I watch from the backstage,
You laughing, you shining, you owning the silver lining
You singing, you dancing, you who there finds belonging
How come only one curtain apart
Yet my limbs are stiff, my throat is parched,
My features are stony, my breath is short
And I. Have no light
So I man the props and pull the levers
And readies the stage orders
To throw a spotlight on you
To raise the platform on which you stand
To unleash a petal shower on top of your head
But who will look at me?
Without a fancy outfit, or Prince Charming waiting—
For me, at the grand finale
Without lipstick or a crown
But just me, with my knotted hair, freckles, and mismatched socks
Me.
Who yearns that I was the one they were praising.
When the curtain comes down, they still chant your name
You wave, you smile. You don’t invite me to your side
But I’ve too, memorized all the lines
And I can practice with the walls.
But no one ever asked
So there I remained, watching,
From the backstage.
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