One Night in Balthazar by Fanny Howe
Production and Sound Design by Kevin Seaman One Night in Balthazar By Fanny Howe The hotel bar downstairs was dirty and dark and almost empty except for him whom I didn’t know I lost my balance because evil is aroused by absence Outside on the island a brick city had grown up and old A person could only nibble on its shadows Where was my beloved? The cornerstone was familiar but unrecognizable and I didn’t understand why infinity was seeping into my hair Somebody said: “He’s out of his bottle” I guess it meant Temporarily out of service and empty. But then there was Arsene beside the last remaining cabin wandering with his eyes on the camera Dynamite in his pocket and a piece of thread to trap a rabbit. Evil is a growing thing It has its own gravity and never answers to its name It is a hole into chaos. It is real Arsene held me in his arms He was drunk as usual and his nipple smelled of rum But still I loved him— loved him madly!— as if he was the one
