Opening
speech crox 26 - solo Dirk De Neef, April 1995; text: van Heirseele.
it is known
that the first opening speech hovers over the surface of the waters
a barely
comprehensible hoverish dimension in between saliva and an avalanche of words
when the
first opening speech was invented
we don’t
know by whom – nor do we know why
the event
fit to use it didn’t materialise
projects
such as this one were scarce in those days
and the
attendance didn’t run high
this
insufferable hovering over surfaces of water in columns of sulpher and smoke
through
rains of fire and fountains of ash
didn’t make
the job easier for the acting speaker – quite on the contrary
nor was it
what one would call a comfortable posture
all this
and more hampered what would today be called a cosy introductory chat
Nevertheless
one Urk Peew had with a sharp stone
during one
of those long nights just after the beginning of time
and blinded
by beholding a flash of brilliant light
as he would
afterwards confess
out of pure
ennui scratched a few lines in the wall of rock
the beblindedness
origin of
all admiration
alas no one
cared to bother
unless one
took the moaning of Urk Peew who had by accident been hit by a strong rock as an
expression of appreciation for his part
Probably
the oldest artifact resulting from the technique of solarisation: another
lightning hit the unfortunate Urk Peew and in the blink of an eye transformed
this promising and talented young man in a scorched Sunday roast
those were
harsh times
dark times
a nephew of
Urk Peew
the hirsute
Ororor Pow Krapkrapook
nevertheless
had invented the folding chair
and had
reached his end prematurely
sitting on
a branch that snapped
All second
opening speeches resemble the first
a promising
void
the
beblindedness
images
hesitate between
lie
victory
was die
Wahrheit ist – und was Lüge - das bringt keiner heraus[1]
nor the
reason why
[1]
E: what the truth is – and
what a lie – no one can make out