Stephen Sondheim
Sunrise Letter
[CLARA]
Giorgio
I stand here staring at the sunrise
Thinking how we've never seen a sunrise
Together
Thinking that the sunrise only means another day
Without you
And thinking can our love survive
So much separation
Keep itself alive
Much less thrive?
If only you were here
If I could feel your touch
I wouldn't have such fear
If only we had more than letters
Holding us together
If we just could hold each other
Now the sunrise then could be
A thing that I could see
And merely think how beautiful

[CLARA & GIORGIO]
Giorgio
I now sit staring at the mirror
You may not believe it but
I swear, as I stare, there it is, plain as day: a grey hair
[GIORGIO]
Of which I was unaware
Which is more than I can bear
Which I'm ripping out right now
And am sending on to you
As a milestone of my age
As a turning of the page
Perhaps when next we meet
I'll be a sorry sight
You won't know who I am
My hair completely white
My face, a mass of wrinkles
What will you feel then?
My Giorgio:
Time is now our enemy!

[FOSCA, spoken]
You came a great distance to read her letters