Beautiful Way

Speaker five: (eyes closed in the sun, bundled under sweaters and scarves)

It is invigorating to walk barefoot in the snow, entering the darkness of the night on streets familiar but too dark to see. To be lead by the slight reflections of street lights, avoiding weak ice and deep snow. A cold suctions to the soles of my feet. I imagine myself a night phantom, walking through still alleys, there is no sound but the faint disturbance of motors. Car ruts become hollow caverns. Deep and black. The air is warmer than it used to be, and I am unseen as I like.

(Speaker three walks by yelling)

Speaker three:
HOGWASH!
Speaker five:
Indecent
Speaker three:
I WALK TO BE SEEN! I DANCE IN PUBLIC CONTORTED AND POSSESSED.
Why do anything but, crazed street walker, a freak without shoes, I'm all for the individual but there comes a time when you want to scream. Yawlp like a barbarian! Guffaw! Use your voice as intended! What are these words but indicators hiding truth!

Speaker two: (crawls out of box near speaker five, to speaker three)

I fantasize about your moans, your subconscious sexual phonemics. What will make your leg shake and your mouth pant? Perhaps if I stroke your nose?

Speaker three: (Amused)
TAKE OFF YOUR PANTS BRUTE! PAT MY HEAD!

Speaker five: (As if alone)
The personal self is not intended to be viewed as a freak show carnival.

Laugh you're ridiculous

Speaker Four: (tired and sitting sourly in an ill fitting sweater.)

This will be your best cup of the day.

Speaker one: (Looks at speaker four and crawls under a table.)

Sitting in the sun as people pass by, walking in time to the light beat, pages turn impatiently, tapping feet: This is a moment without you. This is a moment that makes me feel like everything is intended as it should be. I think I'll dream of rain. The dampness reminding me of driving late at night to the smell of the damp earth and wet leaves. Speaker four comments on the horrific stale coffee, speaker two stares blankly, eyes averting the morphing words on the page, and myself; I'm in the sun thinking of you. This is a moment without you. I smile to make it all seem better.

Found Four

Speaker four: talking over others: huffing and puffing, while maintaining properness.

They pushed the spring too fast- no clothes, hunched shoulders. He is standing on the corners asking for money, she is walking around taking his picture. Laugh you're ridiculous, she walks with a stager and spits on the ground, he holds a fresh coffee, the streets make it sound as people cross: laugh you're ridiculous, so seriously set, without encouragement- I'll record my hypocrisy- I'll watch her document my fractured moments: potted plants hold tight their roots. In this false environment their leaves will never feel rain.

badump

Speaker one: (sitting alone/yelling over the sound of a heart beat and voices)

BadumpTherearethingbadumpsandBadum-badumpactionsandresponsesandfeelingsandfrustrationsandwords. Words.Whatarebadhumbadhumbbadumpwordsbutbadumplooseabstractionsobadumpbadumpfrealities? Theymeannothing,badum-badumpjustasnothingisnothing.Ihearitlouder,mydirge-andmyroomexplodes-itisinthischaosthatIfindthemosbadumpies. Iwishto burrowunderthismountainof mine, Badumptobecomeareclusefrommyowncreations. I'll layheavy: mbadumpbadumpylimbs likelead. I'll burrow/shut outalllight, allday. Therewillbenoneedfo noise. Justonetwoonetwoonetwo. likeaheartbeatbadump.itticksandtimeth beatthesongbadump.badumpcontinuestillitsend.badump

melting snow

Speaker four: (wears a tall, pointy, yellow hat)

If you think about something for too long; it is probably wrong.

Take a little spot in the sun

Speaker three: (Removes massive over coat, shirt, shoes and pants. Stands face forward in underwear)

I'm a day sleeper and a cold soup eater. I take naps whenever possible. I've decided that clothes are an extra barrier between you and me- us and them. It hides my insecurities.... slight signifiers of my deepest desires.

I'M OVER DRAMATIC! I LOVE WORDS, YELLING! I RAISE MY VOICE AND SO DOES MY DOG!

(Shuffles feet, breathes, looks down-up-down. pause)

I want to become more archaic. I want people to say, "I want to be archaic too!". I think it is important and that one takes pride in their beginning and end. What is a novel without a last page, a sentence without a period, a cadence that ends in seven? It is imperfect, something I will never take as ordinary or allowable.

IT IS UNFATHOMABLE! UNTHINKABLE! END WHAT YOU SAY IN EXCLAMATION! SPEAK NOT TO BE HEARD BUT TO HEAR YOURSELF, HOWL FOR THE SHEER PLEASURE OF FEELING YOUR OWN SPIT HIT YOUR CHEEKS! YOU ARE YOUR OWN IRRIGATION SYSTEM! PEE IN PUBLIC! BE PROUD TO STAND WITH A SLUMP!

purple hair and the kinder surprise of disapointments

Speaker two: (climbs out of a box- is very sleepy)

I’m obsessed with male masturbation. Sometimes I believe there is nothing more pitiful than a man or boy yanking himself. Some men hunch forward, their head hangs, perhaps swaying slightly as they repeat and maintain rhythm; others, now I speculate, rest their heads backwards and remain quite stiff. Position is really not important; it is all in the face: eyes averted, blank and hollow.