Article for 2014 Jul 09
Part of the “Sewing up Loose Ends” series.
2014
2014 Jul
Jul 09 Wed
In case it’s not clear, this song is about me graduating from my high school - the King’s School Chester - and therefore leaving the drama-groups Jigsaw Music Theatre and Quartz Youth Theatre (whose parent organization is Theatre in the Quarter). As a classicist, I’m comparing myself to the mythical figure Aeneas deserting the Carthaginian queen Dido.
“So Long”
Dido
Dido, hear my prayer.
Know that we are through.
We can’t stay like this.
I can’t stay with you.
I’ve enjoyed myself.
So have you, I see.
But my homeland is
not where I should be.
You have sheltered me,
fed me, dressed me fine.
But you always knew
there would come this time.
Yes, your name is Di.
That don’t mean you must.
Black smoke tells of death.
Guess that means she’s dust.
May we find some peace
in our separate homes.
Carthage may well lose,
give its life to Rome.
To leave gives me
such grief and sorrow
and yet I leave
to find tomorrow.
Jigsaw
Jigsaw, I have loved
being a piece of you.
May you triumph with
every piece you do.
You’re a part of me.
I’m a part of you.
I must part from thee,
be apart from you.
When the autumn comes
and the wind is shrill,
you can be a tree;
I, the chlorophyll.
I’ll have left your leaves.
You won’t be so green.
You’ll be precious gold.
Let your glow be seen.
You will quickly grow
back your chlorophyll.
I won’t be around,
but sure someone will.
Hold your ground and shine.
You’ll again be green.
You won’t be naïve
(but then again,
you never were):
you’ll be bright and seen.
This is not the end.
Rather a new start.
We will keep in touch.
You have touched my heart.
I think you’ve heard
it all before.
The loss of much.
The hope of more.
King’s School
King’s School, thank you for
introducing me
to the ancient world
which sparks my degree.
and for showing me
all these wondrous things,
all of what you do,
teaching fit for kings.
Eighteen years have passed.
Seven here at King’s.
I must leave the past.
Or at least, study it somewhere else.
Initialisms
Thank you KSC.
Thank you JMT.
Thank you TiQ.
Thank you QYT.
Thank you KSC.
Thank you JMT.
Thank you KSC.
Thank you KSC...
Closing
Rome is calling me.
Time is ticking on.
Fate pulls me away.
Cannot flee therefrom.
I must flee from here,
though it’s been so long.
Though I love it here,
it must be, “So long!”
I think you’ve heard
it all before.
The loss of much.
The hope of more.