​vi. the berries and the plums

SUSAN
​i spent the whole day on the dusty floor
​reading every page

​it was the story of my grandmama and grandpapa:
​how they met and fell in love
​and how they parted as they were fleeing latvia—
​russians on one side, nazis on the other
​a hay truck escape
​as the berries and plums of their orchard
​were bursting with ​ripeness

​(as grandmother takes the stage and sings, grandfather appears, working at a forgе.)

GRANDMOTHER
​a summer day
​wooden fencе against a clear blue sky
​flowers and bees
​burnt yellow grass beneath white birch trees

​a hay truck is waiting
​there’s no room for our bags
​cannon fire coming closer
​his eyes so far away
​he lays me down in the hay
​rests his fingers upon my cheek
​smiles so sweetly
​as he breaks my heart
​and says

GRANDFATHER
​i can’t leave yet
​the berries and the plums
​their harvest time has come
​you must sail away without me
​and i’ll come and find you both
​when all the work i have is done
​some day
​when all my troubles here are over

GRANDMOTHER
​he always had a darkness
​demons lurking underneath his skin
​everyone knew
​the sadness he hid behind a grin

​late nights in the barn
​pounding metal, drinking wine
​stumbling through the smoke
​burning his arm against the forge
​i’d listen at the door
​hear his screams and sobs
​and whisper to the child inside of me
​help me pray for him

GRANDFATHER & SUSAN
​i can’t leave yet

GRANDFATHER
​the berries and the plums
​their harvest time has come
​you must sail away without me
​and i’ll come and find you both
​when all the work i have is done

GRANDFATHER & SUSAN
​some day
​when all my troubles here are over

GRANDMOTHER
​oh what a roman it would make

​and though i knew
​that the harvest would go unpicked
​that my love had given up on himself
​that he had lost his fight
​i kiss him on the neck
​right under his ear
​knowing it’s the last time
​and the last thing i’ll hear is

ALL
​i can’t leave yet
​the berries and the plums
​their harvest time has come
​you must sail away without me
​and i’ll come and find you both
​when all the work i have is done
​some day
​when all my troubles here are over

GRANDFATHER & SUSAN
​some day
​when all my troubles here are over