The Bird In The Gravel

<br>the master:<br>i was dreaming in the steam room<br>everything was so clear for a minute<br>and i thought...<br>and the dripping tiles and...<br>and i say i`ll confess everything<br>yes. i own this land<br>i own these forests surrounding my...my estate<br>this is my tea coming<br>everything i can-i confess<br>the servant:<br>bend<br>now i have the bend<br>the best i ever<br>place the tea just so<br>then release and turn<br>oh no not yet<br>then release then go<br>better try again<br>looking at me he`s<br>wait til tomorrow<br>don`t want him to know<br>next time he orders tea<br>release and turn<br>turn and limp away<br>turn and limp away<br>the maid:<br>i was walking through the forest<br>on my break today<br>i had this funny feeling<br>something was going to change<br>i was walking through the dry leaves<br>it was very strange<br>they hadn`t changed their colour<br>all the leaves were green<br>i don`t mind when it`s over<br>i don`t mind when it`s all done<br>it`s just the moments in between<br>just before it`s gone<br>something`s going to happen<br>something`s going to change<br>i know i know i know...<br>the pantry:<br>and when autumn comes<br>well, there`s lots of work to do<br>bill-that means you<br>time to clean the kettles and the pots on the wall<br>pickling and preserving all the vegetables<br>stop kicking the apples<br>are we pickling this year?<br>yes-you know we are<br>and when autumn comes<br>well, there`s lots of work to do<br>bill-that means you<br>time to get the twigs up-you know, all those stick things<br>time to trim back the roses so next year even more grow<br>does it hurt them to do that?<br>does it hurt them? no.<br>(truck driver - francesco)<br>and when autumn comes<br>well, deliveries start to go<br>here he is now<br>down into the valley to the market he goes<br>down along the tiny roads that wind along the vineyards<br>and people lean on their rakes and they say hello<br>hello there francesco<br>francesco there hello<br>the bird:<br>(high sustain)<br>a boy coming home from lesson<br>another boy:<br>and those are my swans, believe me...<br>there`s no light.<br>and there isn`t because...<br>it`s so dark.<br>because it`s so dark.<br>because it`s so dark.<br>the maid:<br>i was walking through the dry leaves<br>it was very strange<br>the leaves fell without changing<br>no yellows and no reds<br>something`s going to happen<br>something`s going to change<br>and just then as i looked up<br>i remembered what you said<br>i`m crying because i love you<br>i know that things must change<br>i can`t be there when you leave<br>what if you`re afraid<br>you said something about the leaving<br>the moments in between<br>the yawning when the world shifts<br>the clanging of the trains<br>and a dog sits up and growls<br>and a cow begins to bawl<br>and a nun nearby stops to listen<br>cross herself and then move on<br>i was laughing in the forest<br>i fell down in the leaves<br>and i watched the trees above me<br>crossing in the breeze<br>i love the bare branches<br>i love the healing bells<br>the bareness in the last sun<br>the greyness and the gold<br>and a flock of geese flew over<br>and i laughed harder still<br>i laughed til i was heaving<br>then everything was still<br>the servant:<br>bend<br>now i have the bend<br>place the tea just so<br>then release and turn<br>oh not yet<br>turn away then go<br>better try again<br>he`s looking at me<br>wait until tomorrow<br>don`t want him to know<br>next time<br>time he orders tea<br>release and turn<br>turn and limp away...<br>limp away just go<br>turn away just go<br>just go...<br>just go...<br>just go...<br>-------