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(THERESA, alone in Mesmer’s study, practices her
vision exercises with a tray of everyday items)
THERESA
I KNOW THAT. IT’S AN ORANGE.
IT’S A FRUIT AND IT’S A COLOR, SO THEY SAY.
I SENSE THE SHAPE - ROUND.
I FEEL THE SKIN - BUMPY.
I SMELL THE SCENT - SWEET.
AND THEN I STEAL A GLANCE - AHA!
LOOK, THERESA. THAT’S AN ORANGE.
WHAT NEXT? HERE’S SOMETHING FINE.
AS TENDER AS A BREEZE,
IT CAN CATCH A WAYWARD SNEEZE,
I’D KNOW IT ANYWHERE - IT’S A HANDKERCHIEF.
LOOK, THERESA. SEE HOW IT FLOATS.
AH, BUT HOW SHALL I TELL IT FROM A CLOUD?
BOTH ARE WHITE, SOMEWHAT ROUND,
BOTH CAN FLY ABOVE THE GROUND.
BUT THIS ONE - AH, THIS ONE - THE SCENT IS HIS.
TOUCHING THE THINGS THAT BELONG TO HIM,
RUNNING MY HANDS OVER SILK AND WOOD,
KNOWING THESE THINGS ARE A PART OF HIM,
LEAVES ME FEELING STRANGELY GOOD.
LISTENING HARD FOR HIS STEP IN THE HALL,
HOPING HIS STEPS WILL BRING HIM THIS WAY,
WATCHING THE DOOR LIKE AN EAGER CHILD,
UNABLE TO THINK, NOT KNOWING WHAT TO SAY.
I’VE BEEN ENERGIZED.
ALL OF THE WORLD IS SO VIBRANT AND CLEAR.
EVERYTHING IN IT IMPOSSIBLY DEAR.
BUT DEAREST OF ALL IS THE VOICE THAT I HEAR,
FILLING MY MIND.
AND I’VE BEEN HARMONIZED.
THAT FORMER LIFE WILL RECEDE TO THE PAST
NOW THAT THE FUTURE LOOKS WONDROUS AND VAST.
THE REASON MY HEART IS REJOICING AT LAST,
IS HE IS IN MY WORLD.
BUT SURELY IT’S WRONG TO BE FEELING LIKE THIS,
HEADY AS WINE IS, AND BURSTING WITH BLISS.
I’M JUST A PATIENT, A SUBJECT, A CASE.
WHY DO I LONG, THEN, TO KNOW HIS EMBRACE?
I’M PRAYING FOR SOMETHING, BUT WHAT I DON’T KNOW,
WONDERING WHAT FATE IS PLANNING FOR ME,
WAITING TO WAKE FROM THIS BITTERSWEET DREAM.
THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE! WHY CAN’T I SEE?
I’VE BEEN TANTALIZED.
JUST OUT OF REACH IS THE ULTIMATE PRIZE,
ALL I COULD WISH FOR IN FRONT OF MY EYES,
WHAT COURSE IS FOOLISH, AND WHAT COURSE IS WISE?
WHAT SHALL I DO?
I’VE BEEN SENSITIZED.
EVERY GLANCE CUTS ME DEEP AS A KNIFE.
EV’RYWHERE CLUES HE BELONGS TO HIS WIFE.
EV’RY DAY WISHING HIM GONE FROM MY LIFE,
BUT NEEDING HIM SO.
HEAR ME SPOON, MIRROR AND BOOK.
DEAREST PEN, COME, TAKE A LOOK.
I’VE BEEN MESMERIZED. YES, MESMERIZED!
IS THAT BAD? NO. I’M GLAD.
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