The Face of Lear

VISITING HOURS

One by one they climb the stair

They’ve come to see the face of Lear.

A man in the hall says, ‘Stand here,’

Points to a room where there is a book

And another man who says to look

At names written by hands that shook.

One by one they climb the stair

They’ve come to see the face of Lear.

At the top of the stairs a different man

Gently takes them by the hand

Shows them a room where they must stand.

One by one they climb the stair

They’ve come to see the face of Lear.

A woman asks them who they are

Where are they from? Have they come far?

Her whispers open up the door.

One by one they climb the stair

They’ve come to see the face of Lear,

Who held Cordelia in his arms.

Faces frozen shorn of charms

On and on they come in swarms.

One by one they climb the stair

They’ve come to see the face of Lear.

Somehow everyone lands here.

Broken child broken King

Broken Queen broken Ring

Broken world I broken sing.