From Diva Studies: A Verse Play; an excerpt

Abstract

Diva Studies A Verse Play An Excerpt Elizabeth Alexander (bio) Scene IV CHORUS 1 Let us help her find the words to vocalize her blues as we’ve done all these centuries. Sing into the diva’s ear: catharsis in a diva tongue. DIVA 2 I have an Al Green Jones. DIVA 3 Al Green Jones? Is this fever speaking? DIVA 4 She’s had it forever. DIVA 3 I think she has the vapors. DIVA 2 Al Green for as long as I remember. Sometimes he calls me on the telephone. [End Page 475] DIVA 1 Al Green calls you up from Memphis? DIVA 2 Al Green you say you are wrapped up in my love wrapped up in my loving your voice close in my ear on Mister Telephone, live from Memphis. CHORUS 4 Love and happiness, makes you wanna do right. CHORUS 5 I’m so tired of being alone I’m so tired of being wrapped up in the night wontcha help me girl just as soon as you can. DIVA 2 Just as soon as I can Just as soon as I can CHORUS 4 I been wanting to get next to you, Baby. DIVA 2 Al Green your voice is howling. CHORUS 5 Let me be the one you come running to. I’ll [End Page 476] never be un- true. DIVA 2 It sounds so simple. Just—let’s stay together. CHORUS 4 I I I wrapped up in your love DIVA 2 Night-light through your ears, your red rooster strut. I loved a man with a red rooster strut. DIVA 1 I want to see that—a red rooster strut. CHORUS 4 Let us help her find the words, Let us help her find the words. CHORUS 3 How does a diva fall apart? DIVA 2 He used to call me mi amor, mi buen amor, mi deliria— DIVA 3 He used to say DIVA 5 but doesn’t now? [End Page 477] DIVA 2 Mi amor, mi buen amor, mi deliria. DIVA 1 Her husband doesn’t love her anymore? DIVA 2 He used to say, mi amor, mi buen amor, mi deliria. I am leaving my man, I am falling apart. CHORUS 1 How does a diva fall apart? Does she generate a huracan from the solar plexus? Does she fall down and wail? Does she put on her gown and her jewels, her diamonds and her Presidential medals, and then freeze out the universe by cutting her eyes? DIVA 2 I want to be nature, all nature, caterwauling, huracan from the solar plexus spinning breathing, not breathing, falling, huracan from the solar plexus. DIVA 3 Aren’t you going to get angry? I think that it’s time. DIVA 2 You can think what you please. DIVA 4 Give the woman some space. DIVA 3 But her man was a dog. [End Page 478] You got to learn to tell a real Rolex from a fake Rolex. That Negro is a fake Rolex and everyone knows a fake Rolex can’t keep time. DIVA 1 What does caterwauling mean? DIVA 4 “To cry or wail, as cats in rutting time.” DIVA 2 When you get close to love it looks ugly sometimes. DIVA 3 Love shouldn’t wound you as much as this did. DIVA 4 I think what she’s saying— DIVA 2 I’ll speak for myself, when I’m ready, merci. CHORUS 2 She’s shutting down. This isn’t working. CHORUS 1 We need to act decisively. If they feed her belly, she’ll relax enough to open up her soul and hear the music. DIVA 1 I think I’ll get more tea. [End Page 479] DIVA 5 I think we need wine. DIVA 4 Yes! A bottle of French red. Well, no, maybe several— DIVA 5 —and make her some food like our mothers would do for our little-girl blues. DIVA 2 I don’t want to eat. These aren’t little-girl blues. DIVA 4 You don’t want peas and rice? DIVA 5 I could make chicken curry. DIVA 1 My tofu tastes good, and you told me that...