Theater

Behind red draped curtains,
The stage is being set up.
And I'm most surely certain,
The theater will light up,
Once the show begins.

Before the show starts,
We must get ready with all the props.
Place everything perfectly.
Que effects dramatically.

Stage help, ready the show!
Sir, we're ready to go!
Places everyone! The show 'bout to start!
Read your lines, act with all your heart.


The stage is set,
Everyone is ready.
The crowds filled in.
Their breathing is steady.
Waiting for the curtain to be drawn.
Waiting to play the act they don.

The crowd mummers silently,
As the curtains rise.
And the show begins.
The stage has caught all eyes.


A boy adorning only red.
And behind him,
The other actors,
Say the lines they've read.
A fog machine starts up,
And the stage's mood is set.
The lights begin to change,
Red, blue, yellow and beige.
Everyone upon the stage is dancing,
Singing the lines they know so well.
The boy on center stage,
Still standing there,
Smiling at everyone in their seats.

And some smile back at the boy in red.
But some look on with interest instead.

But a tune begins to play,
And the boy moves to the end of the stage.
Draped in red, as the actors dance.
The fog still going and lights moving.
But the pace gets quicker,
Lights flashing brighter.
The tune's pace speeds up.
The actors dancing five times faster.
He looks at the audience.
With hollow eyes he sees.
Their bloodshot and tired.
He doesn't want to be there.


The boy in red is tired of the act.
Of all the lines he has to read.
The red he wears,
No longer does he want to bare.

So as the rest of the actors act.
And as the lights continue to flash.
As the fog still settles in the room.
And the in the music there is still that tune.
The boy in red rips his clothes off,
Underneath them white.
And he rips the curtains down,
Along with the background.
The others actors look at him in horror.
But he's done playing in this theater.

He looks at the crowd and gives them a smile,
He apologizes for the mess all the while.
But he will no longer act in this play.
And he will not stay here another day.
He gives the actors a wave,
As he leaves the stage.

This is his last act,
He knows that well.
But there is one thing, one fact,
That does not sit well.
Now with the act gone,
The facade over and done,
Who is he? The boy in white.
Where will he go now?
The stage, the show,
All he's ever known.