Atom

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ATOM: A play in three acts

“In this city the heaven of ecstasy is upraised and the world-illuming sun of yearning shineth, and the fire of love is ablaze; and when the fire of love is ablaze, it burneth to ashes the harvest of reason. Now is the traveler unaware of himself, and of aught besides himself. He seeth neither ignorance nor knowledge, neither doubt nor certitude; heknoweth not the morn of guidance from the night of error. He fleeth both from unbelief and faith, and deadly poison is a balm to him. Wherefore Attar saith:For the infidel, error -- for the faithful, faith;For Attar's heart, an atom of Thy pain.”(Baha'u'llah, The Seven Valleys, p. 7)DRAMATIS PERSONAEKing Anushirvan: Sassanid ruler of the Persian EmpireHormizd: Son of AnushirvanIos: A shepherd fromthe foothills of the Zagros Mountains, some 12 leagues east of Baghdad

ACT ONE: SCENE ONEThe palace at Ctesiphon, Iraq, some 4 leagues south of Baghdad; a site of glory and ignominy for the kingdom of King Anushirvan and his son Hormizd. A point on the Great Silk Road that has been bathed in blood for millennia. King Hormizd, blinded by his treacherous brothers-in-law, awaits his execution inone of the tower rooms of the palace. The light of the moon shines in a single high window and dimly illuminates his sightless figure. HORMIZD: (In prayer)Oh Ahura Mazda!Behold this lowly one, raising his suppliant arms to Thee!Oh Ahura Mazda! Forgive this now lowly and evanescent sinner.Dost Thou recall the humble shepherd boy, Ios, who perished at the instance of this haughty, yet seemlyinsignificant, one?I, Hormizd; I, your very namesake; I who have disgraced Thy holy name. Have mercy upon me.(Turning to the audience)Oh where now is there an ear to hear the confession of this poor one who so wishes to unburden his soul before the executioner’s blade undoes the very instrument of his expiation?(Kneels.) Dear walls, be thou my confidant. Be thou the mirror of my stony, my shattered,heart.Dear Ios! Thou that are truly dear to me… Oh that I had called thee friend! Oh that these sightless eyes would have beheld thy beauty when they had had the chance.Oh brother, by me undone! Be thou the bearer of my orison. Oh Ios! Oh thou whom I betrayed; thou who wouldst not betray thyself.Intercede for this wretched and pitiable soul.(The lights fade.)ACT ONE: SCENE TWOThe lights come up to thedawn that Ios arrives at the Ctesiphon palace. It is the year 570 AD. Anushirvan is at the height of his power.IOS: What is it that my king calls me to his “great house”? This great arch reminds me of our majestic mountain, the one we called Sar Galu, the great peak, on whose lap we used to keep our sheep when I was but a boy. Ah, how the cool winds blow there on its skirts… and the waters flowever so softly, how their bubbling melodies can lull you to restful sleep… where the lambs frisk playfully with their mothers. Yes, I tell you, that… is the life!(Pause)But my king, Anushirvan, my lord and master, the one and only desire of my soul, has called me here. What can I do? He is my king. He has treated us shepherds kindly. We provide mutton and delicacies for his table, skins for hissaddles, wool for his royal garments. Yes, ours is a rude but good life. (Pause.)But my king has called me here. What can I do? He is my sovereign lord… Shall I play a tune for him to soothe his insatiate soul?Shall I recount to him the hearty tales of our ancient forbearers who tended their flocks in these hills when the great Shapur ruled these lands and built this palace? Shall I prepare lusciouskebab for him? Or teach his son to weave a rug… or to spin fine woolen thread for his artisans to fashion wondrous garments? All these things I can and would gladly do for my King, my Anushirvan, my Adil, the Just. But what would HE have me do?(Pause.)There is evil boding in this place. I can feel it in my bones. The blood of the many thousands shed so freely here. Oh destruction and rebirth. Ay!...