2014 Program Notes, Book 9 41
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
Anna I
Now she shows off her little round white fanny,
worth twice a little Texas motel.
And for nothing the pool room can stare at
Annie,
as though she’d nothing to sell.
That’s why most girls don’t get rich,
for they go wrong when they forget their place.
You’re not free to buy what you itch for
when you’ve got a good provider you must face.
Family
Who fights the good fight and all Self subdues,
wins the Palm, gains the Crown.
Anna I
It wasn’t easy putting that in order.
Saying goodbye to young Fernando.
Then back to Edward to apologize.
Then the endless nights I heard my sister sobbing
bitterly and repeating:
Anna II
It’s right like this, Anna, but so hard!
COVETOUSNESS
Family
Anna, so the papers say,
is now set up in Baltimore.
Lots of folk seem to be
shooting themselves for her.
She must be near to the top, and raking it in
to get in the news like that.
Well, so far, so good: to be talked about
helps a young girl up the ladder
But isn’t she overdoing it?
Let her beware of overdoing it.
Some people might think she was mean.
Folk shy away from a girl who’s said to be mean.
Folk give a wide wide berth
to those who grab all they can get.
Point unfriendly fingers at those
whose greed goes beyond all bounds.
In the measure you give,
you will surely be given.
And as you do,
so will you be done by.
Fair is fair.
All must keep this law.
We sincerely hope our smart little Anna
also has common sense.
And will let them keep a shirt or two
when she lets them go for good.
Shameless hoarders earn themselves a bad
name.
Shameless hoarders earn themselves a bad
name.
ENVY
Anna I
And the last big town we came to was San
Francisco.
Life there was fine,
only Anna felt so tired and grew envious of
others:
of those who pass the time at their ease and in
comfort;
those too proud to be bought;
of those whose wrath is kindled by injustice;
those who act upon their impulses happily;
lovers true to their loved ones;
and those who take what they need without
shame.
Whereupon I told my poor tired sister
when I saw how much she envied them:
“Sister, from birth we may write our own story
and anything we choose we are permitted to do.
But the proud and insolent who strut in their
glory,
little they guess, little they guess,
little they guess the fate they’re swaggering to.
Sister be strong, you must learn to say No
to the joys of this world, for this world is a snare.
Only the fools in this world will let go,
who don’t care a damn, don’t care a damn,
don’t care a damn, will be made to care.
Don’t let the flesh and its longings get you,
Remember the price that a lover must pay
and say to yourself when temptations beset you,
what is the use, what is the use,
beauty will perish and youth pass away.
Sister you know when our life here is over:
Those who were good go to bliss unalloyed.
Those who were bad are rejected for ever,
gnashing their teeth, gnashing their teeth,
gnashing their teeth in a gibbering void.”
Family
Who fights the good fight and all Self subdues,
wins the Palm, gains the Crown.
EPILOGUE
Anna I
Now we’re coming back to you, in Louisiana,
where the moon on the Mississippi is a shining
ever.
Seven years we’ve been away in the big towns,
where you go to make money;
and now our fortune’s made
and now you’re there, little home in old
Louisiana.
We’re coming back to you,
to our little home beside the Mississippi
in Louisiana.
Right Anna?
Anna II
Right Anna!
