lewis hallams lamp

the players came as
old devils, ghosts, and assassins
for families together, young and old
and the fire-new town was happy.
the genii foretold
a thousand fearful wrecks
weeds to grow apace
queens and kings to lose their children
pearls to grow from tears
parents slaughtered and children butchered
shadows of terror
tyrants slain and children freed from the sword.
brothers shedding brothers blood until peace lives again

lamp ghosts at sunrise
(in 1773 performances started in a warehouse near baltimore street—in 1782 a theater built farther east on baltimore street opened with a performance of richard III)