Episode 5: The Cow Song (Libretto)
Although the local witch has been killed, farm animals are still dying, and at Vireo’s home, a cow steps forward to give its perspective on the situation.
Featuring
Vireo Wind Octet. The San Francisco Girls Chorus, Shadow Hills High School Regiment of the Realm Marching Band, Indio, CA
(A breath. Back a brief jump in time; Vireo and Mother each in their own space)
VIREO
If you don't want my fear, then
Where do you want my fear to go?
Later, later, farther down
Further
Further
Further out we go
MOTHER
Invisible hands touch my ears and
Tell me words will come later
Invisible lips touch my own and
Tell me breath will come –
MOTHER + VIREO
Later –
VIREO
Later, farther down
MOTHER
Fire comes and burns me down and
Tells me: farther down
I say my piece full extent, out of breath
Falling
All the way down
I pay out
I pray flat out
I say my name to the good and
Cows are still dying
(Milkmaids take the field. A dying Cow appears.)
MILKMAIDS
Ah!
COW
The meadow was green and the stream was laughing
The last day I stood alive
With an udder full and proud of my cheeses
I laughed, so pleased to survive
MILKMAIDS
With our simple tools:
Buckets, stools
Slim hands made by God
We hish to brim
Whole, less, and skim
We pray Him, pray Him –
COW
But fate laughs last to catch you napping
And I stood asleep in the sun
Knocked utterly flat, no thanks or pleases
I fell, as beef, all undone
MILKMAIDS
Find our purity...
Minding rods and rules
As the milk flows
As the lily grows
As the snowflake blows
May soul dispose
Save me – rosary –
Soul reposes spotlessly
COW
Knocked utterly flat, no thanks or pleases
I fell, as beef, all undone
No thanks or pleases...
MILKMAIDS
As the lily grows
As the snowflake blows
As the milk flows
COW
No thanks or pleases
May soul dispose
Save me – rosary –
Soul reposes spotlessly