The Alan Sondheim Mail Archive

Sarah Bernhardt


Sarah Bernhardt bangs on the doors of sound and movement and
begs to be let in.
Sarah Bernhardt is Sarah Bernhardt presence and nothing less will
do for Sarah Bernhardt.
Sarah Bernhardt screams and nothing is heard.
Sarah Bernhardt walks across the stage and nothing is seen.
The biochemistry of Sarah Bernhardt dies with her. Broken is the
DNA of Sarah Bernhardt.
She says there are a few films late in life.
She says there are some cylinders late in life.
Sarah Bernhardt knows everything is blurred and scratched.
She knows nothing of Rachel remains.
Everyone spoke of Rachel and everyone spoke of Sarah Bernhardt
and there is talk here and there. There are mentions here and
there.
There is writing and sometimes writing remains. There are
remnants.
There are these Jewish women, Rachel and Sarah Bernhardt and
Rachel screams and walks wildly across the stage and nothing is
left of her screams and wild walks.
Rachel screams louder and runs insanely across the stage.
Nothing remains of Rachel.
Of Sarah Bernhardt it is said, you should have seen her.
You should have heard her.
Of those who have said that, nothing remains, and nothing
remains of Sarah Bernhardt whose face barely graced the cinema,
whose voice barely graced the gramophone.
Sarah Bernhardt screamed and clawed and Sarah Bernhardt is silent
and her arms flail and have graced nothing.
The scent of Sarah Bernhardt has disappeared. Rachel has
disappeared. The DNA of Rachel has disappeared.
You should have seen Rachel. Of Sarah Bernhardt there are famous
photographs. Sarah Bernhardt holds still and is frozen and
is absolutely still. Sarah Bernhardt writes and her writing
is silent and she sculpts and her sculpture convey astonishing
beauty.
Her sculptures are witness to the presence of her arms.
Her sculptures are witness to the presence of her hands.
Her sculptures are witness to the presence of her fingers.
Sarah Bernhardt turns as if she is about to speak. She begins a
gesture she makes for me and her mouth opens and I begin to hear
her voice.
Sarah Bernhardt is screaming and she is silent.
She is silent like the 19th century is silent.
She is silent like history disappears and the 20th century is
silent.
The voice of Sarah Bernhardt is amazing and it is said one cries
and is driven mad by the voice of Sarah Bernhardt.
Rachel and Sarah Bernhardt have disappeared.
The Jews have disappeared. I bang on the doors of sound and
movement and beg to be let in.
Sarah Bernhardt is silent.
She is silent like the 21st century is silent.
Rachel has disappeared.