Bicker Fable

Bess and Becca, Rebecca and Bess

Once upon a time

There once were two women

Who fought and they bickered

Up on the hill or behind that grey wall

And the whole village knew by the way the wind blew

Of the fury, the powerful squall

One woman stronger, the other one faster

One women more clever, the other more wise

They carried on, so with vigor and passion

And this way the years went by

Bess and Becca, Rebecca and Bess

Once upon a time

'Till one day with regret

Becca killed Bess

One fit of terrible rage

Shocked and grieving she buried her

There in the garden

And a tree grew up from the grave

And fast, it grew taller and stronger

And the silence surrounding the village grew thicker

Becca alone, Becca alone

Once upon a time

There once was woman

Who came to spend time

Reading and crying and passing the days

At the base of the tree that curved as it grew

The tree that curved up from the grave

But the tree was cut down

And milled in the town

And Becca was crushed by the weight of the wood

And wood disappeared

Until year later found

By a luthier skillful and good

So supple and sweet

Were the curve in the grain

And hands were compelled to carve it that way

And the instrument grew from the memory

And a cello was drawn in to play

And the elders looked up from their days

And the silence surrounding the village was broke

There was this song, once there still is this song

The women are singing

Do you hear?