A Bad Harvest
KristinaAnd who are you to chideAlmighty God in heaven?Is it His fault you fillmy empty womb with seed?You go about in silenceSullen and begrudging, half the timeAnd what is my crime?You want to punish me when all I've doneIs make a child with you?We made these lives togetherBodies face to face!You seem to think that I'm to blameWhen things go wrong it's all my faultYou are so unfair!
Karl OskarHow can you think you are to blame?You know I hold the children dearBut I can't help it. I still worry thatthe crop may fail again
KristinaDo you love me as you did?
Karl OskarI always have, I really do
KristinaAre you saying that to please me?
Karl OskarI'd never dare to lie to you
KristinaThat is true, you're always honestI'm just being vain and jumpyI don't ever mean to blame you
Karl OskarDear Kristina, how you worryWe will always be togetherNo-one else we can rely on
KristinaDo you want me just as much...?
(Karl Oskar whispers in her ear)
KristinaGoodness, that's the second time youSpeak of love in one single dayIt feels good to hear you say itWas it just because we quarreled
Karl OskarI'm too simple to deceive you
KristinaLet's say I believe you!
AnnaLook here, Papa, I just found itIs it dead; it isn't moving?Will I die like this poor bunny?
Karl OskarI'm afraid we all die some time
AnnaMaybe we'll all die tomorrow!
KristinaIt will be a day still distant
Karl OskarShe's smart, that child, beyond her tender years.Our Anna is a most remarkable girl
KristinaShe watches you, she always follow you,and you're so proud...
Karl OskarBut what's her future to be?
Last year there were rainstormsThey drowned the harvestThis year it's drier that hellWe cry out for water!
Where now is your Savior?Why do we hunger?Are we just dirt in his hands?Just lambs to His slaughter?
Come, look at the harvestSee what I've got hereThese straws, these hairs of a catCome count them for yourselfWe've got your precious Lord to thank for that!
KristinaWatch what you're saying!
Karl OskarI throw this back in your faceLet's see how you like it!
KristinaGod help you for those words, Karl Oskar!
Karl OskarThe barn! It's on fire!
NeighboursNow everywhere we look it's darkand we have seen the signs ofcoming danger, omens of despairAcross the land all winter longthe signs were deadlyAll of spring was dry as tinder, cold as sin
And then the driest yet of thirty summersNo sign of rain, the earth is gasping in the heatThe grass in the meadows turns pale and sicklyAnd as the grass falls away so, too,does the livestock
The hills and the valleys turned dark and tawnyForetelling what was to come: disaster and famineWhat good is our labour, our toil and trouble?They're good for nothingOur Lord has given us nothing!
KristinaSo proud and so haughty are you, Karl OskarI don't know one who comparesIt seems you think that you can curse at GodAnd then just forget it!Now we are punishedYou threw it back in His faceHe taught you a lessonWell, how do you like it!