The Bite of The Night - by Howard Barker

I stole this from Howard Barker via Samya Kaleb

They brought a woman from the street 

And made her sit in the stalls 

By threats 

By bribes 

By flattery 

Obliging her to share a little of her life with actors 

But I don't understand art 

Sit still, they said But I don't want to see sad things 

Sit still, they said 

And she listened to everything 

Understanding some things 

But not others 

Laughing rarely, and always without knowing why 

Sometimes suffering disgust 

Sometimes thoroughly amazed 

And in the light again said 

If that's art I think it is hard work 

It was beyond me 

So much of it beyond my actual life 

But something troubled her 

Something gnawed her peace 

And she came a second time, armoured with friends 

Sit still, she said 

And again, she listened to everything 

This time understanding different things 

This time untroubled that some things 

Could not be understood 

Laughing rarely but now without shame 

Sometimes suffering disgust 

Sometimes thoroughly amazed 

And in the light again said 

That is art, it is hard work 

And one friend said, too hard for me 

And the other said if you will I will come again 

Because I found it hard I felt honoured.