I Crown of Glass

[Orchestral fanfare — brass, choir on open vowels] VERSE 1 They poured a kingdom into a girl’s two hands and called the shaking holiness. I learned the names of every star that served us and none of the names of the servants. CHORUS Crown of glass, crown of glass — every jewel a window I refused to look through. Crown of glass, hold me fast — if I bleed the people will call it rubies. [Orchestral interlude — strings swell, then recede with a woodwind flourish] VERSE 2 My mother taught me how to stand so still the painters could finish me. My father taught me that a chord unresolved will make a senator confess. VERSE 3 At breakfast they laid out the bills in rows, the baker, the dock, the laundress. I signed with a fountain pen warm from my sleeve while my brother practiced a grin for the balcony. CHORUS Crown of glass, crown of glass — the crowd wants a face, so I give them the mask. Crown of glass, hold me fast — one wrong step and the palace learns to laugh. [Orchestral interlude — percussion builds, then a dramatic horn section takes over] VERSE 4 They dressed me in pearls and a collar of light, then whispered, “Don’t wrinkle the story.” I watched my own name pass hand to hand like a coin too old to spend. CHORUS Crown of glass, crown of glass — every promise here comes back with a crack. Crown of glass, hold me fast — I can hear the seam where the gold all stacks. [Orchestral interlude — a mournful cello solo with subtle harp accompaniment] VERSE 5 Tonight I walked past the servants’ door and heard them singing the weather. No one had taught me that hunger could sound so much like a room still living. BRIDGE — spoken over timpani I was not cruel. I was accurate. That is the more expensive sin. FINAL CHORUS + soprano cadenza on “glass” Crown of glass, crown of glass — every jewel a window I refused to look through. Crown of glass, hold me fast — if I bleed the people will call it rubies. Crown of glass, hold me fast — I’m tired of keeping the hall closed off the floor.