Observations at Madame Butterfly

by Mary Ann Taylor, on respect

Perhaps it’s just in Texas—but

We sing “The Star-Spangled Banner”

Not just at all ball games

But also concerts—symphonies and operas

Hands over hearts, hats off men’s heads.

(Why, you might ask, does anyone have on a hat

At the opera? Texas. Ah.)

Opening night, full house, excellent orchestra—

A chandelier of cylindrical crystals ascends

Into an invisible ceiling as house lights dim.

The music begins, we stand, we sing.

Two observations: A man removes his black felt

Cody James (informed guess) and places it over his heart.

Then back it goes on his head, for the performance. My German friend notes,

“I thought you don’t wear hats inside.” Yes, but…in Texas,

“More honour’d in the breach” and I’ve seen

Modern cattlemen eating in a steak restaurant with their

Stetsons (assuredly) rather than wearing them inside

Each with its own chair—

A show of good breeding and what their mama’s taught them.

Five rows down, three seats to the right a young couple—his hair dark and moody,

Her lovely shoulders tattooed—

Sit and do not sing and do not cover hearts with hands.

Arms folded, a defensive posture? In a solidarity with?

Then we all sit and await the overture.

(And “Un bel di,” the best real reason to come—

Personal opinion. The man could write a melody.)

And nothing else happens. No one says anything to anyone.

No one is anyone’s mama tonight.

My heart swells with pride—not at the anthem—

For the couple. I give them respect.

I know I should cover my heart (US Code 36 § 301)

But the key word is should. Not must.

And they are free to do that.

Unlike in China: A law there, Must compels.

The government wants, the government gets.

You go to jail, or some undefined punishment

If you didn’t stand and sing “March of the Volunteers”

With its repeated “Arise! Arise! Arise!”

But here the young ones can sit, unaware

Their act is not rebellion at all

But a sign of solidarity with the Constitution:

An irony, at the opera

Madame Butterfly, in which the Banner is, in fact,

A leitmotif.