Actors on a Stage

Originally written on February 27, 2011.

 

What did you know

When did you figure it out

That moment

When the final act was playing out

Entering stage left

Into the spot light

Why let it happen

When you already knew

The ending was at hand

It was already written

May have played out before

I hadn’t seen the script

Wasn’t aware of the twists

Those turns about to happen

I had no idea

Why did you let me go there

Plummet into the deep well

Of not I love you

Those lines so easy to say

But where in love with you

Took over

Emotions and not words

Between the lines

You knew my imperfections

I hid nothing from you

I knew your imperfections

You hid nothing from me

Or so I thought

Our souls were totally naked

We still fell in love

And that wasn’t scripted

Was there any mystery to it

Or just a different actor

With the same story

Slightly different ending

There was the script

Were there surprises

Did we go somewhere new

Deviated from the script

Did we both go too far

With the improvisation

Of actually falling in love

Scary that we did go there

Unexpected or known

Adlib new lines for

Act something scene whatever

Let’s take it further

You and I

What was different this time

Was there a difference after all

The director checks the script

Stomps their feet on the stage

“Stop ... stop ... STOP!”

“You’re supposed to be here!”

Pointing to the lines

You collect yourself

Willingly or unwillingly

We did go off course

Maybe that was our plan

To hell with the author

Tell the director to shut up

Love isn’t something you script out

Not a play or a movie

No one to yell “CUT!”

And get everyone back

To the page we’re on

Was it all so easy

To throw away

Was it difficult for you

To act it out again

Did I do the final scene correctly

Or did I mess it up

With unknown new wrinkles

My role was over

I didn't leave the stage

I even dodged the hook

If I had read the script

In those early days

When discovery and questions

Were all around us

All that chatter

On what’s going on here

What is happening to us

If I had read the script

Knew the ending

Would I have played the role

I was chosen to play

In the land of make believe

After all aren’t we just

Actors on a stage

Waiting for the curtain call

As the lights go dim