looked into the river.

"Did you know about this bridge?" she asked me,
and I answered, "It's just a way between shores."
But there's always more to what is there, there's history.
"It was here before computers, before the wars,
before Britney Etheridge."

I could see my reflection in the water below,
warping my face with the current, and
it left me with nothing but a desire to know the history of all things,
but mainly Brittany Etheridge.

She told me, "Isaac Newton built this bridge
without any screws or bolts. Now that's engineering."
And I agreed with a nod and a smile.
"Britney Etheridge wouldn't care though."

She kept talking after that, but all the while I thought
about the bridge, and how there're screws here now.
She told me, "Isaac Newton built this bridge
without any screws or bolts."

If you would permit me, I'd like to close the blinds, for
in only twenty minutes the sun is due to rise.
It tends to taunt the people
lamenting your position,
so if you would permit me,
I'd like to close the blinds.

If you would permit me, I'd like to sit a spell, and
wait until your eyelids close, and whisper, "Do farewell."
The love: Your veins are guiding to your heart,
to insulate its rooms,
so if you would permit me,
I'd like to sit a spell.

If you would permit me, I'd like to calm your nerves, for
excitement does accelerate, at least I have observed.
So please, for you, and yes, for me too,
just rest and close your eyes.
So if you would permit me,
I'd like to calm your nerves.

If you would permit me, I'd like to bid you tidings, for
no longer in these hallowed halls will your body be residing.
What seems like ending might not be so bleak,
for this galaxy cannot hold you.
So if you would permit me,
I'd like to bid you tidings.

As the Golden Road shined upon him,
He looked back upon his previous life,
He took his left foot forward and placed it down,
Upon the road he went.


He followed the Golden Road,
Heading towards the light,
There he found his one, true love,
His one, true sight.


He picked her up and cradled her in his arms,
For this moment will be a moment,
A moment that shall be remembered for all eternity,
One that all shall talk about.


As he held her there,
She began to gently sing,
Her voice so sweet,
Listen, was all you could do,
Her body, so beautiful,
To stare was a sin.


Now she has his hold,
He can never let go,
No matter how hard he tries,
For she will always be his first love.

He had their attention,
He always did,
The whole nation looking at him,
Every one focused,
Waiting...
Waiting for the great Khan to speak.

He scanned the crowd,
Masses of people going on for miles,
These were the Mongols,
The wolves,
And he was their leader,
Their lord.

" My people, the moment has come,
For everyone of us to go to battle,
And be glorious!
For as long as there are a million enemy's,
We shall fight a million times,
And be victorious!"

This year would be a good year,
He could feel it,
The crowd whooped and cheered,
Chanting their lord khan's name,
Genghis...
Genghis...
Genghis...