Wrote this yesterday

I asked Pam to e-mail me a poem, so I could write a short play about it. Just something to do. Here's what I came up with.

The poem she chose was The Quiet World by Jeffrey McDaniel

Here's the play.

ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY SEVEN

A play in exactly one hundred and sixty seven words

A

You can look at me.

B

I know. I’m sorry.

A

Don’t apologize.

B

I’m sorry.

A

What’s the good word?

B

Water.

A

Water?

B

I’m sorry, yes. Yes. Water.

A

What about water?

B

It can suffocate you. It can bury you.

A

Drown you.

B

That’s what they call it.

A

What made you think about that?

B

Something about sea levels. We’re going to drown.

A

I like the idea of that. If I had to die, just seeing a coral reef and some schools of fish and blue and green and salt. Silver fish. Tuna. Starfish. Sea horses. Light.

B

We’re nowhere near that sort of water. That kind of climate. Anyway, the coral reef is being destroyed.

A

We should move then. We can get near what’s left of it. Then, when it happens, it’ll be warm, clear water. I’d like that.

B

You think you’re making me feel better, but all I hear from you is suicide.

A

Suicide is a strong word.

B

I know

A

I don’t think of it as suicide.

B

I know.

A

It’s raining.

B

I know.

END