from soul fire

lisa kirazian

[Lights open dimly on a Holy Place, in the timeless present. Ten small unlit votive candles sit on a downstage corner. Downstage are two small tables, for kneeling and reading, and two prayer rugs. On one table, old sacred books lie open, tattered. In an upstage corner there is an open travel trunk, dotted with inspection stickers from various countries - from the Middle East, Africa, Asia, even North America. In the trunk are colorful fabrics and clothing.

Lights on the SAGE MAN in the downstage corner opposite the candles. He moves fluidly around the stage. He is dressed in humble clothes, but still self-respecting, like a proud homeless person. He plays his one possession - a duduk flute. A soulful melody. He stops and turns to the audience.]

 [He looks out.]

I said I know I am heard! The heavens hear me!

[He plays almost upward toward the sky, then stops, as if hearing a response.]

SAGE MAN

I play a duduk, an Armenian duduk, because from it comes the universal melodies of the wandering soul, grounded in its past, groping in the present, hoping for eternity.

[Duduk music is heard, distant.]

SAGE MAN

My melody smolders like incense, rising, swirling in spirit to the great heavens. Its aroma is sweetest, its curl of smoke tallest, when it burns deepest. That eternal part of our souls ascending, entreating. Burning. Becoming!

[He runs to an edge.]

SAGE MAN

As the old prophets asked, so I ask you: Have you not known? Have you not heard?

[He goes to another edge.]

SAGE MAN

It seems no one listens. Sometimes I am not sure where I belong. On good days, I'm a citizen of the world! On others, I'm the nowhere man. But for now, I am here, in this city, living the best I can. All of us are trying. We have all come from halfway around the world, we are all transplants, having groped through the valley, the desert, the jungle, looking for a place to call home - or at least a secondary home. Home. Maybe nowhere is home. Perhaps, home is only where God puts us, or where the winds blow us. Or where our family is - or, where our memories are. If nothing else, I am standing right here, feet on earth, right now, alive and breathing and safe. Right now, this is where I am. This is home.

[He points to the trunk upstage.]

SAGE MAN

And all I have is in there.

[He reaches a downstage edge.]

SAGE MAN

Now, you don't know me. But I'm everywhere. You know the sacred words. I'm the one you offer the cold cup of water to - you know, the least of the brethren? The ones the world forgets? Ah, but God never forgets us. And no one can keep us pilgrims down.

[He jumps to a new spot, victoriously.]

SAGE MAN

Through our exodus, our wilderness, and eventually, our refuge, you will see us, in all our hurt and hope. The prayers of a dozen pilgrims, roaming across this earth, holding onto that which can never be taken away. This is their journey of faith. These, these, are their prayers.