​vii. wolf dance

(the grandparents take the stage.)

GRANDMOTHER
​when i was very young
​i faced a demon;
​a ladybug of glass
​it was spring, i was young;
​and i smote it with a shining sword
​of onyx and mother-of-pearl

GRANDFATHER
​later in life
​i faced a second demon;
​a lion of dandelions and blue triangles
​it was summer, i was older;
​and i smote it with an ashwood longbow
​strung with spiderwebs and witch hair

GRANDMOTHER
​the third demon came in autumn;
​a great owl with sparkling spiraled horns
​by then my body was slower;
​but i had collected powerful stones, orbs, and talismans
​and with their help
​again the demon was vanquished
GRANDFATHER
​the fourth demon was a mangy gray wolf

(they pull back a curtain to reveal wolf laying on the bar, in a full wolf-in-granny’s-nightgown costume.)

GRANDMOTHER
​it was winter

GRANDFATHER
​the sky had folded in on itself

GRANDMOTHER
​the fourth demon was a mangy gray wolf

GRANDFATHER
​and this was the demon i danced with

/ / /

GRANDMOTHER
​oh my sad and lonely wolf
​what great eyes you have

WOLF
​my eyes are your eyes
GRANDFATHER
​oh my sad and lonely wolf
​what great ears you have

WOLF
​my ears are your ears

GRANDMOTHER & GRANDFATHER
​oh my sad and lonely wolf
​what great teeth you have

WOLF
​my teeth are your teeth

GRANDMOTHER & GRANDFATHER
​oh my sad and lonely wolf
​will you come down the chimney
​and dance with me?
​one more time?

GRANDFATHER
​dance with the wolf
​pin a flower to his chest
​bite his lip
​and caress his neck
​this is who you are
​it will never go away
​so dance with your wolf

GRANDMOTHER
​dance with the wolf
​hold him close
​squeeze him tight
​let your bodies dissolve into sky

​this is who you are

GRANDMOTHER & GRANDFATHER
​it will never go away

GRANDFATHER
​no more than night
​surrender to the day

(susan dances with the wolf.)

GRANDMOTHER & GRANDFATHER
​so smile and embrace your darkness

GRANDMOTHER
​sing and scream in its gaping maw

GRANDFATHER
​offer him branches and blankets

GRANDMOTHER
​hold him as he howls, ease his pain

BOTH
​sit at the loom
​in your moonlit room
​and weave your souls together

GRANDFATHER
​else he may fester and fascinate

BOTH
​else he may snag you
​and eat you alive

(sadie dances with the wolf.)

​​dance with the wolf
​​scratch his chinny chin chin

GRANDFATHER
​​meet his eye

GRANDMOTHER
​​say his name

GRANDFATHER
​​breathe him in

BOTH
​​make him a plate

​​because this is who you are
​​it will never go away

/ / /