LIVING SECRETLY

LIVING SECRETLY

The most important thing is not to remember

but to forget

short pause

because when you forget

you also remember

but something else

quite short pause

and something else is surely always

the best

quite short pause

yes

yes because

breaks off

and maybe it”s just as

yes important

to avoid seeing

as it is to see

and of course it's

yes

yes that it's just as important

not to be seen

as it is to be seen

just as important not to know

as it is to know

short pause

because the one thing is

in its way

just as true

as the other

quite short pause

and l

yes

well

well I suppose I want to be seen

but

yes and I don’t want to be seen

quite short pause

but obviously it’s

quite short pause

but yes

yes

they say they want to be seen

or they behave like it

yes

short pause

yes that young girls

breaks off

yes well

I suppose they do

but true no it’s not true

short pause

well

quite short pause

not in my case

anyway

seen

yes

yes

I suppose I want to be seen

but understood

questioningly

do I want to be understood

Not at all

What is understood

no longer exists

except as something that is understood

Pause

Because it’s about living secretly

Short pause

They have missed the point

they believe

that if it’s said and voiced and displayed

then it’s transformed to something

that is good

for oneself

for others

that’s how it is

short pause

questioningly

they

but who are they

who are they that I’m talking about

they

pause

chuckles

How stupid they are

Short pause

Because what it’s all about

is to live secretly

Short pause

How stupid are they

And how stupid am I

Pause

But

yes

yes without understanding

I’m trying as best I can

to live secretly

Short pause

but can I forget

Don’t I remember everything

everything

I

breaks off. Pause

Because the soul can never be seen

it won’t let itself be seen

short pause

that’s how it is

Pause

So let all people

live their lives

in secret

let them live secretly

Pause

Let me live secretly

Pause

Yes

by JON FOSSE

translated by MAY-BRIT AKERHOLT