Stage Fright

Dedicated to all my Pink Sisters who've already moved beyond the wings of stage 3 where I stand. There are many of them. I can't help thinking about them, and imagining what it would be like to stand in their place. 

Stage Fright

The doctors swear there's nothing

                beyond Stage 4.

Walk beyond the wings

                 on that far side

and you fall, endlessly, into emptiness.

You can't come back. The set door slams behind you.

Committed to your role, you stammer or declaim

blinded by nerves, desperate for direction.

Just play your part and go,

                the doctors say.

A painful pressure upon your back,

                the finger pointing

                                to the script

                exeunt

stage left

and

and

nothing.

But as the dark velvet brushes your face

                 muffles

your last soft gasp of fear

                 and you tumble away flailing

the tattered script

                 torn from your numb hand

there it is

                 the spotlight

                                      seeking you

the play begins

                 upon Stage 5

the bright circle beckons

                 and surrounds you

                 breathless

you step

                 across the edges

                                   of yourself

across the tape

                 the line defining

                                   who you are

and there you are

light-limbed and limber

                 your friends

                                   tossing rosebuds upon the footlights

there you are

                 at last

embracing the stars

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