THE TRIAL OF BESSIE SMITH
“THERE’S 12 GATES TO THE CITY, HALLELUJAH”
INQ
Bessie, you know why you’re here?
SMITH
Just my luck, a skinny little white boy at this gate
Ah, this must be a mistake. You gotta let me in the gates.
INQ
Bessie, you don’t fit through the gates. You’re too fat.
How come you’re so fat?
SMITH
Wel, honey, maybe you ought to start thinking about
widening your pearly white gates
So that I can sashay my big ass right on through.
INQ
Bessie, why are you soooo fat?
SMITH
I get too much attention from men when I’m lighter.
INQ
Too hot to handle?
SMITH
A girl’s gotta protect herself, you know.
INQ
What else do you think is going on?
SMITH
Sometimes I think it’s just a protection
from all the suffering and pain that I see.
INQ
And other times?
SMITH
Other times I think I’m so fat because my spirit is so light —
and I would disappear without being grounded.
INQ
Ah, the unbearable lightness of being Bessie!
Surely there are better ways of grounding yourself
SMITH
Sure, but there are other times
that I think I was a prostitute in another life I was so grounded.
I was grounded all the time
Makes me think I better not enjoy my body so much in this one.
That’s a good one. Maybe you’re gay and can’t face it.
SMITH
No. As you see I AM too big to hide in a closet.
INQ
Maybe you’re embodying the Trinity?
SMITH
Yeah, the maiden, the mother and the crone!
Well, I think there are even more than three spirits inside of me.
I’d just like to get rid of their bodies!
INQ
Well, maybe you’re punishing yourself?
SMITH
For what?
INQ
Well, maybe you were abused as a child?
SMITH
What woman ain’t been abused?
INQ
Wel, maybe the Goddess is punishing you?
SMITH
Them women goddesses love me even more than the men do.
Anyway, why would they wanna punish me?
INQ
For receiving a gift from Her –
abusing it -not using it — not sharing it!
SMITH
Baby, I share enough. I’ve got other gifts besides singing.
I am a healer.
INQ
Bessie, you have many selves but only one body.
Your mind has the ability to convince itself of anything.
Only when you have convinced your body
can you be sure you are not deceiving your selves.
When your actions and your motives coincide,
that is called “right livelihood,” and you will become healthy.
Until then I must dub thee “Queen of Denial.”
BESSIE
At least your making me queen of something.
INQ
…and I don’t mean the river in Egypt, baby. Don’t make light of that.
When you sing again, you will be acclaimed
as the boddhisatva of the blues …
BESSIE
I will?
INQ
and the gates of heaven will disappear.
BESSIE
Disappear? Wait a minute.
These are the gates of heaven aren’t they?
I am in the right place?–aren’t I?
INQ
laughter–Right place, wrong turn
SMITH
Wait a minute, wait a minute, now,
that might not be so bad after all…
**********
see tightrope web page and
Tightrope 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUpXqoe5HnI
20:38
A WOMAN CAN BE LIKE COFFEE
By Bonnie Burns
A WOMAN CAN BE LIKE COFFEE
STRONG AND HOT
OR LIGHT AND SWEET
IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHO IS DRINKIN’
AND WHAT HE NEEDS
CAUSE SOME LIKE THEIR WOMEN FOXY
SOME LIKE THEIR WOMEN LEAN
SOME LIKE THEIR WOMEN DIRTY
AND SOME LIKE THEIR WOMEN CLEAN
SOME LIKE THEIR WOMEN NASTY
SOME LIKE THEIR WOMEN MEAN
SOME LIKE THEIR WOMEN SWEET AS WINE
AND GENTLE AS A QUEEN
BUT A WOMAN CAN BE LIKE COFFEE
STRONG AND HOT
OR LIGHT AND SWEET
IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHO IS DRINKIN’
AND WHAT HE NEEDS
YES, IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHO IS DRINKIN
AND WHAT HE NEEDS
SOME MEN TAKE THEIR WOMEN PRISONERS
SOME LIKE THE THRILL OF THE CHASE
SOME LIKE A WOMAN IN LEATHER
SOME LIKE A LADY IN LACE
SO DON’T YOU BE SURPRISED, HONEY
AT ANY CHANGES THERE MIGHT BE
CAUSE ALL THE DIFFERENT SIDES
ARE JUST THE DIFFERENT SIDES OF BESSIE