-From Claggart's tongue-

1.

It's a long night before the next night's 
Funeral prologue;— "I am an old man.."

And I’ve had my belly full of it.
Everything hangs by the short
Rope's end of this day's reading. Soon,
We look to witness the hanging death of Billy Budd,

Press-ganged to come aboard, as I’ve heard them sing of it.

I realize the sound builds layer on layer. But
This time,— it returns salutations.
This time,— the terrible beauties display themselves.

Ship's company's full-throated on deck of the ship,

Displaying its scenes by the movement of its planes upon
The Metropolitan's stage like an orchestrated waterwheel.

Soon they’ll hang Billy Budd for not but the heart's
Farewell to the "Rights of Man,"— Then 
For the strike of his fist to silence Claggart's tongue!

We participate, as ship's hands bear witness

To the tense procedure from the balcony's third row.

The House has split the ship amidships, and at the split
Of the bones of Billy’s neck;

Taut and fatal rope held-fast by the hands of the hands.

2.
With the "Bellipotent" dead then drawn

We'll haul-out taking to dry land.

                                      

                                      The Metropolitan Opera / 5/10/12

                                      New York, New York