I have written a play about a Black American photographer (Philip Mercurio) anda Jewish American women (Malka Silver). The play, called “The ManipulatedImage” ( a photography term) was written during 1979-1981. In this experimentalperformance piece, I have poems that address the interracial issue, the racial issue as well.The script is a collage of poetry, monologue, songs and dialogue. The female partis written for a Renoiresque (full-figured) woman since my focus as a writer is often toprovide full-figured women with opportunities in dance, theatre and poetry. I call this a“jazz play” since jazz music may be improvised with the words.In her 1959 novel, “A Spy In The House of Love,” Anais Nin explores thecomplexity of an interracial romantic experience. My journey in writing “TheManipulated Image” is also that of a woman artist who wants to know more and toexperience life more intensely. Here is an excerpt of the play where the two charactersspecifically deal with race in their relationship.Malka: (poem/song for Malka or vocalist) beneath your eyesthere is a dancethat appeals to meI want to live and breatheinside your eyes yet a phone callevery two monthsthen an hour of making loveit’s just not enough beneath your touchthere is a story I’d like to know a story unspokena story yearning to bein my dreamI walked into my pastI found youin my dream you were the equal of my fantasy and I really could embrace youI know I belong with you yet we get so closeand the shutter closeson a locked window Stories by Sharonah Robinsonsharon@olympus.net www.sharonrobinson.org

in my dreamthere’s a rumorthe sun shineson both of us the same yet we get so closeand the shuttercloses on a locked window it’s like this with everyone yet with you yes-the differenceskin distinctionscatch me unawareintrude on livingI am anotherapartand another part of me is differentanother part of mea distinct geography scorches the closenessmy sundialand childhood messageserase enclose engulf I forget this...then memory appearsI face youmy white faceI face youthat part of methat cannot be erasedthrough tears sharing laughtersomeone hideous will always stop the show close the gateslock the window Stories by Sharonah Robinsonsharon@olympus.net www.sharonrobinson.org

it’s curtain timeerase our sounduntil we find the strengthinfinite, alwaysfeeling our way to push the window upwardnext time a little higher.Philip:(poem/song for Philip or vocalist)in my dreamthere’s just the two of usand I face youmy Black faceand I face youmy Black facein a crowdand I face youmy Black face through your mirror of truththrough your mirror of liesin my dreamthere is a shadow you are a stranger you are the river you are the passion you are taboo you are untouchableis that why I want you?that’s what “they” say flow river flow out of the rivertake me on your journey out of this river of liesStories by Sharonah Robinsonsharon@olympus.net www.sharonrobinson.org