the big show

by Marty Shambles

It’s past time for the big show.

your act is the finale.

you take your meals in your trailer: sour grapes and chips for

your shoulder…

this is the last performance of your career—

when you’ve done the act so many times

it’s like the memory of a challenge.

it’s time to go on

it’s time to go on

why do you hesitate

you have to give the people what you want.

you: bulbous at the joints, creak-hipped

and varicose vascular, step into the light of

expectation, where every gesture bears the

scrutiny of hundreds, maybe thousands of eyes.

you’ve honed it over a lifetime and you can

balance their awe withe the poise of a pinky.

the adoration is truncated as they shuffle you

offstage to make room for the new players

who will be loved more than all your gestures combined.

Click here to read Marty’s bio.