Spotlight

This poem was written in response to the Rattle® Poetry Ekphrastic Challenge for July 2023 and was ultimately not selected. You can find more information here.

https://www.rattle.com/ekphrastic/

The image that this poem was specifically written about can be found here. (July 2023 – Elizabeth Hlookoff's “Here I Go”)

https://i0.wp.com/www.rattle.com/ekphrasis/EC23July.jpg?ssl=1

Spotlight

UNDER

The spotlight

Illumination of things below

Secrets revealed

You examine me

Everything magnified

For the world to see

You find my failures

Identify my insecurities

Work at my weaknesses

To exploit them all

For your benefit and power

So that all you have to do

Is shine that light in my eyes

And I sit down, shut up, and comply

Less you make it known about me

Of what your have discovered

To everyone for my shame

-

But you don’t understand

The command that light truly has

I grab it and turn it to myself and

-

IN

The spotlight

I become everything

I wish to be

As on a stage, focused on me

Any and all doors

Have opened to me

My shortcomings are still there

But now I control the narrative

That same light

You turned on me

Is turned towards me

And the microphone is hot

For my thoughts, opinions, and truths

Soon to be set free

For now people are listening to me

And I have much to say

In the spotlight

Submitted under MRB