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.