09 Jan A Wise Man Once Told Me

mezzo-soprano & piano [4’]; words Armand Garnet Ruffo; 2023.

Commissioner: George Elliott Clarke
Premiere: Laura Swankey and Juliet Palmer, The Canadian Music Centre, December 15, 2023.

A Wise Man Once Told Me

for Wilfred Peltier

by Armand Garnet Ruffo, Treaty# (Wolsak & Wyn)

When the knock comes

to your door

you will not be there to answer it.

We have been undressing too long

it is time

to put our clothes back on.

You take the water that is still

and the water that flows

and all the things in the water

bring them back here

within you

where they belong.

You take the land

and the rocks, and the trees

and all those animals

and the insects

who live in those forests –

you bring all that back too

inside of you.

Then you take the birds

the air

the clouds

the stars, the sky

and the whole universe

that too belongs

inside of you.

And then we take all

of the people in the world

and every language

in the world

and bring that too back

inside of you

where it rightfully belongs.

When you have done that

you will be fully clothed.

And each foot will know

exactly

where to fall

and you cannot make a mistake.

When the knock comes

to your door

you will be there

to answer it.