I’ve done this for the past 100 days

And yet the feeling stays the same

I’m still anxious and afraid

All it takes is one big step before I enter on the stage

But I freeze and take a breath

I’ve always hated crowds and loud noises but yet it seems I’ve made a career out of it

Ironic I know

But as I take that step onto the stage

My fears go away and I preform another day

Just for the cycle t...

**In, out, in, out, **

**breath caught like a bird, **

**stage fright knots my stomach, **

**a spotlight blazing— **

**skin tingling, heart racing.**

****

**The curtain whispers secrets, **

**each heartbeat, a drumroll, **

**among faces, blurred, waiting, **

**my moment to shine. **

****

**Lights, camera, action—**

**I step into the glow, **

**feeling every eye **

**pierce through my mask, **

**an...

My homemade mask is on

Full of bright smiles

Happy eyes

And rosy cheeks

I’m about to step out of my car which means

Showtime is now here

I’ve gotten pretty good with my acting

I convince people I’m happy

And that I love the person that I am

I act confident

Put together

Like I have everything figured out

Ok

Here we go

One foot in front of the other

I see people in the distance

...

A nervous smile,

A whispered encouragement.

Just waiting while the clapping fades.

Heart, too fast.

Slow down the breathing.

Cool and collected. Please.

Discussion from the actors

That are already on stage,

They chant, then fall silent.

A quiet step

Before a confident persona

Sweeps onto the stage.

A beat of silence

Until a rough voice proclaims,

“So foul and fair a day I have not se...

Breathe it in and hold it close to your chest.

The lights became her eyes.

She was alone

But the river of applause coaxed

Words into the memory of smiles of satisfaction.

It wasn’t about selling. Selling her,

It wasn’t about that. Not for her.

It wasn’t about becoming better than those with voices that

Flowed pure enough to cause shivers of understanding.

That was theirs. But she had hers.

It...

Beat! beat! drums! — blow! bugles! blow!

Through the windows — through doors — burst like a ruthless force,

Into the solemn church, and scatter the congregation,

Into the school where the scholar is studying;

Leave not the bridegroom quiet — no happiness must he have now with his bride,

Nor the peaceful farmer any peace, ploughing his field or gathering his grain,

So fierce you whirr and pound you...

"Today was the day the play started.

I nearly had missed my cue.

Dodging the extras who've been too soft-hearted,

My mind remained locked on you."

-----------------------------------------------

The plot now is barreling towards me,

Preparing to crush me to death.

I guess it's true it adds action to the story,

And now you're all that I have left.

----------------------------------------------

...

Lights

So bright

Don’t be nervous

I can’t help it

Go...

Aren’t these shoes so pretty

I wish they felt that way

They say beauty is pain

But why

Why do we associate beauty as pain

When beauty can be many things

Like comfort or silly

It doesn’t always have to be pain and perfect

Anyways it’s my time to dance...

all eyes on me

ready to see, feel, hear

the words bouncing

off the mic

into the crowd

a piece of me

to be shared

give permission

for ears to

enter my soul

take control

for this brief

dramatic moment

I am all yours

you are all mine

our hearts intertwined

as we dance

to the same beat

my beat

inhale deeply

exhale slowly

I am ready

to take center stage...